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fv*a  m.  3m 


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DEMO  REST  YiLLE,  ONI,! 

•/ 


V, 


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THE  HIGH  PRIEST. - p.  310. 


THE 


VNION 

BIBLE  DICTIONARY, 

\  / 


FOR  THE  U8E  OF 

Irjjnnk  fMi  €\mu  mtfr  fmilm. 


PREPARED  FOE  THE  AMERICAN  SUNDAY-SCHOOL  UNION,  AND 
EEYI9ED  BY  THE  COMMITTEE  OF  PUBLICATION. 


PHILADELPHIA : 

AMERICAN  SUNDAY-SCHOOL  UNION, 

No.  146  Chestnut  Street. 

New  York,  No.  147  Nassau  Street . Boston,  No.  9  ConihiU. 

Louisville,  Ky.,  No.  103  Fourth  Street. 

St.  Louis,  No.  80  Chestnut  St. 


-»« 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Co  /rest,  in  the  year  18c./,  by 
Pawl  Beck,  Jr.,  Treasurer,  in  trus  for  the  American  bunday- 
school  Union,  in  the  Clerk’s  Office  f  the  District  Court  of  the 
Eastern  District  of  Pennsylvania. 


f  m  m.  3m 

DEMORESTVILLE,  ONXJ 

PREFACE. 


Some  years  since,  we  reprinted  from  the  British  press 
an  abridgment  of  Brown’s  Dictionary  of  the  Bible. 
The  original  was  materially  improved  by  the  editorial 
labours  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Alexander.  He  did  not,  how¬ 
ever,  change  the  basis  or  general  character  of  the 
work.  He  expunged  a  mass  of  superfluous  and  irrele¬ 
vant  matter ;  introduced  such  corrections  and  modifica¬ 
tions  as  the  improved  state  of  biblical  science  suggest¬ 
ed,  and  prepared  many  of  the  leading  articles  anew. 
These  have  been  preserved  as  far  as  practicable  in  the 
lew  work.  The  extensive  sale  of  the  former  dictionary 
shows  conclusively  the  adaptedness  of  such  a  volume  to 
the  wants  of  the  community. 

Under  this  conviction,  the  society  has  incurred  very 
heavy  expenses  in  providing  an  entirely  new  dictionary, 

CORRESPONDING  IN  PRINCIPLE,  CHARACTER,  AND  USES 
TO  OUR  OTHER  PUBLICATIONS,  AND  INTENDED  SO  TO  CON¬ 
NECT  THEM  TOGETHER,  AS  TO  MAKE,  OF  THE  WHOLE, 

A  COMPLETE  BIBLICAL  CYCLOPAEDIA. 

Though  the  editor  has  been,  of  course,  indebted  to 
various  sources  for  materials,  and,  in  some  instances, 
for  copious  extracts,  the  present  volume  may  he  re¬ 
garded  as  strictly  an  original  work. 

The  services  of  one  of  the  most  distinguished  biblical 
scholars  in  the  country  have  been  employed  in  a  gene¬ 
ral  revision  of  it,  and  many  of  the  most  important  arti¬ 
cles  have  also  received  a  critical  examination  from 

3 


4 


PREFACE. 


several  others,  both  clergymen  and  laymen,  in  whose 
competency  and  fidelity  the  utmost  confidence  may  ho 
felt. 

The  following  general  principles  have  been  observed 
in  the  preparation  of  this  work : — 

I.  No  word  is  introduced,  as  the  subject  of  an  article, 
which  is  not  found  in  the  canonical  books  of  the  com¬ 
mon  translation  of  the  Bible,  and  at  least  one  passage 
is  cited  in  which  the  'word  occurs.  Of  course  such 
words  as  Africa,  Apocrypha,  Antelope,  Apocalypse, 
Deluge,  Dead  Sea,  &c.  are  excluded.  Any  other  rule 
would  be  too  indefinite  for  practical  application. 

II.  No  word  is  introduced  simply  for  'the  purpose  of 
defining  it,  unless  it  has  a  peculiar  scriptural  use  or 
signification,  which  would  not  be  found  in  a  common 
defining  dictionary. 

III.  Whatever  could  be  regarded  as  sectarian  by  any 
lenomination  of  evangelical  Christians  is,  of  course, 
scrupulously  excluded. 

IV.  No  word  is  admitted  into  the  body  of  the  diction¬ 
ary  of  which  all  that  can  be  said  is  found  in  immediate 
connexion  with  the  word  itself.*  For  example,  Ann 
(Gen  x  vi.  21)  is  mentioned  as  one  of  the  sons  of  Ben¬ 
jamin  ;  and  as  the  passage  itself  contains  all  that  can 
De  said  of  him,  the  word  is  omitted. 

V.  The  leading  articles  embrace,  as  far  as  practicable 
the  various  topics  that  properly  fall  under  it.  For  ex¬ 
ample  :  under  the  word  Dwelling^  will  be  found  the 
principal  facts  in  relation  to  the  structure  of  eastern 


*  At  the  end  of  our  Scripture  Biographical  Dictionary  will 
be  found  a  perfect  catalogue  of  all  the  proper  names  which 
occur  in  the  Scriptures,  with  the  pronunciation  of  each,  and 
a  reference  to  one  or  more  passages  in  which  it  occurs. 


PREFACE, 


5 

houses,  as  the  court,  roof,  windows,  doors,  parlours, 
chambers,  &c.,  so  that  the  article  is  in  itself  a  concise 
history  of  the  subject.  The  various  topics  are  gene¬ 
rally  distinguished,  however,  by  putting  the  principal 
words  in  italics,  thus  enabling  the  reader  to  select 
them  at  pleasure. — So  of  the  articles,  Arms,  Book, 
Burial,  Clothes,  Feasts,  Hebrews,  Sacrifices,  &c. 

VI.  Though  each  article  is  complete  in  itself,  and  as 
full  as  it  may  be  in  a  work  of  this  size,  we  hope  that 
most  biblical  inquirers  are  disposed  to  seek  still  farther 
information.  This,  we  apprehend,  is  afforded  in  a  good 
degree  by  other  publications  of  the  society,  which  are 
or  may  be  within  the  reach  of  all.  To  the  particular 
volume  from  which  such  farther  information  may  be 
obtained,  reference  is  made  in  the  proper  place ;  and  the 
society’s  name  is  repeated  in  connexion  with  each  refer¬ 
ence — 1st,  Because  there  are  sometimes  several  works 
extant  with  like  titles,  only  one  of  which  is  published 
by  us  ;  and,  2dly,  Because  each  article,  with  all  its  refer¬ 
ences,  being  distinct  and  independent,  should  be  as  ex¬ 
plicit  as  any  other. 

By  this  feature  of  the  work,  instead  of  burdening  the 
student  with  folios  of  unprofitable  learning,  we  open  to 
him  very  copious  fountains  of  biblical  knowledge  on  the 
cheapest  terms,  in  the  simplest  and  most  available  form, 
and  of  a  character  supposed  to  be  unexceptionable  to 
every  evangelical  mind. 

VII.  We  have  made  all  practicable  use  of  the  infor¬ 
mation  furnished  by  modern  travellers  in  the  east,  and 
especially  by  Ame^can  missionaries,  to  whose  journals 
frequent  references  will  be  found.  In  every  case  where 
the  testimony  of  known  and  living  witnesses  could  be 
brought,  to  give  present  existence  and  reality  to  distant 
times  and  places,  we  have  not  failed  to  introduce  it. 

1* 


6 


PREFACE. 


VIII.  It  is  confidently  believed  that  in  no  volume  of 
the  kind  are  there  fewer  errors  in  references.  Great 
care  was  taken  to  have  the  copy  accurate  in  this  re¬ 
spect  ;  the  proofs  were  read  by  the  author,  and  at  the 
same  time  by  a  very  accurate  and  experienced  proof¬ 
reader,  and  by  both  was  every  reference  carefully  ex¬ 
amined  by  the  Bible ;  and  since  the  work  was  stereo¬ 
typed  the  whole  has  been  read  again,  and  every  refer¬ 
ence  re-examined  and  compared  with  the  Bible. 


DICTIONARY 


or  THE 

HOLY  BIBLE, 


AAR 

ARON,  (Ex.  vi.  20,)  the 
first  high  priest  of  the 
Jews,  was  the  son  of  Amram, 
of  the  tribe  of  Levi,  and  was 
born  about  the  year  2430.  He 
was  three  years  older  than  his 
brother  Moses,  and  being  a 
more  ready  speaker,  he  was 
appointed  by  the  Lord  to 
assist  Moses  in  guiding  and 
controlling  the  Israelites,  in 
their  journey  from  Egypt  to 
Canaan. 

The  relation  which  Aaron 
sustained  was  thus  expressed 
by  tlis  Lord  to  MoseB: — He 
shall  be  thy  spokesman  unto 
the  people.  He  shall  be  to 
thee  instead  of  a  mouth ,  and 
thou  shalt  be  to  him  instead 
of  God.  (Ex.  iv.  16.)  I  have 
made  thee  a  God  to  Pharaoh  ; 
and  Aaron  thy  brother  shall 
be  thy  prophet.  (Ex.  vii.  1.) 

Aaron  married  Elisheba,the 
daughter  of  Amniinadab,  and 
had  four  sons,  Nadab,  Abihu, 
Eleazar,  and  Ithamar.  The 
two  former  were  punished  with 
death  for  a  heinous  sin,  and 
the  priesthood  remained  in  the 
other  two.  (See  Abihu.) 

As  most  of  the  important 
events  in  the  life  of  Aaron  are 
intimately  connected  with  his 
brother’s  history,  they  will  be 
reserved  for  that  article.  (See  I 


aAR 

Moses.)  Those  in  which  Aa¬ 
ron  was  only  or  principally 
concerned,  are  briefly  the  fol¬ 
lowing. 

At  an  early  period  after  the 
departure  of  the  children  of 
Israel  from  Egypt,  Aaron  and 
his  sons  were  set  apart  by 
God’s  direction,  and  with  the 
most  solemn  ceremonies;  to 
minister  in  the  priest’s  office, 
which  Aaron  continued  to  fill 
until  his  death.  (Heb.  v.  4.) 

Before  his  consecration,  and 
while  Moses  was  in  the 
mount,  receiving  the  law  from 
God,  the  people  became  impa¬ 
tient,  and  besought  Aaron  to 
make  them  idol  gods.  Ha 
thereupon  commanded  them 
to  break  off  the  golden  ear¬ 
rings  of  their  wives  and  child¬ 
ren  ;  which  being  collected 
and  brought  to  Aaron,  ha 
made  out  of  them  an  idol  in 
fine  shape  of  a  calf,  like  one 
of  the  idols  of  Egypt.  Before 
this  image  the  people  danced 
and  shouted,  saying,— These 
be  thy  gods,  O  Israel,  which 
brought  thee  up  out  of  the 
land  of  Egypt.  This  act, 
and  the  aggravating  circum 
stances  connected  with  it, 
(Ex.  xxxii.  25,)  involved  Aa 
ron  in  great  guilt.  His  two 
sons,  Nadab  and  Abihu,  wera 


AAR 

goon  afterwards  destroyed  in 
a  most  sudden  and  fearful 
manner.  At  a  later  period, 
Aaron,  with  his  sister  Miriam, 
spoke  reproachfully  concern¬ 
ing  Moses,  and  God  was  very 
angry  with  him ;  but  upon  the 
confession  of  his  sin,  he  was 
pardoned.  (See  Miriam.) 

Korah  and  others  were  of¬ 
fended  with  Moses  and  Aaron, 
and  charged  them  with  taking 
upon  themselves  authority 
which  belonged  as  much  to 
others  as  to  them.  Moses 
expostulated  with  them,  and 
especially  with  Korah  ;  but 
his  remonstrance  was  all  in 
vain,  and  the  next  day  the 
rebel  and  his  companions 
were  suddenly  destroyed.  (See 
Korah.) 

Immediately  after  this  fear¬ 
ful  exhibition  of  the  anger  of 
God,\  and  while  we  should 
suppose  the  terror  of  such 
judgments  would  still  possess 
their  minds,  the  people  of 
Israel  renewed  their  murmur- 
ines  against  Moses  and  Aaron. 
(Num.  xvi.  41.)  A  dreadful 
plague  having  appeared  sud¬ 
denly  in  the  nndst  of  them, 
which  threatened  the  people 
with  utter  and  immediate  de¬ 
struction,  Aaron,  at  the  com¬ 
mand  of  Moses,  took  a  censer 
with  incense,  and  ran  quickly 
info  the  midst  of  the  congre- 

fation,  and  stood  between  the 
iving  and  the  dead,  until  he 
had  made  an  atonement  for 
them,  and  the  plague  was 
stayed.  (Num.  xvi.  44—50.) 

A  signal  attestation  was 
granted  to  Aaron’s  official 
authority  in  the  folio  wing 
manner.  Twelve  rods  or 
branches  of  the  almond  tree 
were  taken,  one  for  the  head 
of  each  house,  or  tribe,  of  Is¬ 
rael  ;  and  upon  the  rod  of  the 
tribe  of  Levi  was  written  the 
name  of  Aaron.  The  rods 
were  laid  together  in  a  parti¬ 
cular  place  in  the  tabernacle ; 
and  the  next  day,  wnen  Moses 


AAR 

went  into  the  tabernacle,  the 
rod  which  had  Aaron’s  name 
upon  it  “  was  budded,  and 
brought  forth  buds,  and  bloom¬ 
ed  blossoms,  and  yielded 
almonds.”  This  wonderful 
miracle  was  made  known  to 
the  people  by  an  exhibition 
of  the  rod  ;  but  it  was  imme¬ 
diately  taken  back  into  the 
tabernacle,  to  be  kept  there 
for  ever  ,/or  a  token  against 
the  rebels,  (or  the  children  qf 
rebellion.')  (Num.  xvii.  10.) 

When  the  supply  ol  water 
was  miraculously  furnished 
in  the  desert  of  Zin,  Aaron 
neglected  to  acknowledge  the 
power  of  God,  and  for  this 
was  denied  the  privilege  of 
entering  into  the  promised 
land.  In  the  fortieth  year 
after  he  had  left  Egypt,  he 
was  commanded  to  go  up  with 
Moses  his  brother,  and  Elea- 
zar  his  son,  into  mount  Hor, 
in  sight  of  all  the  congrega¬ 
tion,  that  he  might  die  there. 
(Num.  xx.  128.)  The  place  of 
Aaron’s  death  is  called  Mo- 
sera,  in  Deut.  x.  6 ;  but  the 
same  spot  is  denoted  in  both 
passages.  Burckhardt  tells  us 
that  mount  Hor  stands  upon 
the  western  side  of  a  valley 
once  called  Mosera.  Josephus 
and  other  historians  place  the 
sepulchre  of  Aaron  on  mount 
Hor,  where  it  is  still  vene¬ 
rated  by  the  Arabs.  A  modern 
traveller  visited  the  place, 
and  found  the  supposed  tomb 
in  the  care  of  a  crippled  Arab, 
eighty  years  old.  The  mo- 
nument  is  about  three  feet 
high,  and  is  protected  by  a 
small,  white  building,  with  a 
cupola.  (See  Hor.) 

The  circumstances  of  Aa¬ 
ron’s  death  are  peculiarly 
interesting  and  impressive 
On  his  way  to  the  mount  his 
official  robes  were  transferred 
to  his  son  and  successor  in 
the  priesthood,  ahd  he  died  In 
the  top  of  the  mount,  B.  c. 
1451,  aged  one  hundred  and 


ABA 

twenty-three  vears.  (Num. 
xxxiii.  39.)  When  Moses  and 
_  Eleazar  came  down,  and  the 
’  people  saw  that  Aaron  was 
dead,  they  mourned  for  him 
thirty  days,  §ven  all  the  house 
of  Israel.  (Num.  xx.  29.) 

Aaron  is  called  the  saint  of 
the  Lord.  (Ps.  cvi.  16.)  Some 
have  supposed  that  he  assist¬ 
ed  Moses  in  writing  parts  of 
the  Pentateuch,  and“thus  they 
account  for  any  supposed  dif¬ 
ference  of  style,  &c.  His  his¬ 
tory  is  given  us  in  the  books 
of  Exodus,  Leviticus,  Num¬ 
bers,  and  Deuteronomy. 

AARONITES.  (1  Chron. 
Xii.  27.)  Levites  of  the  family 
of  Aaron:  the  priests  who 
served  the  sanctuary.  Elea¬ 
zar,  Aaron’s  son,  was  their 
chief.  (Num.  iv.  16.) 

AB.  (See  Month.) 

ABADDON.  (Rev.  ix.  11.) 
The  Hebrew  name  for  the 
anjrel  of  the  bottomless  pit, 
and  answering  to  the  Greek 
name  Apollyon.  They  both 
signify  the  destroyer. 

ABANA.  (2  Kings  v.  12.) 
A  river  of  Syria,  near  Damas¬ 
cus,  supposed  to  be  one  of  the 
branches  of  the  Barradi,  or 
Chrysorrhoas.  It  rises  at  the 
foot  of  mount  Lebanon;  di¬ 
vides  into  several  small 
streams  eastward  of  Damas¬ 
cus,  watering  the  whole  coun¬ 
try  in  the  vicinity ;  then  they 
unite  again,  and  the  river 
continues  its  course  till  it 
empties  into  a  small  marshy 
lake,  fifteen  or  twenty  miles 
distant  from  the  city. 

This  and  the  river  Pharpar 
Supplied  an  abundance  of  wa¬ 
ter,  and  rendered  the  country 
around  Damascus,  though  on 
the  edge  of  a  desert,  one  of 
the  most  beautiful  and  fertile 
spots  in  the  world ;  while  the 
streams  of  Judea  or  Israel, 
with  the  exception  of  the  Jor¬ 
dan,  are  nearly  dry  the  greater 
rtof  the  year,  and,  running 
deep  and  rocky  channels, 


ABE 

give  but  partial  fertility  to  the 
land  through  which  they  flow. 
This  may  well  account  for  the 
question  of  Naaman:— “Are 
not  Abana  and  Ph  arpar,  rivers 
of  Damascus,  better  than  all 
the  waters  of  Israel  1” 
ABARIM.  (Deut.  xxxii.  49.) 
A  general  name  given  to  a 
mountainous  ridge,  running 
from  north  to  south,  east  of 
Jordan,  and  before  the  north¬ 
ern  border  of  Moab.  Nebo 
was  one  of  the  conspicuous 
mountains  in  the  chain,  and 
Pis^ah  was  one  of  the  highest 
of  the  summits  of  Nebo.  1'he 
modern  mount  Dhana  is  sup- 

ffosed  to  be  a  part  of  Abarim. 
je-abarim.  (Num.  xxi.  11,) 
meaning  “heaps  of  Abarim,” 
is  another  name  for  the  same 
chain. 

ABBA.  (Rom.  viii.  15.)  The 
Hebrew  word  ab,  from  which 
abba  is  derived,  signifies,  in 
its  root,  acquiescence.  The 
title,  abba,  was  not  allowed  to 
be  used  by  servants  or  slaves 
when  addressing  the  head  of 
the  family, — a  circumstance 
which  gives  much  force  to  the 
term  in  the  passage  cited.* 
The  full  meaning  of  this  term 
cannot  be  expressed  in  our 
language.  It  implies  a  high 
degree  of  love,  confidence, and 
suBmission,  as  well  as  a  most 
endeared  and  intimate  con¬ 
nexion  and  fellowship.  (Mark 
xiv.  36.  Gal.  iv.  6.)  The  word 
ab  (meaning  father)  is  men¬ 
tioned  as  one  of  the  first  and 
simplest  words  of  infancy. 
(Isa.  viii.  4.) 

ABEDNEGO.  (Dan.  i.  7.) 
The  Chaldee  name  which  was 
given  by  an  officer  of  the  kina 
of  Babylon  to  Azariah,  one  of 
the  four  children  or  youths  of 
Judah,  taken  captive  at  Jeru 
Salem  about  the  year  3398,  and 
ordered  by  the  king  to  be 
trained  fir  his  partic  alar  ser¬ 
vice.  (See  Daniel.)  It  was 
customary  for  masters  to  give 
new  names  to  their  servants 


ABE 

pr  captives.  The  other  three 
were,  Daniel,  (or  Belteshaz- 
rar,)  Hananiah,(or  Shadrach,) 
and'Mishael,  (or  Meshach.) 

After  Daniel’s  promotion  to 
be  ruler  over  the  whole  pro¬ 
vince  of  Babylon,  his  three 
companions  were,  at  his  re¬ 
quest,  elevated  to  places  of 
trust.  Nebuchadnezzar  the 
king  saw  fit  to  make  a  golden 
image;  and  having  dedicated 
it  with  great  pomp,  be  com¬ 
manded  that,  at  a  certain  sig¬ 
nal,  the  people  of  all  nations 
and  languages  should  fall 
down  and  worship  the  image, 
and  that  those  who  refused 
should  be  cast  into  the  midst 
of  a  burning  furnace.  In  this 
act  of  idolatry,  Shadrach,  Me¬ 
shach,  and  Abednego  would 
not  unite,  though  commanded 
by  the  king  himself.  They 
replied  that  they  were  Dot 
anxious  to  answer  the  king  in 
this  matter,  as  the  God  whom 
they  loved  and  served  was 
able  to  deliver  them,  to  what¬ 
ever  extremity  they  might  be 
reduced. 

The  king  was  filled  with 
fury,  and  commanded  the  fur¬ 
nace  to  be  heated  sevenfold 
Hotter  than  was  usual ;  and 
ihe  strongest  men  were  em¬ 
ployed  to  bind  them,  and  cast 
them  into  the  flames.  Strong 
men  were  ordinarily  employ¬ 
ed  for  this  purpose,  to  meet 
any  resistance  that  might  be 
attempted ;  but  some  think 
that  the  phrase  “  most  mighty 
men,”  used  here,  means  the 
chief  officers  of  the  army,  who 
were  selected  to  make  the 
punishment  more  imposing 
and  exemtdary. 

With  all  their  garments  on, 
they  were  cast  into  the  fur¬ 
nace,  and  so  intense  was  the 
heat  that  the  executioners 
were  destroyed  by  it.  The 
king  was  present  to  witness 
the  execution  of  the  sentence ; 
and,  though  the  three  men  at 
first  fell  down  bound  in  the 


ABE 

midst  of  the  flumes,  yet  when 
he  looked,  expecting  to  sea 
them  destroyed,  he  beheld 
them  loosed  from  their  bonds; 
walking  unhurt  in  the  midst 
of  the  fire,  and  a  fourth  person 
with  them  whose  form  was 
“  like  the  Son  of  God.”  This 
was  the  king’s  language,  and 
whatever  he  might  have  in¬ 
tended  by  the  term,  “  Son  of 
God,”  the  fourth  person,  to 
whom  he  refers,  was  probably 
an  angel  of  God,  sent  for  this 
purpose,  as  he  was  afterwards 
sent  to  shut  the  mouths  of 
lions  for  the  protection  of  his 
servant  Daniel;  or  it  might 
have  been  the  eternal  and 
uncreated  Son  of  God,  appear¬ 
ing  to  protect  and  deliver  his 
faithful  servants  in  the  time 
of  their  calamity.  (Matt, 
xxviil.  20.) 

Upon  the  call  of  the  king 
from  the  mouth  of  the  furnace, 
these  three  servants  of  the 
most  high  God  came  forth,  in 
the  presence  of  the  princes 
and  rulers  of  the  country;  and 
so  completely  had  they  been 
protected  by  the  mighty  power 
in  which  they  trusted,  that  not 
a  hair  was  singed ;  the  colour 
of  their  coats  was  not  changed, 
nor  Was  there  even  the  smell 
of  fire  upon  them. 

The  monarch,  astonished  at 
this  evident  interposition  of 
the  Almighty  in  their  behalf, 
forthwith  passed  a  decree, 
threatening  to  punish  in  the 
severest  manner  any  one  who 
should  speak  against  the  God 
of  Shadrach,  Meshach,  and 
Abednego;  because  (said  he) 
there  is  no  other  God  that  can 
deliver  after  this  sort;  and 
the  men  were  restored  to  their 
places  in  the  province.  (Dan. 
lii.) 

ABEL  (Gen.  iv.  2)  was  the 
second  son  of  Adam  and  Eve. 
He  was  occupied  as  a  keeper 
or  feeder  of  sheep;  and  in 
process  of  time  brought  of  the 
firstlings,  or  first-fruits  of  his 


ABE 

flock,  an  offering  unto  the 
Lord.  It  is  supposed  that  be¬ 
sides  a  thank-offering,  Abel 
brought  a  sin-offering,  and 
thus  evinced  his  penitent 
sense  of  sin,  as  well  as  his 
faith  in  a  promised  Saviour. 
This  may  be  a  reasonable 
conjecture,  but  has  not  scrip¬ 
tural  authority.  God  was 
pleased,  however,  to  accept 
nls  offering,  and  to  give  him 
evidence  of  it.  (Heb.  xi.  4.) 
Not  so  with  Cain.  Either  his 
sacrifice,  or  the  manner  of 
presenting  it,  was  offensive  to 
God,  and  the  offering  was  re¬ 
jected.  (1  John  iii.  12.)  Cain 
was  exceedingly  angry,  and. 
filled  with  envy,  he  embraced 
an  opportunity  when  they 
were  in  the  field  together,  to 
take  his  brother’s  life.  (Gen. 
iv.) 

Our  Saviour  distinguishes 
Abel  by  the  title  righteous , 
(Matt,  xxiii.  35.)  He  is  also 
one  of  the  faithful  “  elders” 
mentioned  in  the  epistle  to 
the  Hebrews,  (ch.  xi.)  and  is 
justly  called  the  first  martyr. 

Blood  of  Abel.  (Heb.  xii. 
24.)  The  blood  of  sprinkling, 
or  the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ 
shed  for  the  remission  of  sins, 
speaks  better  things  than  the 
blood  of  Abel,  inasmuch  as 
the  latter  speaks  only  of  the 
malice  and  madness  of  the 
heart  of  man,  and  cried  to 
God  from  the  ground  for  ven¬ 
geance  on  the  murderer’s 
head ;  while  the  blood  iof 
Christ,  which  flowed  freely 
for  the  guilty  and  ruined  sin¬ 
ner,  speaks  peace  and  pardon 
for  every  penitent  and  believ¬ 
ing  soul.  (1  John  i.  7.) 

..  ABEL— GREAT  STONE  OF,  (1 
Sam.  vi.  18,)  was  in  the  field  of 
JcshuaofBeth-shemesh, where 
the.  ark  of  the  Lord  rested 
when  it  was  returned  by  the 
Philistines  to  Kirjath-jearim. 

ABEL-BETH-MAACHAH, 
(2  Kings  xv.  29,)  a  city  in  the 
northern  district  of  the  tribe 


ABE 

of  Naphtali,  lying  south-east 
of  Cesarea-Philippi.  To  this 
place  Sheba,  the  son  of  Bichri, 
fled  and  posted  himself,  when 
pursued  by  Joab,  general  of  the 
army  of  David.  The  citizens, 
however,  who  feared  a  siege  if 
they  harboured  him,  cut  off  his 
head,  at  the  suggestion  of  a  wo 
man,  and  threw  it  over  the  wall 
to  Joab.  (2  Sam.  xx.  14—22.) 
The  city  was  afterwards  cap 
lured,  (1  Kings  xv.  20.  2  Kings 
xv.  29.)  Perhaps  the  phrase 
mother  in  Israel,  (2  Sam 
xx.  19,)  if  it  was  designed  to 
apply  to  the  place  at  all, 
may  denote  its  size  and  im¬ 
portance. 

ABEL-MAIM  (2  Chron.  xvi. 
4)  is  called  Abel-Beth-maa- 
chah,  (1  Kings  xw  20,)  and  ap¬ 
pears  to  have  been  the  same 
place.  (See  Abel-beth-jhaa- 

CHAH.) 

ABEL-MEHOLAH.  (Judg. 
vii.  22.  1  Kings  xix.  16.)  A 
town  in  the  plain  of  Jordan, 
about  ten  miles  south  of  Beth- 
shean,  and  between  that  and 
Shechem;  distinguished  as  the 
birthplace  of  Elisha,  and  as 
the  refuge  of  the  Midianilcs 
when  pursued  by  Gideon. 

ABEL-M1Z RAIM  (Gen.  1. 
11)  means  the  mourning  of 
the  Egyptians.  It  was  pro¬ 
bably  in  the  plains  of  Jericho, 
and  is  placed  by  ancient 
writers  between  the  city  of 
Jericho  and  the  river  Jordan. 
The  threshing-floor  of  Atad 
was  here,  and  the  name  Abel- 
mizraim  was  derived  from  the 
circumstance,  that  here  Jo¬ 
seph  and  his  company  halted 
seven  days  to  mourn,  as  they 
were  passing  from  Egypt  to 
Canaan  to  bury  Jacob.  (Gen. 
1.  10,  11.)  The  term  “  beyond 
Jordan,”  which  is  used  In 
describing  the  place,  refers  to 
the  situation  of  the  sacred 
writer  at  the  time  of  writing. 
As  he  was  on  the  east  of  the 
river,  Abel-mizraim  was  be¬ 
yond  or  on  the  west  side. 

II 


AB1  ABI 

ABEL-SHITTIM,  or  Shit-  i  Keilah,  and  told  him  what 
Tim.  (Num.  xxxiii.  49;  xxv.  Saul  had  done.  David  re- 
1.)  A  town,  six  or  sevenmiies  1  ceived  Abiathar, and  protected 
distant  from  the  east  bank  of  ,  him,  and  he  afterwards  be* 


the  Jordan,  opposite  to  Jeri¬ 
cho.  It  was  the  place  of  one 
of  the  last  encampments  of 
Israel,  on  that  side  of  the 
river.  Some  have  supposed 
(and  modern  geographers  con¬ 
firm  the  opinion)  that  Shittim 
was  a  village,  and  Abel-shiltim 
the  plain  or  valley  in  which 
it  was  situated.  It  was  at 
this  place,  almost  at  the 
end  of  their  miraculous  jour- 
neyings,  that  the  people  of 
Israel  fell  into  the  snares  of 
the  daughters  of  Moab,  and 
committed  the  grossest  idola¬ 
ry,  for  which  they  were  visit¬ 
ed  with  a  desolating  plague 
which  destroyed  24,000  people. 
Hence,  perhaps,  the  name 
Adel,  from  the  mourning  that 
such  mortality  must  have  oc¬ 
casioned.  The  spies  whom 
Joshua  sent  to  Jericho  went 
from  Shittim.  (Josh.  ii.  1.) 

ABIA,  course  op.  (Luke  i. 
S.)  In  1  Chron.  xxiv.  we  have 
an  account  of  the  divisions  of 
the  priests  into  twenty-four 
classes,  courses,  or  orders, 
who  ministered  atthe  altar  in 
rotation.  The  courses  were 
distinguished  by  the  name  of 
the  most  prominent  member 
of  the  family  from  which  the 
course  was  taken.  The  eighth 
of  these  courses  fell  to  the 
family  of  Abia,  or  Abijah  :  and 
to  this  course  belonged  Ze- 
chariah,  the  father  of  John  the 
Baptist. 

ABIATHAR.  (1  Sam.  xxii. 
20.)  The  tenth  high  priest  of 
the  Jews,  and  fourth  in  descent 
from  Ell.  Doeg,  at  the  com¬ 
mand  of  king  Saul,  fell  upon 
the  priests  of  the  Lord  at  Nob, 
and  slew  them.  Among  the 
slain  was  Ahimelech.  His 
son  Abiathar  escaped  from 
the  carnage,  and  taking  with 


came  high  priest.  Thus  there 
were  two  high  priests  in  Israel 
at  the  same  time,— Abiathar  in 
the  parly  of  David,  andZadok 
in  the  party  of  Saul,  (2  Sam. 
viii.  17 ;)  but  in  consequence 
cf  his  supporting  Adonijah  in 
his  pretensions  to  the  throne 
of  David,  Solomon,  upon  be¬ 
coming  king,  thrust  Abiathar 
out  of  the  priesthood,  (1  Kings 
(  ii.  27,)  and  conferred  the  office 
exclusively  upon  Zadok.  (See 
Zadok.)  Thus  was  fulfilled 
the  word  of  G  od  to  Eli,  (1  Sam. 
ii.  31 ;)  for  Abiathar  was  the 
last  of  the  priests  of  the  house 
of  Ithamar,  to  which  Eli  be¬ 
longed  ;  and  Zadok,  who  suc¬ 
ceeded  him,  was  of  the  family 
of  Eleazar  ;  and  so  the  priest¬ 
hood  passed  into  its  lormer 
channel.  Abiathar,  mention¬ 
ed  in  Mark  ii.  26,  has  been 
supposed  by  some  to  be  the 
same  with  Ahimelech.  Others 
have  thought  (though  without 
much  reason)  that  the  evan¬ 
gelist  refers  to  some  “  history 
of  the  days  of  Abiathar”  then 
extant,  in  which  the  conduct 
of  David  and  Ahimelech  in  the 
matter  of  the  shew-bread  was 
recorded,  and  that  the  allusion 
was  well  understood  by  those 
who  heard  it.  The  most  pro¬ 
bable  solution  of  the  difficulty 
is,  that  as  both  officiated  at  the 
same  time,  and  both  received 
the  title,  the  name  of  either 
was  used  to  designate  that 
period.  The  facts  to  which 
the  gospel  alludes,  in  the  pas¬ 
sage  cited,  are  fully  stated  in 
1  "Sam.  xxi.  (See  Life  op 
David,  by  the  American  Suds' 
day-school  Union,  pp.  85—87, 
and  104.) 

ABIEZER.  (Judg.  viii  2.) 
The  passage  contains  a  highly 
figurative  expression.  Gideon 


.  to  7  —  ■  t  ia.ii  ngui  v  v  uapj  uuuiuu,  va  i  i-i  mill 

him  some  part  of  the  priest’s  was  of  the  family  of  Abiezer. 
garments,  fled  to  David  at  I  The  Ephraimites  complained 


12 


ABI 

because  they  were  not  called 
upon  to  go  out  to  battle  against 
the  Midianites.  Gideon  at¬ 
tempted  to  pacify  them  ;  re¬ 
presenting  his  own  victory, 
with  a  force  of  three  hundred 
men  chiefly  of  the  family  of 
Abiezer,  as  of  very  little  im¬ 
portance,  in  comparison  with 
the  capture  of  'two  of  the 
princes  of  Midian,  which  the 
men  of  Ephraim  had  accom¬ 
plished.  Though  the  latter,  in 
respect  to  numbers,  might  be 
as  the  gleaning  of  the  vine¬ 
yard,  yet  in  the  glory  and  im¬ 
portance  of  it, it  was  more  than 
the  whole  vintage  which  the 
men  of  Abiezer  had  gathered. 

ABIGAIL.  (1  Sam.  xxv.  3.) 
The  wise  and  beautiful  wife  of 
the  churlish  and  wicked  Na- 
bal.  When  her  husband  had 
exposed  himself  to  the  anger 
of  David,  by  his  rude  and  con¬ 
temptuous  treatment  of  his 
messengers,  Abigail  hastened 
to  meet  him,  while  he  was  on 
his  way  with  four  hundred 
men  to  revenge  the  insult. 
She  managed  the  affair  with 
so  much  prudence  as  to  pacify 
David,  and  obtain  his  blessing. 
About  ten  days  after  her  re¬ 
turn,  the  Lord  visited  Nabal 
with  sickness,  and  he  died, 
and  Abigail  became  David’s 
wife.  A  beautiful  sketch  of 
this  portion  of  sacred  history 
may  be  found  in  the  Life  of 
David,  by  the  American  Sun¬ 
day-school  Union,  ch.  xv. 

ABIHU.  (Ex.  xxviii.  1.) 
One  of  the  sons  of  Aaron, 
who,  with  his  brothers,  Na- 
dab,  Eleazar,  and  Ithamar, 
were  separated  or  set  apart 
by  God  to  the  office  of  the 
priesthood.  Soon  after  they 
entered  on  their  sacred  du¬ 
ties,  Nadab  and  Abihu  were 
guilty  of  a  violation  of  God’s 
commands,  respecting  the 
manner  of  offering  incense, 
and  were  instantly  consumed. 
(Lev.  x.  1,  2.)  This  event 


ABI 

happened  in  the  wilderness 
of  Sinai.  The»nature  of  their 
offence  is  very  obvious ;  they 
used  common  fire  instead  of 
the  fire  which  they  were 
required  to  use ;  and  some 
suppose  they  were  drawn  into 
this  presumptuous  sin  by  the 
too  free  use  of  wine. 

ABUAH.  1.  (1  Kings  xiv.  1-) 
A  son  of  Jeroboam,  who  died 
under  interesting  circum¬ 
stances,  in  early  life.  (See 
Jeroboam.)  2.  (2  Chron.  xiii. 

1. )  Abijah  or  ABIJAM,  the 
son  of  Kehoboam  and  Mi 
chaiah,  succeeded  his  father 
as  king  of  Judah.  He  made 
war  against  Jeroboam,  king 
of  Israel,  and  defeated  him, 
with  a  loss  of  500,000  men. 
He  began  to  reign  in  the  18th 
year  of  Jeroboam,  and  was 
succeeded  by  his  son  Asa  in 
the  20th  year  of  Jeroboam,  so 
that  he  reigned  only  a  part  of 
three  years.  There  is  an 
apparent  contradiction  in 
respect  to  the  parentage  of 
this  person,  as  it  is  given  in  1 
Kines  xv.  2,  and  2  Citron,  xiii. 

2,  which  may  be  explained  as 
fol’ows.  Abiehalom  is  the 
same  with  Absalom.  (2  Chron. 
xi.  21.)  Ttie  term  daughter  is 
aiven  indifferently  in  the 
Bible,  not  only  to  one’s  own 
child,  but  to  a  niece,  grand¬ 
daughter,  or  great-grand¬ 
daughter.  Rehoboam  had  al¬ 
ready  taken  two  wives  from 
the  family  of  David,  (2  Chron. 
xi.  18,)  and  of  course  would 
find  no  difficulty  in  taking  a 
third  wife  from  the  same 
family,  in  the  line  of  Absalom. 
We  have  only  to  suppose  then 
that  Maachah  and  Michaiah 
mean  the  same  person;  and 
that  she  was  the  daughter  of 
Uriel,  and  the  grand,daughter 
of  Absalom,  and  the  whole 
difficulty  is  removed. 

ABILENE.  (Luke  iii.  1.)  A 
province  of  Syria,  lyiDg  west 
of  Damascus  and  north  of 
13 


AB1 

Galilee,  of  which  Lysanias 
was  tetrarch  ia  the  time  of 
John  the  BaptiSt. 

ABIMELECH,  1.  (Gen.  xx. 

2,  and  xxvi.  1,)  was  king  of 
Gerar,  and  being  deceived  by 
Abraham,  he  sent  and  took 
Sarah,  Abraham’s  wife,  to  be 
his  wife.  God  warned  him, 
however,  in  a  dream,  of  Sa¬ 
rah’s  relation  to  Abraham, 
and  thus  withheld  him  from 
the  commission  of  sin,  because 
he  did  it  in  ignorance.  (Gen. 
xx.  6.)  Abimelech,  having 
rebuked  Abraham,  restored 
Sarah  to  him  with  many  gifts, 
and  offered  him  a  dwelling- 
place  in  any  part  of  the  land. 
God  afterwards  remitted  the 
punishment  of  the  family  of 
Abimelech.  At  a  subsequent 
period,  Abimelech  (or  his 
successor  of  the  same  name) 
was  deceived,  in  like  manner, 
by  Isaac,  respecting  his  wife 
Rebekah,  while  they  dwelt  in 
Gerar  during  a  time  of  famine 
in  Canaan. 

2.  (Judg.  viii.  31.)  A  son  of 
Gideon,  who,  after  the  death 
of  his  father,  persuaded  the 
men  of  Shechem  to  make  him 
king.  (Judg.  ix.  18.)  He  after- 
warils  put  to  death  seventy 
of  his  brothers  who  dwelt  in 
his  father's  house  at  Ophrah, 
leaving  only  Jotham,  the 
youngest,  alive.  After  several 
defeats  he  was  at  last  mortally 
wounded  by  a  piece  of  a  mill¬ 
stone  thrown  upon  his  head 
by  a  woman  from  the  top  of  a 
tower  in  Thebez.  That  it 
might  not  be  said  a  woman 
slew  him,  he  called  to  his  ar¬ 
mour-bearer  to  stab  him  with 
his  sword,  and  thus  he  died. 
(Judg.  ix.  54—57.) 

AEINADAB.  1.  (1  Sam.  xvi. 
8.)  One  of  the  eight  sons  of 
Jesse,  and  one  of  the  three  of 
his  sons  who  followed  Saul  in 
battle. 

2.  (1  Sam.  xxxi.  2.)  One  of 


AB1 

Sau/s  ions  who  was  slain  ai 
the  batule  of  Gilboa. 

3.  (1  Sum.  vii.  1,  and 
1  Chron.  xiii.  7.)  A  Levite  of 
Kirjath-jearim,with  whom  the 
ark  of  the  Lord  was  deposited 
when  it  was  brought  back 
from  the  Philistines. 

4.  (1  Kings  iv.  11.)  One  of 
the  twelve  officers  appointed 
by  Solomon  to  provide  alter 
nately,  month  by  month,  food 
for  the  king  and  his  house 
hold. 

ABIRAM.  1.  (Num.  xvi.  1.) 
One  of  the  sons  of  Eliab,  the 
Reubenitej  who  were  destroy 
ed  with  Korah  for  a  conspi 
racy  against  Moses.  (See 
Korah.) 

2.  (1  Kings  xvi.  34.)  The 
first-born  of  Kiel,  the  Bethel- 
ite. 

ABISHAG.  (1  Kings  i.  15.) 
A  fair  woman  of  Shunem  in 
the  tribe  of  Issachar,  who  was 
selected  by  the  servants  of 
David  to  minister  to  him  in 
his  old  age,  and  to  cherish 
him.  After  David’s  death  and 
the  ascension  of  Solomon  to 
the  throne,  Adonijah  desired 
Abishag  in  marriage,  but  So¬ 
lomon  perceived  fiis  policy, 
(see  Adonijah,)  and  caused 
hint  to  be  put  to  death.  (1 
Kings  ii.  25.) 

ABlSHAI.  (2  Sam.  ii.  18.)  A 
son  of  Zeruiah.  He  was  a 
nephew  of  David,  and  among 
the  chief  of  his  mighty  men. 
He  accompanied  David  to  the 
camp  of  Saul,  and  counselled 
him  to  take  Saul’s  life.  See  a 
full  account  of  this  interesting 
scene,  with  an  illustrative  en¬ 
graving,  in  the  Life  op  Da¬ 
vid,  by  the  American  Sunday- 
school  Union,  chap.  xvi. 

Abishai,  with  Joab  his  bro¬ 
ther,  attacked  and  defeated 
the  Syrians  and  the  children 
of  Ammon.  (2  Sam.  x.)  David 
appointed  him,  in  conjunction 
with  Joab  and  lttai,  to  the 
command  of  the  people  whe# 


ABN 

they  went  forth  to  battle 
against  Israel,  in  the  wood  of 
Ephraim.  (2  Sam.  xviii.  2.) 

Abiehai  afterwards  rescued 
David  from  the  giant  Philis¬ 
tine  Ishbi-benob,  whom  he 
smote  and  killed.  (2  Sam.  xxi. 
16,  17.) 

The  victory  over  the  Edom¬ 
ites  in  the  valley  of  Salt, 
which  is  ascribed  to  David, 
(2  Sam.  viii.  13,)  is  ascribed 
to  Abishai,(l  Chron.  xviii.  12.) 
Probably  Abishai  actually  ob¬ 
tained  the  victory,  but  as  he 
was  an  officer  under  David,  it 
might  also  with  propriety  be 
spoken  of  as  David’s  achieve¬ 
ment. 

Abishai  was  associated  with 
Joab  in  the  assassination  of 
Abner.  (2  Sam.  iii.  30.) 

ABJECTS.  (Ps.  xxxv.  15.) 
Low,  base  persons,  and,  as 
some  suppose,  hired  assas¬ 
sins. 

ABNER,  (1  Sam.  xiv.  50,) 
the  son  of  Ner,  was  a  near 
relation  of  Saul,  and  a  faithful 
and  distinguished  general  of 
flis  armies.  We  first  hear  of 
him,  particularly,  as  the  cap¬ 
tain  of  the  host,  of  whom 
Saul  inquired  concerning  the 
stripling,  David,  whose  vic¬ 
tory  over  Goliath  had  excited 
his  astonishment;  and  after  a 
little  time  Abner  introduced 
David  to  Saul,  with  the  head 
of  the  giant  Philistine  in  his 
band. 

It  was  through  the  want  of 
vigilance  in  Abner  that  Saul’s 
life  was  placed  in  David’s 

ower  in  the  wilderness  of 

iph.  (1  Sam.  xxvi.  See  Da¬ 
vid,  Saul.) 

After  David  was  anointed 
king  of  Judah,  Abner  pro¬ 
cured  the  appointment  of  Ish- 
boshelh,  Saul’s  son,  as  king 
of  Israel ;  and  in  process  of 
time  the  army  of  David,  under 
Joab,  and  the  army  of  Israel, 
under  Abner,  arrayed  them¬ 
selves  on  either  side  of  the 
pool  of  Gibeon.  While  occu- 


ABN 

pying  this  position,  twelve 
men  of  each  army  met  and 
fought  desperately.  This  con¬ 
test  was  followed  by  a  general 
battle,  which  resulted  in  Ab¬ 
ner’s  defeat.  He  fled,  but  was 
pursued  by  Asahel,  who  “  was 
light  of  foot  as  a  wild  roe.” 
When  in  the  heat  of  pursuit, 
Abner  counselled  him  to  de¬ 
sist,  and  threatened  to  turn 
upon  him  and  slay  him  if  he 
did  not;  but  Asahel  refused 
to  turn  aside,  and  Abner 
“  with  the  hinder  end  of  his 
spear”  smote  him  so  that  he 
died.  Joab  and  Abishai  were 
also  engaged  in  the  pursuit, 
but  at  Abner’s  entreaty  they 
desisted  and  returned. 

As  David’s  strength  in¬ 
creased,  the  house'  of  Saul, 
though  faithfully  served  by 
Abner,  became  gradually 
weaker,  till  at  length  Ishbo- 
sheth  charged  Abner  with  an 
offence  against  Saul’s  family. 
He  was  exceedingly  irritated 
by  the  charge,  and  imme¬ 
diately  forsook  the  interests 
of  Saul’s  house,  and  espoused 
the  cause  of  David.  David 
received  him  cordially,  and 
sent  him  away  in  peace  to 

Eirsuade  Israel  to  submit  to 
avid’s  government. 

While' he  was  gone  on  this 
errand,  Joab  returned  ;  and 
hearing  what  had  been  done, 
he  went  to  the  king,  and 
warned  him  against  Abner  as 
a  spy  and  traitor.  Soon  after, 
and  without  David’s  know¬ 
ledge,  Joab  sent  for  Abner; 
ana  when  he  arrived,  tools 
him  aside  privately,  and  mur 
dered  him,  in  revenge  of  the 
death  of  his  brother  Asahel ; 
and  they  buried  him  in  He¬ 
bron. 

The  estimation  in  which  he 
was  held  by  the  king  and 
people  appears  from  the  sa¬ 
cred  history.  The  king  wept 
and  refused  his  food,  and  all 
the  people  wept;  and  the  king 
said  unto  his  servants,  Know 
15 


ABO 

j«  not  that  there  is  a  prince 
and  a  great  man  fallen  this 
day  in  Israel  ?  (2  Sam.  iii.  3S.) 

ABOMINABLE,  ABOMI¬ 
NATION.  1.  (Gen.  xlvi.  34.) 
An  abomination,  or  an  abomi¬ 
nable  thing,  is  a  thing  hateful 
or  detestable,  as  the  employ¬ 
ment  or  calling  of  shepherds 
was  to  the  Egyptians.  2.  (Lev. 
xi.  13,  and  Deut.  xxiii.  18.) 
Under  the  Mosaic  law  those 
animals  and  acts  are  called 
abominable,  the  use  or  doing 
of  which  was  prohibited.  3. 
(Jer.  xliv.  4,  and  2  Kings 
xxiii.  13.)  Idolatry  of  every 
kind  is  especially  denoted  by 
this  term.  4.  (Isa.  lxvi.  3.) 
Sins  in  general. 

The  abomination  of  deso- 
I.ation  (Matt.  xxiv.  15,  and 
Dan.  ix.  27,  and  xii.  11)  pro¬ 
bably  refers  to  the  ensigns  or 
banners  of  the  Roman  army, 
with  the  idolatrous, and  there¬ 
fore, abominable  images  upon 
them,  as  in  the  annexed  cut, 


w«  n  the  cityof  its  desolation. 
W„en  the  city  should  be  be- 


ABR 

sieged,  and  these  idolatrous 
standards  should  be  seen  “in 
the  holy  place,”  or  more 
strictly,  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
holy  city,  thus  threatening 
a  complete  conquest  and 
speedy  destruction,  it  would 
be  time  for  the  men  of  Judea 
to  flee  to  places  of  refuge  to 
save  themselves  from  tribu¬ 
lation  and  death. 

ABRAM, ABRAHAM, (Gen. 
xi.  27,)  was  the  son  of  Teralu 
and  was  born  at  Ur,  a  city  of 
Chaldea, the  location  of  which 
is  uncertain,  about  a.  m.  2008. 
While  he  was  dwelling  in  his 
father’s  house  at  Ur,  God  di¬ 
rected  him  to  leave  his  coun¬ 
try  and  kindred,  and  go  to  a 
land  which  should  be  shown 
him ;  promising,  at  the  same 
time,  to  make  of  him  a  great 
nation,  and  to  bless  him,  and 
to  make  his  name  great,  and 
that  in  him  all  the  families  of 
the  earth  should  be  blessed. 

Obedient  to  the  heavenly 
calling,  Abram  took  SaraiJiis 
wife,  and  with  Terah  his  fa¬ 
ther,  and  other  members  of 
the  family,  left  Ur  to  remove 
to  Canaan ;  and  stopped  at 
Haran. 

It  is  supposed  by  some  that 
while  theydwelt  in  Ur, Abram 
fell  into  the  idolatrous  prac¬ 
tices  which  prevailed  around 
him ;  but  in  the  absence  of 
all  evidence  on  this  point,  the 
contrary  may  surely  be  infer¬ 
red  from  the  readiness  with 
which  he  obeyed  God,  and  the 
faith  he  manifested  in  a  man¬ 
ner  so  exemplary  and  rare. 

While  they  were  dwelling 
at  Haran,  in  Mesopotamia, 
Terah  died.  Abram,  who 
was  then  seventy-five  years 
old,  pursued  his  journey  to 
Canaan  ;  and  having  reach 
ed  Sichem,  one  of  the  oldest 
cities  of  Palestine,  (see  She 
chem,)  the  Lord  appeared  to 
him,  and  repeated  his  pro 
mise  to  givo  him  the  land, 
16 


ABR 

A  grievous  famine  soon  vi¬ 
sited  the  country,  and  Abram 
was  obliged  to  go  into  Egypt. 
Fearful  that  Sarai’s  beauty 
might  attract  the  notice  of  the 
Egyptians,  and  that  if  they 
supposed  her  to  be  his  wife, 
they  would  kill  him  to  secure 
her,  he  proposed  that  she 
should  pass  for  his  sister.  It 
happened  as  he  expected. 
The  servants  of  Pharaoh,  the 
king  of  Egypt,  commended  her 
beauty  so  much,  that  he  sent 
for  her,  and  took  her  into  his 
house,  and  loaded  Abram 
with  tokens  of  his  favour ;  but 
the  Lord  punisheu  him  se¬ 
verely,  so  that  he  sent  away 
Abram  and  his  wife,  and  all 
that  he  had. 

Having  become  very  rich  in 
cattle,  silver,  and  gold,  he  re¬ 
turned  from  Egypt,  to  Canaan. 
Lot,  his  nephew,  had  been 
with  him,  and  shared  his  pros¬ 
perity  ;  and  it  happened  that 
his  servants  fell  into  some 
strife  with  the  servants  of 
Abram.  As  it  was  evident 
that  their  property  was  too 
great  for  tnem  to  dwell  to¬ 
gether,  Abram,  though  in 
every  respect  entitled  to  defe¬ 
rence,  generously  proposed  to 
his  nephew  to  avoid  contro¬ 
versy  by  an  amicable  separa¬ 
tion.  He  offered  Lot  his  choice 
of  the  territory,  on  the  right 
or  left,  as  it  pleased  him.  A 
rare  illustration  of  meekness 
and  condescension.  Lot  chose 
to  remove  to  the  eastward, 
and  occupy  that  part  of  the 
fertile  plain  of  Jordan  where 
Sodom  and  Gomorrah  stood. 

Then  the  Lord  appeared 
again  to  Abram,  and  renewed 
the  promise  of  the  land  of 
Canaan,  as  his  inheritance, 
in  the  most  explicit  manner. 
He  thence  removed  his  tent 
to  the  plain  of  Mamre  in  He¬ 
bron.  In  an  invasion  of  the 
cities  of  the  plain  by  several 
of  the  petty  kings  of  the  ad¬ 
joining  provinces,  Sodom  was 


ABR 

taken,  and  Lot  and  his  family 
carried  captive.  When  Abram 
received  intelligence  of  it,  he 
armed  his  trained  servants, 
born  in  his  house,  (three  hun¬ 
dred  and  eighteen  in  num¬ 
ber,)  pursued  the  kings,  and 
defeated  them,  and  brought 
Lot  and  his  family  and  their 
substance  back  to  Sodom  ;  re¬ 
storing  to  liberty  the  captives 
who  had  been  taken,  with  all 
their  property,  of  which  he 
generously  refused  to  take 
any  part,  as  the  reward  of  his 
services  or  as  the  spoils  of 
victory.  On  his  return  he 
was  met  by  Melchisedek  king 
of  Salem,  and  priest  of  the 
most  high  God,  to  whom  he 
gave  a  tenth  of  all  that  he  had. 
(See  Melchisedek.) 

Two  or  three  years  after 
this  the  Lord  appeared  again 
to  Abram  in  a  vision ;  repeat¬ 
ed  to  him  the  promises,  and 
accompanied  them  with  the 
most  gracious  declaration  of 
his  favour.  He  appointed  a 
certain  sacrifice  for  him  to 
offer,  and  towards  night 
caused  a  deep  sleep  to  fall 
upon  him,  attended  by  a  hor¬ 
ror  of  great  darkness’,  during 
which  there  were  revealed  to 
him  some  of  the  most  import¬ 
ant  events  in  his  future  his¬ 
tory,  and  in  that  of  his  pos¬ 
terity,  which  were  all  accom¬ 
plished  in  due  time,  and  with 
wonderful  exactness. 

The  revelation  related,  1. 
To  the  captivity  of  Israel  by 
the  Egyptians,  and  their  se¬ 
vere  and  protracted  bondage ; 
2.  To  the  judgments  which 
Egypt  should  suffer  because 
of  their  oppressions  of  God’s 
chosen  people,  and  the  cir¬ 
cumstances  under  which  they 
should  leave  Egypt ;  3.  To 
Abram’s  death  and  burial  : 
and,  4.  To  the  return  of  his 
posterity  to  the  promised 

In  the  same  day  the  cove¬ 
nant  respecting  the  land  of 


ABR 

promise  was  renewed,  and 
confirmed  with  the  strongest 
expressions  of  divine  favour. 
Sarai  however  was  childless, 
and  she  proposed  to  Abraham 
that  Hagar,  an  Egyptian  wo¬ 
man  living  with  them,  should 
be  his  wife;  by  whom  he  had 
a  son  whom  he  called  Ishmael. 

At  ninety-nine  years  of  age, 
he  was  favoured  with  another 
most  remarkable  vision.  The 
Almighty  was  revealed  to  him 
in  such  a  manner  that  he  was 
filled  with  awe  and  fell  upon 
his  face,  and  we  are  told  that 
“  God  talked  with  him.”  The 
promise  respecting  the  great 
increase  of  his  posterity,  and 
their  character  and  relation 
to  God,  as  well  as  respecting 
the  possession  of  Canaan,  was 
repeated  in  the  most  solemn 
and  explicit  terms ;  his  name 
was  changed  from  Abram  (a 
high  father)  to  Abraham,  (fa¬ 
ther  of  a  great  multitude,)  and 
the  circumcision  ofevery  male 
child,  at  eight  days  old,  was 
established  as  a  token  of  the 
covenant  between  him  and 
God.  (See  Circumcised.)  At 
the  same  time  the  name  of 
Sarai  (my  princess)  was 
changed  to  Sarah,  ( the  prin¬ 
cess,)  and  a  promise  was 
given  to  Abraham  that  Sarah 
Should  have  a  son,  and  be  the 
mother  of  nations  and  kings. 

It  seemed  so  entirely  out  of 
the  course  of  nature  that  they 
should  become  parents  at  their 
advanced  age,  that  Abraham, 
filled  with  reverence  and  joy¬ 
ful  gratitude,  fell  upon  hi  s  face, 
and  said  in  his  heart,  Shall  a 
child  be  bom  unto  him  that 
is  a  hundred  years  old  ?  and 
shall  Sarah,  that  is  ninety 
years  old,  bear  ? 

Nevertheless  against  hope 
he  believed  in  hope,  and  being 
not  weak  in  faith  he  staggered 
not  at  the  promise  of  Goa,  but 
was  fully  persuaded  that  what 
he  had  promised  he  was  able 
also  to  perform ;  and  his  faith 


ABK 

was  imputed  to  him  for  right¬ 
eousness.  (Rom.  iv.  18 — 22.) 

Abraham,  finding  that  the 
blessings  of  the  covenant 
were  to  be  bestowed  on  his 
future  offspring,  immediately 
thought  of  Ishmael,  in  whom 
he  had  probably  before  sup¬ 
posed  the  promises  were  to  be 
fulfilled,  and  he  uttered  the 
solemn  and  affecting  prayer — 
O  that  Ishmael  might  live 
before  thee.  God  heard  him, 
and  almost  while  he  was  yet 
speaking,  answered  him  by 
making  known  to  him  his 
great  purposes  respecting  Ish¬ 
mael.  (Gen.  xvii.  20,  and  xxy. 
16.) 

As  soon  as  the  vision  had 
closed,  Abraham  hastened  to 
obey  the  divine  command, 
and  with  Ishmael  his  son,  and 
all  the  men  of  his  house,  was 
circumcised  in  the  self  same 
day.  He  was  not  long  with¬ 
out  another  divine  communi¬ 
cation.  As  he  sat  in  the  door 
of  his  tent  in  the  heat  of  the 
day,  three  men  approached 
him.  He  received  them  with 
all  the  courtesy  and  hospi¬ 
tality  which  distinguished 
eastern  manners,  and  after 
they  had  refreshed  themselves 
they  inquired  of  him  respect¬ 
ing  Sarah,  and  repeated  the 
promise  respecting  the  birth 
of  her  son. 

It  was  on  this  occasion,  or 
in  connexion  with  these  cir¬ 
cumstances,  that  a  divine  tes¬ 
timony  was  given  to  the  patri¬ 
archal  character  of  Abraham. 
(Gen.  xviii.  19.)  It  was  be¬ 
cause  of  his  faithfulness  that 
he  was  favoured  with  a  reve¬ 
lation  of  God’s  purposes,  re¬ 
specting  the  devoted  cities  of 
tne  plain,  and  with  an  oppor¬ 
tunity  to  plead  for  them ;  and 
it  was  for  Abraham’s  sake, 
and  probably  in  answer  to 
his  prayers,  that  Lot  and  his 
family  were  rescued  from 
the  sudden  destruction  which 
came  qpon  Sodom. 


ABE 

After  this,  Abraham  re¬ 
moved  to  Gerar,  and  here  he 
made  a  second  attempt  to  have 
Sarah  taken  for  his  sister. 
(See  Abimelech.)  Here,  also, 
the  prediction  was  fulfilled, 
respecting  the  birth  of  a  son. 
Sarah  had  a  son,  whom  he  call¬ 
ed  Isaac,  and  who  was  duly 
circumcised  on  the  eighth  day. 

Abraham  was  much  tried 
by  an  unhappy  occurrence, 
in  which  Hagar  and  Ishmael 
were  principally  concerned ; 
but  God  supported  him  by  an 
explicit  promise,  that  in  Isaac 
his  seed  should  be  called. 
(Gen.  xxi.  10—13.) 

Abraham  so  obviously  had 
the  favour  and  blessing  of 
God  in  all  that  he  did,  that 
Abimelech,  the  king,  proposed 
to  make  with  him  a  covenant 
of  perpetual  friendship;  and 
a  matter  of  wrong  about  a 
well,  of  which  Abimelech’s 
servants  had  violently  de¬ 
rived  Abraham,  was  thus 
appily  adjusted.  This  trans¬ 
action  was  at  a  place  frhich 
was  thereafter  called  Beer- 
stieba — the  well  of  the  oath, 
or  the  well  of  swearing.  (Gen. 
xxi.  23-31.) 

We  now  come  to  one  of  the 
most  interesting  and  import¬ 
ant  passages  in  the  patri¬ 
arch’s  history.  God  was  about 
to  try  him,  that  he  might  ex¬ 
hibit  to  the  world,  in  all  fol¬ 
lowing  time,  an  illustrious  ex¬ 
ample  of  the  power  of  faith. 
He  was  commanded  to  take 
nis  son— his  only  son  Isaac, 
whom  he  loved,  and  in  whom 
all  the  promises  of  God  were 
to  be  accomplished— and  to 
offer  him  up  tor  a  burnt-offer- 
Insj  upon  a  distant  mountain. 
Without  an  inquiry  or  mur¬ 
muring  word,  and  with  a 
promptness  which  showed 
the  most  entire  submission, 
Abraham  obeyed  the  mysteri¬ 
ous  command.  A  journey  of 
three  days  was  accomplished. 
Every  preparation  for  the  of- 


AER 

fering  was  made,  and  the 
knife  was  in  his  hand,  which 
was  uplifted  to  slay  his  son, 
when  his  purpose  was  arrest- 
ed  by  a  voice  from  heaven, 
requiring  him  to  spare  the 
lad ;  inasmuch  as  the  proof 
of  the  father’s  faith  ana  obe¬ 
dience  was  full.  A  ram  was 
provided  in  the  neighbour¬ 
ing  thicket,  which  he  took 
and  offered  up ;  and  after 
having  been  favoured  with 
special  tokens  of  the  divine 
approbation,  he  returned  with 
his  son  to  Beersheba.  This 
grand  trial  and  illustration 
of  the  patriarch’s  faith  took 
place,  as  it  is  supposed,  upon 
Mount  Moriah.  (See  Jerusa¬ 
lem  &  Map.)  In  commemora¬ 
tion  of  it,  he  gave  to  the  place 
the  name  Jehovahjireh ,  (the 
Lord  will  see  or  provide,)  inti¬ 
mating  a  general  truth  re- 
specting  the  divine  faithful¬ 
ness  and  care ;  and  in  pro¬ 
phetical  allusion,  as  soma 
suppose,  to  the  great  sacrifice 
which,  in  fulness  of  time,  was 
to  be  offered  upon  that  same 
spot  for  the  sins  of  men.  (Gen. 
xxii.  14.)  , 

At  the  age  of  one  hundred 
and  twenty-seven  years  Sarah 
died,  and  Abraham  purchased 
the  cave  of  Machpelah,  in  the 
field  of  Ephron,  near  Hebron, 
for  a  family  burial-place,  and 
there  buried  his  wile. 

Isaac  had  now  arrived  at 
mature  age,  and  Abraham 
called  one  of  his  servants, 
probably  Eliezer,  (Gen.  xv.  2,) 
and  made  him  swear  that  he 
would  obtain  a  wife  for  Isaac, 
not  among  the  Canaanites, 
(where  they  then  dwelt,  and 
who  were  to  be  cut  off  accord¬ 
ing  to  the  revealed  purpose 
of  God,)  but  in  Abraham’s  na¬ 
tive  country,  and  from  among 
his  own  kindred.  This  enter¬ 
prise  terminated  successfully 
and  every  desire  of  the  patri¬ 
arch  respecting  Isaac’s  mar 
riage  was  answered. 


ABS 


ABS 


Abraham  married  a  second 
time,  and  had  several  sons; 
hut  he  made  Isaac  his  sole 
heir,  having  in  his  lifetime 
distributed  gifts  among  the 
other  children,  who  were  now 
dispersed  ;  and  at  the  great 
age  of  one  hundred  and  se¬ 
verity-five  years  he  died  in 

fieace,  ana  was  buried  by 
saac  and  Ishmael,  in  the 
same  sepulchre  with  Sarah, 
A.  m.  2183.  (See  History  of 
Abraham,  by  the  American 
Sunday-school  Union.) 

Abraham’s  bosom.  (See 
Bosom.) 

ABSALOM  (2  Sam.  iii.  3) 
was  a  son  of  David,  by  Maa- 
eah,  daughter  of  Talmai  king 
»f  Geshur.  He  was  remark¬ 
able  for  his  beauty,  and  for  his 
hair,  which  is  said  to  have 
weighed  200  shekels  when  cut 
»tf  every  year.  As  to  the. pre¬ 
cise  meaning  of  this  weight, 
however,  there  has  been  much 
speculation.  It  is  supposed 
that  the  shekel  by  which  its 
weight  is  expressed,  means  a 
lighter  weight,  by  one  third  or 
one  half,  than  the  common 
shekel.  Others  suppose  that 
'  the  value,  and  not  the  weight, 
is  denoted ;  and  others,  still, 
contend  that  what  with  gold- 
dust  and  powder,  which  were 
both  profusely  used  in  dress¬ 
ing  the  hair,  the  weight  (sup¬ 
posing  weight  to  be  meant, 
and  the  common  shekel  to  be 
used)  is  not  at  all  incredible  ; 
being;  according  to  Michaelis, 
not  quite  three  pounds  Troy 
weight,  though  it  may  be  sufh- 
ciently  remarkable  to  be  no¬ 
ticed  by  the  historian. 

Absalom  had  a  fair  sister 
whose  name  was  Tamar ;  and 
Amnon  his  half-brother  having 
injured  her,  Absalom  was  re¬ 
venged  oy  taking  Amnon’s 
life  at  a  feast,  to  which  he  had 
invited  him,  (2  Sam.  xiii.  29,) 
and  immediately  after  this  he 
fled  to  the  house  of  Talmai, 
his  mother’s  father,  at  Geshur. 


Joab,  in  order  to  secure 
Absalom’s  return  and  resto¬ 
ration  to  his  father’s  favour, 
employed  a  woman  of  Tekoa 
to  appear  before  David,  and 
feign  a  case  similar,  in  its 
leading  circumstances,  to  the 
situation  of  Absalom,  and 
having  obtained  his  decision, 
to  apply  the  principle  to  the 
real  case.  After  a  favourable 
decision  was  obtained  in  the 
feigned  case,  the  woman  began 
to  plead  for  Absalom’s  return. 
The  king  immediately  sus¬ 
pected  Joab’s  concern  in  the 
plot, and  the  woman  confessed 
that  it  was  wholly  planned  by 
him. 

David,  however,  directed 
Joab  to  go  to  Geshur,  and 
bring  Absalom  back  to  Jeru¬ 
salem,  after  an  absence  of 
three  years  ;  but  his  father 
wouj^l  not  receive  him  into 
favour,  nor  admit  him  to  his 
presence  ;  nor  did  he  see  his 
face  for  two  years  more. 

Wearied  with  his  banish¬ 
ment, Absalom  often  attempted 
to  obtain  an  interview  with 
Joab ;  but  for  some  cause  Joab 
was  not  disposed  to  go  to  him. 
To  compel  nim  to  come ,  Absa¬ 
lom  resorted  to  a  singular 
expedient;  he  directed  his 
servants  to  set  fire  to  Joab’s 
fields.  Joab  immediately  came 
to  Absalom ;  was  persuaded 
to  plead  with  the  king  in  his 
behalf ;  succeeded  in  his  effort, 
and  Absalom  was  received 
into  full  favour. 

But  with  a  proud  and  wicked 
heart,  he  could  not  cease  to 
do  evil.  His  father’s  throne 
became  the  object  of  his  am¬ 
bition,  and  he  procured  cha¬ 
riots  and  horsemen,  and  other 
appendages  of  rank  and  roy¬ 
alty  ;  and  stood  in  the  public 
places  courting  the  favour  of 
the  people  by  the  meanest 
arts ;  persuading  them  that 
their  rights  were  not  regarded 
by  the  government,  and  that 
it  would  be  lor  their  interest 
3U 


ABS 

to  elevate  him  to  power,  that 
equal  justice  might  be  admi¬ 
nistered  to  all.  By  these  and 
other  means,  Absalom  stole 
the  hearts  of  the  men  of  Is¬ 
rael. 

In  pursuing  his  wicked  and 
traitorous  design,  and  with 
a  pretended  regard  to  filial 
duty,  he  asked  his  father’s 
permission  to  go  to  Hebron, 
and  pay  a  vow  which  he  said 
he  had  made.  The  unsuspi¬ 
cious  king  consented,  and 
Absalom  immediately  sent 
men  throughout  Israel,  who 
were,  at  a  given  signal,  to 
proclaim  him  king  in  Hebron. 

He  also  took  two  hundred 
men  withhim  from  Jerusalem, 
though  they  did  not  know 
his  plan ;  and  then  sent  for 
Ahithophel,  who  was  David’s 
counsellor,  that  he  might  have 
his  advice  and  assistance. 

Absalom’s  party  increased 
rapidly,  and  intelligence  of 
the  conspiracy  was“  commu¬ 
nicated  to  the  king,  and  so 
alarmed  him,  that  he  fled  from 
tile  city. 

At  length  David  persuaded 
Hushai  to  go  to  Absalom,  who 
had  now  come  back  to  Jeru¬ 
salem  with  his  party,  and  be¬ 
come  his  servant ;  and  when 
opportunity  occurred,  to  give 
such  counsel  as  should  defeat 
Ahithophel’s  plans,  and  bring 
confusion  and  discomfiture 
upon  Absalom. 

By  a  train  of  singular  pro¬ 
vidential  interpositions,  (an 
account  of  which  belongs  ra-  • 
ther  to  the  life  of  David,  than 
to  this  article,)  Absalom’s  ruin 
was  hastened. 

Before  David’s  men  went 
out  to  battle  with  the  revolted 
party,  he  gave  them  special 
charge  respecting  Absalom, 
and  commanded  them  to  deal 
gently  with  him  for  his  father’s 
sake. 

The  two  parties  met  in  the 
wood  of  Ephraim,  and  the 
battle  was  severe  and  bloody. 


ACC 

Absalom  rode  upon  a  mule, 
and  in  passing  under  the 
thick  boughs  of  an  oak,  he 
was  caught  by  his  head  in  the 
fork  or  angle  of  two  branches, 
and  the  mule  passed  onward, 
leaving  him  suspended  in  the 
air.  Joab,  one  of  David’s  chief 
captains,  being  informed  of  it, 
took  three  darts  and  thrust 
them  through  the  heart  of  Ab¬ 
salom,  while  he  was  yet  alive 
in  the  midst  of  the  oak ;  and 
they  took  his  body  and  cast  it 
into  a  pit  in  the  wood,  and 
covered  it  with  stones.  A.  M. 
2981. 

Absalom,  pillar  of.  (See 
Pillar,  Jerusalem.  See  also 
the  Life  of  David,  ch.  xiii.,  by 
the  American  Sunday-school 
Union.) 

ACCAD.  (Gen.  x.  10.)  A 
citv  in  Shinar,  built  by  Nim¬ 
rod.  Modern  travellers  have 
intimated  the  probability  that 
the  ruins  of  this  ancient  city 
are  to  be  seen  about  six  miles 
from  the  present  Bagdad. 

ACC  HO,  now  Acc  a  or  Acre, 
(Judg.  i.  31,)  or  Ptolemais,  (so 
called  after  the  first  Ptolemy 
king  of  Egypt,  into  whose 
hands  it  fell  about  one  hun¬ 
dred  years  before  Christ,)  was 
a  sea-port  town,  on  the  bay  of 
Acre  over  against  mount  Car¬ 
mel,  about  thirty  miles  south 
of  Tyre.  It  was  in  the  terri¬ 
tory  assigned  to  the  tribe  of 
Asher,  and  one  of  the  cities 
from  which  they  were  unable 
to  expel  the  Canaanites ;  and 
it  is  even  now  considered  the 
strongest  place  in  Palestine. 
It  is  mentioned  in  Acts  xxi.  7. 
Its  population  is  from  10,000 
to  15,000,  chiefly  Jews.  The 
remains  of  this  ancient  city 
are  very  numerous.  Buck¬ 
ingham,  who  visited  it  in 
ISIS,  found  several  fragments 
of  buildings,  that  he  had  no 
doubt  were  constructed,  in 
the  earliest  ages,  especially 
thresholds  of  doors,  and  pil¬ 
lars  for  galleries  or  piazzas, 


ACH 

and  slabs  of  fin  marble, 
which  he  supposed  were  used 
for  the  pavement  of  courts. 
These  ruins  are  now  used  in 
the  ejection  of  new  buildings, 
and  all  appe  arances  of  ancient 
grandeur  are  fading  away. 
The  place  has  been  noted  in 
modern  times  for  the  success¬ 
ful  resistance  it  made  under 
Sir  Sydney  Smith  to  the 
French  army  in  1799.  In 
1932,  the  place  was  under  the 
dominion  of  the  pacha  of 
Egypt.  (See  Geography  op 
the  Bible,  by  the  American 
Sunday  school  Union,  p.  127.) 

ACCURSED,  CURSED.  1. 
(Josh.  vi.  17.)  Devoted  to  de¬ 
struction.  2.  (1  Cor.  xii.  3.) 
A  deceiver.  3.  (Gal.  i.  8,  9.) 
Separated  from  the  church. 
(See  Anathema.  See  also 
Biblical  Antihuities,  by 
the  American  Sunday-school 
Union,  ch.  v.  §  1.) 

ACELDAMA.  (Acts  i.  19.) 
A  field  for  the  burial  of  stran- 
ers,  which  the  chief  priests 
ought  with  the  money  re¬ 
turned  by  Judas,,  as  the  price, 
of  the  Saviour’s  blood.  (Matt, 
xxvii.  6—8.)  Hence  its  name 
Aceldama, or  field  of  blood.  It 
was  just  without  the  wall  of 
Jerusalem,  south  of  mount 
Zion,  and  was  originally  call¬ 
ed  the  potter’s  fiel3,  because  it 
furnished  a  sort  of  clay  suit¬ 
able  for  potter’s  ware.  Hence, 
too,  the  burial-place  for  stran¬ 
gers,  which  is  attached  to 
many  large  cities,  is  called 
potter's  field.  Aceldama  is 
now  used  as  a  bury  ins- place 
by  the  Armenian  Christians 
in  Jerusalem.  (See  Map  of 
Jerusalem,  by  the  American 
Sunday-school  Union.) 

ACHAIA.  (Acts  xviii.  12. 
Rom.  xvi.  5.  2  Cor.  xi.  10.)  In 
the  most  comprehensive  use 
this  term  was  applied  to  all 
the  region  lying  south  of  Thes¬ 
saly  and  Macedonia  as  far  as 
the  Morea,  and  sometimes  in¬ 
cluded  the  whole  of  Greece; 


ACH 

but  in  a  limited  use  it  em¬ 
braced  only  the  district  be¬ 
tween  Macedonia  and  the  Pe¬ 
loponnesus,  of  which  Corinth 
was  the  capital.  (See  Co¬ 
rinth.)  * 

AC  HAN,  or  ACHAR.  (Josh, 
vii.  18.)  A  son  of  Carmi,  ef 
the  tribe  of  Judah,  who  se¬ 
cretly  took  and  concealed 
several  valuable  articles  from 
among  the  spoils  of  Jericho, 
in  direct  violation  of  the  di¬ 
vine  command.  (Josh.  vi.  17, 
18.)  For  this  sin  judgment 
came  upon  the  whole  camp 
of  Israel.  (See  Joshua.)  By 
a  process  which  God  appoint¬ 
ed,  Achan’s  guilt  was  disco¬ 
vered,  and  he  was  taken  into 
a  valley  north  of  Jericho, 
thence  called  the  valley  of 
Achor,  (see  Achor,)  and  was 
there  stoned  to  death. 

ACHISH.  (1  Sam.  xxi.  10.) 

A  king  of  Gath,  to  whom  Da¬ 
vid  fled,  and  with  whom  he 
afterwards  formed  an  alli¬ 
ance,  through  fear  of  Saul. 

ACHMKTHA.  (Ezravi.  2.) 
The  Ecbatana  of  ancient  Me¬ 
dia,  and  the  place  where  the 
records  of  the  kingdom  were 
preserved.  The  place  is  oc¬ 
cupied,  as  it  is  supposed,  by 
the  modern  city  Hamadan,  in 
Persia.  It  was  surrounded  by 
seven  walls,  and  at  one  period 
was  considered  the  strongest 
and  most  beautiful  city  of  the 
east,  except  Nineveh  and  Ba¬ 
bylon. 

ACHOR, valley  op.  (Hosea 
ii.  15.)  A  place  in  the  vicinity 
of  Jericho,  where  Achan  was 
stoned  for  an  offence  which 
brought  trouble  upon  the 
whole  camp.  (See  Achan.) 
The  figurative  use  of  the  word 
in  the  passage  cited  is  sus¬ 
ceptible  of  divers  interpreta¬ 
tions.  The  most  common  is, 
that  as  the  valley  of  Achor 
was  the  place  of  great  distress 
and  Double  to  Israel  on  their 
first  entrance  to  Canaan,  it 
would  become  a  place  of  hope 


ACT 

and  joy  on  their  return  from 
the  captivity  which  they  were 
then  enduring.  This  opinion 
is  perhaps  confirmed  by  Isa. 
Ixv.  10. 

ACHSHAPH.  (Josh.  xii.  20.) 
A  city  conquered  by  Joshua, 
and  afterwards  assigned  to 
the  tribe  of  Asher.  It  was  not 
for  from  Accho.  (Josh.  xix.  25.) 

ACHZIB.  1.  (Josh.  xix.  29.) 
A  city  of  the  tribe  of  Asher. 
(Judg.  i.  31.)  Its  present  name 
is  Zib.  It  is  found  near  the 
seacoast,  ten  or  twelve  miles 
north  of  Ptoiemais,  and  was 
visited  by  Buckingham  in 
1816.  2.  (Josh.  xv.  44,  and  Mic. 
i.  14.)  A  town  of  Judah. 

ACRE.  (1  Sam.  xiv.  14.)  In 
the  passage  cited,  it  is  sup¬ 
posed  to  be  used  proverbially 
for  a  very  small  space. 

ACTS.  The  fifth  book  in 
the  order  of  the  New  Testa¬ 
ment  is  called  “  The  Acts 
of  the  Apostles,”  and  is  com¬ 
monly  referred  to  as  The  Acts, 
and  sometimes  Acts— without 
the  article.  It  is  supposed  to 
have  been  compiled  by  Luke 
the  evangelist,  as  early  as  a.d. 
64,  and  may  be  regarded  as 
a  continuation  of  his  gospel. 
It  was  originally  written  in 
Greek :  and  contains  the  his¬ 
tory  of  the  Christian  church 
during  the  interesting  period 
which  elapsed  from  the  as¬ 
cension  of  our  Saviour,  to  the 
impriso  nmentofPaulatRome 
—a  period  of  about  thirty 
ears.  It  contains  a  minute 
istory  of  the  descent  of  the 
Holy  Spirit  on  the  day  of  Pen¬ 
tecost  ;  the  manner  and  suc¬ 
cess  of  the  preaching  of  the 
apostles ;  and  the  gathering 
and  establishing  of  Christian 
churches  by  them,  both  among 
Jews  and  Gentiles;  the  con¬ 
version  of  Paul,  and  the  tra¬ 
vels  and  labours  of  himself 
and  his  companions ;  the  tri¬ 
als  and  sufferings  they  endur¬ 
ed  in  propagating  the  gospel, 


ADA 

and  the  signs  and  wonders 
which  were  wrought  in  attes¬ 
tation  of  their  authority. 

This  book  is  particularly 
valuable  as  containing  a  vast 
body  of  evidence  of  the  divine 

Bower  and  mission  of  Jesus 
hrist,  and  of  (lis  grace  and 
faithfulness  ;  by  which  the  re¬ 
ligion  he  taught  was  establish¬ 
ed  and  widely  propagated,  and 
the  salvation  offered  by  his 
gospel  was  most  clearly  and 
gloriously  illustrated. 

This  book  is  called  by  soma 
of  the  oldest  writers  the  gos¬ 
pel  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  the 
gospel  of  our  Saviour’s  resur¬ 
rection. 

Many  pretended  copies  of 
this  book,  or  other  records  of 
the  apostolic  acts,  have  been 
introduced  to  the  world ;  but 
have  been  soon  proved  to  be 
spurious.  The  American  Sun¬ 
day-school  Union  have  pub¬ 
lished,  in  a  very  cheap  and 
convenient  form,  a  Help  to 
the  study  of  this  book ;  which 
consists  in  a  complete  analy¬ 
sis  of  each  passage,  and  suck 
inferences  and  illustrations 
as  are  adapted  to  the  use  of 
the  student.  It  is  called  Help 
to  the  Acts,  parts  i.  and  in 
The  fifth  volume  of  the  Union 
Questions,  by  the  American 
Sunday-school  Union,  embra¬ 
ces  this  book,  and  the  Life  op 
Paul,  another  of  the  publica¬ 
tions  of  the  American  Sunday- 
school  Union,  may  be  read  with 
great  advantage  in  connexion 
with  the  inspired  history. 

ADAM.  (Gen.  ii.  19.)  The 
great  ancestor  of  the  human 
family.  On  the  sixth  and  last 
day  of  the  work  of  creation, 
man  was  made  of  the  dust  of 
the  ground,  yet  in  God’s  image 
and  after  his  likeness.  The 
Lord  God  breathed  into  his 
nostrils  the  breath  of  life,  and 
caused  him  to  become  a  living 
soul.  He  also  gave  him  domi¬ 
nion  over  the  fish  of  the  sea- 
and  the  fowls  of  the  air,  and 

oo 


ADA 

every  living  thing  that  moves 
upon  the  earth.  The  com¬ 
plete  dominion  which  was 
given  to  him  isexpressed  in  a 
variety  of  Wins.  (Gen.  i.  26 — 
30,  and  ii.  16—20.)  Nothing 
can  be  more  interesting  than 
the  history  of  man’s  creation. 
The  fabric  of  this  beautiful 
world  was  finished  ;  the  fir¬ 
mament  was  established ;  the 
mountains  were  fixed  upon 
their  deep  foundations,  and  to 
seas  and  oceans  were  assign¬ 
ed  the  bounds  which  they 
should  not  pass ;  the  heavens 
were  stretched  out  like  a 
curtain,  and  the  sun,  moon, 
and  stars  appointed  to  their 
courses.  The  earth  was 
adorned  with  grass  and  herbs 
and  trees,  suited  for  the  com¬ 
fort  and  .sustenance  of  the 
living  creatures,  cattle,  and 
creeping  things  that  had  just 
commenced  their  existence 
upon  its  surface,  and  all  had 
been  pronounced  good  by  the 
Infinite  Creator  himself. 

To  enjoy  this  glorious  reve¬ 
lation  of  divine  power,  wis¬ 
dom,  and  goodness — to  have 
dominion  over  this  vast  multi¬ 
tude  of  living  creatures,  and 
more  than  all  to  be  the  happy 
subject  of  God’s  government 
—bearing  his  image  and  like¬ 
ness,  and  having  communion 
with  him,  as  the  former  of  his 
body  and  the  father  of  his 
spirit,  man  was  formed  ;  not 
born,  but  created — not  in  fee¬ 
ble,  helpless  infancy,  but  in 
the  maturity  of  his  physical 
and  intellectual  nature ;  not 
a  sinful,  diseased,  dying  crea¬ 
ture,  but  in  the  image  and  after 
the  likeness  of  the  perfectly 
holy  and  eternal  Creator. 

...  A  creature,  who,  not  prone 
And  brute  as  other  creatures,  but  en* 
dued 

With  sanctity  of  reason,  might  erect  his 
stature — 

And  upright,  with  front  serene, 

Bovern  the  rest — self-knowing :  and 
from  thence 

Ifagnanimous  to  correspond  with  hea¬ 
ven. 


ADA 

A  gar  len  was  planted  by  the 
hand  of  God  for  the  residence 
of  Adam.  Every  tree  that  was 
pleasant  to  the  sight,  or  good 
lor  food,  grew  there.  And  it 
was  reireshed  and  fertilized 
by  a  river  that  flowed  through 
the  midst  of  it. 

This  garden  was  committed 
to  his  care,  to  dress  it,  and  to 
keep  it,  and  of  every  tree  but 
one  he  was  allowed  to  eat; 
but  of  the  tree  of  knowledge 
of  good  and  evil  he  was  for¬ 
bidden  to  eat,  under  the  pe¬ 
nalty  oOleath.  As  soon  as  he 
was  fixed  in  this  happy  abode, 
God  brought  to  him  the  beasts 
of  the  field  and  the  fowls  of 
the  air  which  he  had  created, 
and  Adam  gave  them  names: 
and  whatsoever  Adam  called 
every  living  creature  that  was 
the  name  thereof. 

But  it  was  not  good  that 
man  should  be  alone,  and  his 
Creator  formed  a  companion 
for  him ;  bone  of  his  bone,  and 
flesh  of  his  flesh ; — a  help¬ 
meet  for  him,— that  is,  as  a 
friend  and  associate  fitted  to 
aid  and  comfort  him,  and  like 
him  pure  and  immortal.  They 
were  perfectly  happy  in  each 
other,  and  in  the  favour  and 
communion  of  God — 

Reaping  immortal  fruits  of  joy  and  love> 
Uninterrupted  joy — unrivalled  love — 

In  blissful  solitude. 

We  are  not  informed  how 
long  they  continued  in  this 
pure  and  happy  state,  but  we 
know  they  lost  it.  Adam  dis¬ 
obeyed  the  simple  and  rea¬ 
sonable  command  of  God.  A 
the  suggestion  of  Eve,  his 
wife,  who  had  been  herself 
tempted  by  the  serpent  to  eat, 
he  partook  with  her  of  the 
fruit  of  the  only  forbidden 
tree,  and  thus  they  incurred 
the  displeasure  of  their  Ma¬ 
ker,  and  the  penalty  of  his 
just  law. 

The  first  indication  of  guilt 
was  the  consciousness  of 
,  shame  ;  and  the  next  a  vain 
24 


ADA 

attempt  to  hide  themselves 
from  the  presence  of  Him, 
whose  eyes  are  in  every  place, 
beholding  the  evil  ana  the 
good. 

Without  delay  each  of  the 
parties  to  the  fatal  transaction 
received  a  dreadful  doom. 
(See  Serpent,  Eve.)  As  for 
man,  the  ground  was  cursed 
fir  his  sake,  and  he  was  con¬ 
demned  to  eat  bread  in  the 
sweat  of  his  face  till  he  should 
return  to  the  dust  of  which 
he  was  formed,  or  suffer  the 
death  to  which  he  was  now 
sentenced.  Not  only  should 
his  body  decay  and  perish,  but 
the  death  to  which  he  was( 
thus  doomed  included  separa¬ 
tion  from  the  favour  of  God, 
and  condemnation  to  endless 
sorrow  and  suffering. 

Thus,  by  one-  man  sin  en¬ 
tered  into  the  world,  and 
death  by  sin.  Their  naked¬ 
ness,  which  was  now  their 
shame,  being  covered,  they 
were  both  driven  from  their 
happy  home  in  Eden,  never  to 
return :  and,  in  the  hardship 
of  toil  and  labour,  and,  in  the 
sorrow  and  sufferings  of  child¬ 
birth,  they  began  at  once, 
respectively,  to  feel  the  woes 
in  which  their  transgression 
had  involved  them. 

In  a  little  while  the  dreadful 
power  of  sin  and  its  temporal 
consequences  were  shown 
them  in  a  combined  and  most 
revolting  form.  Abel  — the 
righteous  Abel— their  beloved 
son,  was  cruelly  and  wantonly 
murdered  by  the  hand  of  his 
brother. 

The  history  of  Adam  closes 
abruptly.  At  the  age  of  one 
hundred  and  thirty  he  had  a 
S  in  whom  he  called  Seth ;  and 
who  was  born  in  his  own  like¬ 
ness  and  after  his  own  image, 
(no  longer  in  the  likeness  and 
after  the  image  of  God.)  He 
lived  eight  hundred  years 
after  the  birth  of  Seth,  making 
the  whole  term  of  his  life  nine 
3 


ADI 

hundred  and  thirty  years — 
and  he  died  a.  c.  3071.  (For 
a  simple  and  beautiful  history 
of  the  creation  and  of  the  fall 
of  man,  see  Bible  Sketches, 
and.  the  First  Man,  both  by 
the  American  Sunday-school 
Union.) 

ADAMANT.  (Ezek.  iii.  9i) 
One  of  the  hardest  and'  most 
costly  of  precious  stones.  The 
original  is  elsewhere  trans¬ 
lated  diamond.  Itisemployed 
as  an  emblem  of  the  heart 
of  the  wicked.  (Zesh.  vii.  12> 
Some  suppose  it  was  used  for 
cutting,  engravmg,and  polish¬ 
ing  other  hard  stones  and 
crystals.  (See  Diamond.) 

ADAR.  (See  Month.) 

ADDER.  I.  (Gen.  xlix.  17. 
A  venomous  serpent  whose 
poison  is  very  subtle,  and  al¬ 
most  instantly  fatal.  The  wal'd 
translated  adder,  in  various 
passages  of  the  Bible,  does 
not  always  mean  what  the 
English  word  denotes.  In 
Gen.  xlix.  17,  the  original 
word  denotes  a  serpent  of  the 
viper  ijind,  of  the  colour  of 
sand,  which  lurks  in  the 
tracks  of  the  wheels,  and 
bites  the  unwary  traveller  or 
his  beast.  2.  In  Ps.  lviii.  4, 
and  xci.  13,  the  word  trans¬ 
lated  adder  is  supposed  to 
mean  an  asp.  3.  In  Ps.  cxl.  3, 
some  suppose  the  spider  or 
tarantula  Is  meant,  and  others 
the  asp.  (Rom.  iii.  13.)  4.  In 
Prov.  xxiii.  32,  the  word  may 
be  rendered  cockatrice  with 
equal  propriety. 

It  is  remarked  of  the  adder 
or  asp,  that  he  is  not  moved 
or  affected  by  sounds  which 
fascinate  other  serpents ;  and 
some  suppose  that  the  most 
venomous  of  the  adder  spo- 
cies  is  naturally  deaf.  Hence 
the  allusion  in  Ps.  lviii.  4. 
(See  Asp.) 

ADJURE.  1.  (Josh.  vi.  26.) 
To  bind  under  a  curse.  2. 
(Matt.  xxvi.  63.)  Solemnly 
to  require  a  declaration  of  the 
25 


ADO 

truth  at  the  peril  of  Gr.u’s  (dis¬ 
pleasure.  Such  is  considered 
the  language  of  the  high-priest, 
“  1  adjurs thee,”  &c.  or,  “I  put 
thee  to  thy  oath;”  when  the 
Saviour  replied  to  the  inquiry 
to  which  he  had  before  been 
silent.  (Matt.  xxvi.  63.  Com¬ 
are  1  Sam.  xiv.  24,  38,  and 
Kings  xxii.  16,  with  Josh.  vi. 
26.) 

ADMAH.  (Deut.  xxix.  23.) 
The  most  easterly  of  the  five 
titles  of  the  plain  or  vale  of 
Siddim,  which  were  miracu¬ 
lously  destroyed  by  fire,  be¬ 
cause  of  their  great  wicked¬ 
ness.  Some  infer  from  Isa. 
xv.  9,  the  last  clause  of  which 
is  translated  by  the  Septua- 
gint,  and  upon  the  remnant  of 
Adavia,  that  Admah  was  not 
entirely  destroyed ;  but  the 
more  probable  supposition  is, 
Chat  another  city  of  the  same 
name  was  afterwards  built 
near  the  site  of  the  former. 

ADONI-BEZEK.  (Judg.  i. 
5.)  Lord  or  king  of  Bezek. 
He  fled  from  the  armies  of 
Judah,  but  was  caught  and 
disabled  by  having  his  thumbs 
and  great  toes  cut  off,  so  that 
he  could  neither  fight  nor  fly. 
He  was  then  carried  to  Jeru¬ 
salem,  where  he  died.  He 
seems  to  have  regarded  the 
maiming  he  suffered  as  a  just 
requital  of  his  own  cruelty, 

.  he  having-  mutilated  seventy 
kings  or  chieftains  in  the 
same,  inhuman  manner. 

ADONIJAH.  (2  Sam.  iii.  4.) 
David’s  fourth  son.  He  was 
born  at  Hebron,  and  after  the 
death  of  his  brothers  Amnon 
and  Absalom,  he  made  pre¬ 
tensions  to  the  throne  of  his 
father.  He  prepared  himself 
with  horses  and  chariots,  and 
other  marks  of  royalty,  and 
took  counsel  with  Joab  and 
Abiathar  how  he  could  best 
accomplish  his  purpose. 

Bathsheba,  Solomon’s  mo¬ 
ther,  fearing  that  her  son’s 
title  to  the  throne  might  be 


ADO 

disturbed,  immediately  fn 
formed  the  king  of  Adonijah’9 
revolt;  and  Nathan  the  pro¬ 
phet  confirming  the  statement 
of  the  matter,  David  gave 
Bathsheba  the  strongest  as¬ 
surances  that  her  son  should 
reign  after  him ;  and  he  caused 
Solomon  to  be  actually  anoint¬ 
ed  and  proclaimed  king  with 
great  shoutings.  (1  Kings  i.39.) 

Adonijah  was  just  ending  a 
feast  when  he  heard  the  noise 
of  the  shouting,  and  Jonathan 
came  in  and  told  him  all  that 
had  taken  place.  His  guests 
fled  precipitately,  and  Adoni¬ 
jah  himself  ran  and  caught 
hold  of  the  horns  of  the  altar, 
which  seems  to  have  been 
regarded  as  a  place  of  safety 
from  violence. 

After  David’s  death,  Adoni¬ 
jah  persuaded  Bathsheba  to 
ask  Solomon  her  son,  who 
was  now  on  the  throne,  to 
give  him  Abishag  for  his  wife. 
Solomon  saw  at  once  through 
the  policy  of  Adonijah,  and 
his  self-interested  advisers. 
He  knew  that  he  might  as 
well  have  asked  for  the  king¬ 
dom  at  once  as  to  ask  for  the 
king’s  widow,  for  then,  being 
the  elder  brother,  he  could 
make  a  plausible  claim  to  the 
throne  at  the  first  favourable 
juncture ;  which  would  directs 
ly  contravene  the  express 
appointment  of  God  made 
known  to  David,  and  probably 
to  his  family  also.  (1  Chron, 
xxviii.  5.)  So  he  caused  him  to 
he  put  to  death  by  the  hand  of 
Benaiah. 

ADONIRAM.  (See  Ado- 
ram.) 

ADONI-ZEDEK.  (Josh.  x.  1 ) 
King  of  Jerusalem,  at  the  time 
the  country  was  entered  1® 
the  Israelites.  Hearing  o7 
Joshua’s  victories  over  Ai  and 
Jericho,  and  finding  that  the 
inhabitants  of  Gibeon  (one  of 
the  most  important  cities  of 
the  kingdom)  had  made  a 
league  with  him,  he  called 


ADO 

four  other  kings  of  the  Am 
aionites  to  his  aid,  and  laid 
siege  to  Gibeon  with  a  view 
to  destroy  it,  because  it  had 
made  peace  with  Joshua  and 
the  children  of  Israel. 

But  the  Lord  was  against 
them,  and  with  the  edge  of  the 
sword  and  a  violent  hail-storm 
which  overtook  them,  they 
were  completely  overthrown 
and  destroyed.  The  victory 
was  attended  with  a  signal 
miracle.  (See  Joshua.) 

Adoni-zedec,  with  his  allies, 
fled  and  concealed  themselves 
in  a  cave  at  Makkedah.  They 
were  soon  discovered,  how¬ 
ever;  and  were  confined  and 
watched,  until  the  last  of  their 
adherents  was  either  cut  off 
or  driven  into  some  fortress. 
They  were  then  called  out  of 
the  cave,  and  brought  before 
Joshua. 

In  the  presence  of  the  men 
of  Israel,  who  were  summon¬ 
ed  for  the  purpose,  Joshua 
required  the  captains  of  his 
army  to  put  their  feet  upon 
the  necks  of  the  captive  kings, 
declaring  at  the  same  time, 
that  such  would  be  the  doom 
of  all  the  enemies  of  Israel. 
He  then  caused  them  to  be 
slain,  and  to  be  hanged  on 
separate  trees  until  evening, 
and  then  their  bodies  were 
taken  down,  and  cast  into  the 
cave  in  which  they  had  con¬ 
cealed  themselves.  (Josh.  x. 
27.) 

ADOPTION  (Gal.  iv.  5)  is 
an  act  by  which  one  is  re¬ 
ceived  into  a  man’s  family  as 
his  own  child,  and  becomes 
entitled  to  the  peculiar  privi¬ 
leges  of  that  connexion,  as 
fully  and  completely  as  a  child 
by  birth.  (Ex.  ii.  10,  and  Esth. 
ii.  7.) 

In  the  figurative  use  of  the 
term  by  the  sacred  writers, 
it  implies  that  relation  which 
we  sustain  to  God,  when,  by 
his  grace,  we  are  converted 
from  sin  to  holiness.  The 


ADR 

spirit  of  adoption  is  received, 
and  we  are  made  the  children, 
(or  sons)  and  heirs  of  God,  and 
joint-heirs  with  Christ.  (See 
Biblical  ANTiauiTiEs,  by  the 
American  S.  S.  Union,  ch.  vi. 
§  ii.) 

ADORAM.  1.  (2  Sam.  xx. 
24.)  An  officer  of  the  customs 
under  David. 

2.  An  officer  of  Rehoboam’s 
treasury,  (perhaps  the  son  of 
the  former,)  who  was  stoned 
to  death  by  the  people  of  Is¬ 
rael'  who  followed  Jeroboam. 
(1  Kings  xii.  18.)  Some  sup¬ 
pose  him  to  have  been  the 
same  with  Adoniram,  (1  Kings 
v.  14,)  who  was  over  the  cus¬ 
toms  in  Solomon’s  reign ;  and 
that  the  people  were  so  indig¬ 
nant  at  the  oppression  they 
had  suffered  through  his 
agency,  that  they  took  this 
method  of  revenge. 

ADRAMMELECH.  1.  (Isa. 
xxxvii.  38.)  A  son  of  Senna¬ 
cherib  king  of  Assyria.  Ha 
and  his  brother  Sharezer  kill¬ 
ed  their  father  while  he  was 
in  the  act  of  idolatry.  Their 
motive  for  this  parricidal  act 
is  not  known.  They  both  fled 
to  Armenia,  and  Esarhaddon 
succeeded  to  the  crown. 

2.  (2  Kin»s  xvii.  31.)  An  idol 
god  of  Sepnarvaim,  supposed 
to  represent  the  sun,  while 
another  idol  called  Anamme- 
lech  represented  the  moon. 
Sacrifices  of  living  children 
were  made  to  these  idols. 

ADRAMYTTIUM.  (Acts 
xxvii.  2.)  A  seaport  of  Mysia, 
opposite  the  island  of  Lesbos, 
in  the  north-western  part  of 
Asia  Minor.  It  is  known  by 
the  modern  name  of  Edremit 
or  Ydramit,  and  lies  about 
sixty  or  eighty  miles  north  of 
Smyrna.  It  was  in  a  ship  be¬ 
longing  to  this  port  that  Pali! 
embarked,  when  he  was  about 
to  go  from  Cesarea  to  Rome 
as  a  prisoner.  (See  Map  to 
art.  Paul.) 

ADFJA  (Acts  xxvii.  27)  is 
27 


ADU 


AG  A 


now  the  gulf  which  lies  be¬ 
tween  Italy  oa  one  side,  and 
the  coast  of  Dalmatia  on  the 
other.  It  is  called  the  gulf  of 
Venice.  In  the  apostle’s  lime 
it  is  supposed  to  have  denoted 
the  whole  breadth  of  the  Me¬ 
diterranean  sea,  from  Crete  to 
Sicily. 

AURIEL.  (See  Merab.) 

ADULLAM.  (Josh.  xv.  35.) 
An  ancient  and  celebrated 
cilyofjudah,  fifteen  or  twenty 
miles  south-west  of  Jerusa¬ 


lem.  The  king  of  the  place 
was  slain  by  Joshua.  It  was 
fortified  by  Rehoboam.  and 
probably  on  account  of  its 
strength  was  called  the  glory 
of  Israel.  (Mic.  i.  15.)  Near 
this  city  was  a  cave,  where 
David  secreted  himself  when 
he  fled  from  Achish.  The 
cave,  which  is  supposed  to  be 
the  same,  was  visited  by  Mr. 
Whiting,  an  American  mis¬ 
sionary,  April  17,  1835.  He 
describes  it  as  uneven,  intri¬ 
cate,  and  very  capacious  ;  and 
says  it  is  perfectly  plain  that 
four  hundred  men  inighycon- 
ceal  themselves  in  the  sides 
of  the  cave,  as  David’s  men 
did,  and  escape  observation. 
(1  Sam.  xxii.  1.  See  Map  to 
art.  Canaan.) 

ADULTERY.  (Jer.  iii.  9. 
Matt.  v.  28.)  A  crime  expressly 
prohibited  by  the  seventh 
commandment,  and  always 
obnoxious  to  severe  penalties, 
both  by  divine  and  human 
laws.  The  term  is  often  em¬ 
ployed  with  great  force  in  the 
Bible,  to  denote  the  unfaith¬ 
fulness  and  idolatry  of  the 
people  of  God,  and  their  vio¬ 
lation  of  the  most  sacred  en¬ 


gagements. 

ADUMMIM.  (Josh,  xv.7.)  A 
rising  ground  at  the  entrance 
of  the  wilderness  of  Jericho. 
The  name  signifies  red  or 
hloody,  in  allusion,  as  it  is 
supposed,  to  the  frequent  mur¬ 
ders  committed  in  its  vi¬ 
cinity.  There  are  circum¬ 


stances  to  show  that  the  scene 
of  our  Saviour’s  parable  of  the 
good  Samaritan  was  laid  here. 
(Luke  x.  30 — 36.  See  Geo¬ 
graphy  of  the  Bible,  by 
the  American  Sunday-school 
Union,  p.  92.) 

ADVOCATE.  (1  John  ii.  1.) 
One  that  pleads  another’s 
cause.  .It  is  one  cf  the  offi¬ 
cial  titles  of  Jesus  Christ  the 
righteous,  and  its  import  may 
be  learned  from  John  xvil. 
Rom.  viii.  34,  and  Heb.  vii.25. 

iENON.  (See  Enon.) 

AFFINITY.  (1  Kings  iii.  i.) 
Relation  by  marriage,  in  con¬ 
tradistinction  from  consan 
guinity,  which  is  relation  by 
blood  or  birth.  The  degrees 
of  affinity,  or  the  nearness  of 
relationship  which  should  pre¬ 
vent  marriage  under  the  law, 
may  be  found  in  Lev.  xviii. 
6—17.  This  subject  is  regu¬ 
lated  in  the  United  States  by 
the  laws  of  the  several  States. 

AGABUS.  (Acts  xi. 28.)  A 
prophet,  who  foretold  (a.  d.  43) 
the  famine,  which,  as  profane 
history  informs  us,  took  place 
the  following  year.  A  few 
years  after,  (Acts  xxi.  10,)  he 
met  Paul  at  Cesarea,  and 
warned  him  of  the  sufferings 
he  would  endure  if  he  prose¬ 
cuted  his  journey  to  Jerusa¬ 
lem.  Some  have  supposed 
that  Agabus  was  one  of  the 
seventy  disciples,  and  that 
he  suffered  martyrdom  at  An¬ 
tioch. 

AGAG  (Num.  xxiv.  7)  was 
a  king  of  the  Amalekiles. 
Some  think  this  was  the  com¬ 
mon  name  of  their  kings,  as 
Pharaoh  was  the  common 
name  of  the  kings  of  Egypt. 
From  the  allusion  to  him  in 
the  prophetic  passage  above 
cited,  we  may  suppose  him  to 
have  been  one  of  the  greatest 
kings  of  the  earth. 

Another  person  of  the  same 
name  was  captured  by  Saul  al 
the  time  the  Amalekiles  were 
destroyed,  (1  Sam.  xv.  8,)  but 

aa 


AGR 

his  life  was  spared,  and  he  was 
afterwards  brought  to  Sam¬ 
uel,  who  hewed  him  in  pieces, 
(1  Sam.  xt.  33;)  a  punish¬ 
ment  not  uncommon  in  other 
places  and  later  times. 

Hammedatha,  Haman’s  fa¬ 
ther,  is  called  an  Agagite, 
(Esth.  iii.  1,)  probably  because 
he  was  an  Amalekite. 

AGAR  or  H AGAR.  (Gal.  iv. 
25.)  The  history  or  condition 
of  Hagar  is  used  allegorically 
in  this  passage  to  illustrate 
the  nature  of  the  dispensation 
from  Mount  Sinai.  Mount 
Sinai  is  called  Agar  by  the 
Arabians.  (See  Hagar.) 

AGATE.  (Exod.  xxriii.  19, 
and  xxxix.  12.)  A  precious 
stone,  semi-transparent,  and 
beautifully  variegated.  It  often 
presents  a  group  of  figures  dis¬ 
posed  with  so  much  regularity 
as  to  seem  like  a  work  of  art; 
such  as  trees,  plants,  rivers, 
clouds,  buildings,  and  human 
beings.  The  name  is  supposed 
by  some  to  be  derived  from  the 
river  Achates  in  Sicily,  where 
the  stone  was  formerly  found 
in  great  abundance.  The 
word  translated  agate  (Isa. 
liv.  12.  and  Ezek.  xxvii.  16) 
is  supposed  to  denote  the  ruby. 

AGRIPPA.  (Acts  xxv.  13.) 
Son  and  successor  of  Herod 
the  persecutor.  (Acts  xii.  1.) 
Porcius  Festus,  the  successor- 
of  Felix  in  the  government  of 
Judea,  came  to  Cesarea;  and 
while  there,  Agrippa,  (who 
was  governor  or  king  of  se¬ 
veral  of  the  eastern  provinces 
of  the  Roman  empire)  came, 
with  his  sister  Bernice  or  Be¬ 
renice,  to  pay  him  a  visit  of 
congratulation  upon  his  ac¬ 
cession  to  office.  The  con¬ 
versation  between  them  turn¬ 
ing  upon  Paul,  who  was  then 
in  confinement  at  Cesarea, 
and  whose  remarkable  history 
must  have  been  very  notori¬ 
ous,  Festus  stated  the  whole 


AHA 

matter  to  Agrippa,  and  great¬ 
ly  excited  his  curiosity  to  see 
and  hear  him. 

Festus,  to  gratify  his  friends, 
but  under  the  pretence  of 
getting  from  Paul  the  subject- 
matter  of  his  complaint,  that 
lie  might  communicate  it  to 
the  emperor,  to  whom  he  had 
appealed,  took  the  judgment- 
seat  with  great  pomp,  and 
surrounding  himself  with  the 
chief  men  of  the  city,  ordered 
Paul  to  be  brought  into  his 
presence. 

When  the  devoted  apostle 
appeared  before  them,  Festus, 
addressing  himself  particular¬ 
ly  to  Agrippa,  assigned  the 
reasons  for  requiring  Paul  to 
appear  at  that  time,  and  then 
gave  the  prisoner  an  opportu¬ 
nity  to  state  his  own  case, 
which  he  did  with  unparallel¬ 
ed  force  and  eloquence.  Fes¬ 
tus  could  only  meet  his  argu¬ 
ments  with  the  charge  of  mad¬ 
ness  ;  but  Agrippa, "to  whose 
conscience  he  made  an  abrupt, 
though  not  the  less  respectful 
and  irresistible  appeal,  was 
compelled  to  make  that  me¬ 
morable  exclamation,  “  Al¬ 
most  thou  persuadest  me  to 
be  a  Christian.”  Paul  closed 
his  address  by  a  most  affec¬ 
tionate  exhortation  to  the 
king;  the  assembly  then  se¬ 
parated,  and  we  hear  nothing 
more  of  Agrippa  but  an  ex¬ 
pression  of  his  regret  (Acts 
xxvi.  32)  that  the  faithful  and 
eloquent  apostle  could  not  be 
set  at  liberty.  (See  Life  of 
Paul,  by  the  American  Sun¬ 
day-school  Union,  ch.  xvii,) 
Agrippa  died  about  x.  D.  90, 
aged  TOyears. 

AHAB.  1 .  (1  Kings  xvi.  29.) 
The  son  of  Omri,  arid  his  suc¬ 
cessor  as  king  of  Israel.  He 
reigned  twenty-two  years,  and 
the  seat  of  his  kingdom  was 
at  Samaria.  He  married  Je¬ 
zebel,  a  Zidonian  woman  of 
proverbially  wicked  charac¬ 
ter.  She  was  a  gross  idolater, 


AHA 

and  Ahab  followed  her  in  all 
her  idolatrous  practices ;  be¬ 
came  at  once  a  worshipper  of 
Baal,  and  even  made  a  grove 
and  built  an  altar  for  this 
abominable  service.  Atavery 
early  period  of  his  history; 
the  "sacred  historian  says  ol 
him,  that  he  did  more  to  pro¬ 
voke  the  Lord  God  of  Israel 
to  anger  than  all  the  kings  of 
Israel  that  were  before  him. 

He  Was  warned  by  the  pro¬ 
phet  Elijah  of  approaching 
drought  and  consequent  fa¬ 
mine,  which  was  very  sore  in 
Samaria.  In  the  third  year 
of  the  famine,  Ahab  called 
Obadiah,  the  governor  of  his 
house  and  a  godly  man,  to 
pass  through  half  the  land, 
while  he  would  pass  through 
the  other  half,  and  see  if  they 
could  not  collect  grass  enough, 
on  the  margins  of  fountains 
and  brooks,  to  save  their 
horses  and  mules  from  pe¬ 
rishing. 

In  the  course  of  his  journey, 
Obadiah  met  Elijah,  who  had 
been  commanded  by  God  to 
show  himself  to  Ahab,  and  at 
Elijah’s  request  Ahab  came  to 
meet  him. 

When  Ahab  appeared  in 
Elijah’s  presence,  he  abruptly 
saiu  to  him — Art  thou  he  that 
troublelh  Israel  t  The  pro¬ 
phet  replied  by  a  faithful  re¬ 
buke  of  the  king’s  idolatry, 
and  proposed  to  demonstrate 
to  him  that  the  gods  he  was 
serving  were  no  gods.  To  this 
end  he  persuaded  Ahab  to 
gather  the  prophets  of  Baal, 
whom  he  worshipped,  into 
one  company  in  mount  Car¬ 
mel,  ana  there  the  fully  of 
their  idolatry  was  exposed  in 
a  most  signal  manner.  (See 
Elijah.)  The  prophets  of 
Baal  were  all  taken  and  de- 
Btroyed’al  Elijah’s  command, 
and  1  efore  Ahab  could  return 
o  Samaria  there  was  a  great 
tain. 

Anout  six  years  after  this, 


AHA 

Benhadad  king  of  Syria,  with 
a  vast  army,  besieged  Sama¬ 
ria,  but  Ahab  sallied  out  upon 
him  by  surprise cut  off  a 
large  proportion  of  his  army, 
and  put  to  flight  the  residue  ; 
Benhadad  himself  escaping 
upon  a  horse. 

The  king  of  Syria,  suppos¬ 
ing  that  his  defeat  was  owing 
to  some  advantage  of  location 
which  Ahab’s  army  enjoyed, 
flattered  himself  ihat  if  ha 
could  go  to  battle  in  the  plain, 
he  should  conquer  him.  Ac¬ 
cordingly  in  about  a  year  he 
laid  siege  to  Samaria  again 
Of  this  Ahab  had  an  intima 
tion  from  the  prophet  imme 
diately  after  the  former  vie 
tory,  and  he  had  prepared 
himself  accordingly.  God 
again  gave  him  the  victory, 
and  the  Syrians  lost  100,000 
footmen  in  one  day,  besides 
27,000  who  were  killed  by  a 
wall  which  fell  upon  them  at 
Aphek,  whither  they  fled. 
Benhadad  was  among  the 
captives,  and  after  making  a 
treaty  with  the  victorious 
Ahab,  he  went  his  way. 

Ahab  was  immediately  in¬ 
formed  that  he  had  been  guilty 
of  a  great  sin  in  suffering  the 
king  of  Syria  to  escape,  inas¬ 
much  as  he  had  been  deliver¬ 
ed  into  his  hands  by  a  mar¬ 
vellous  interposition  of  God-s 
providence,  and  his  character 
and  conduct  had  been  such  as 
to  mark  him  for  the  divine 
displeasure.  Besides  this,  the 
motives  of  Ahab  in  making 
the  treaty  may  be  regarded  as 
ambitious,  if  not  corrupt;  and 
he  was  therefore  informed 
that  his  own  life  should  go  for 
the  life  of  Benhadad,  and  his 
people  for  Benhadad’s  people. 

Heavy  and  fearful  as  this 
sentence  was,  we  find  the 
wicked  king  of  Israel  sinking 
deeper  ana  deeper  in  guilt. 
Naboth,  one  of  his  neighbours, 
had  a  vineyard,  which  was 
situated  just  by  Ahab’s  palace ; 

30 


Aha 

and  as  it  was  a  convenient 
and  desirable  spot  for  him  to 
possess,  he  asked  Naboth  to 
give  it  to  him,  promising  a,t 
the  same  time  to  give  him  a 
better  vineyard,  or  the  worth 
of  it  in  money,  as  he  might 
choose.  All  this  seemed  very 
fair,  but  Naboth  did  not  wish  ' 
to  part  with  his  vineyard  on 
any  terms.  It  was  the  inhe¬ 
ritance  he  had  received  from 
his  fathers,  and  for  this  and 
other  causes  its  value  to  him 
was  peculiar,  and  such  as 
neither  money  nor  any  other 
vineyard  in  exchange  could 
compensate.  He  therefore  de¬ 
clined  the  king’s  proposal. 

Mortified  and  disappointed 
by  Naboth’s  refusal,  he  laid 
down  upon  his  bed,  and  re¬ 
fused  to  eat.  Jezebel,  his 
wicked  wife,  inquired  the 
cause  of  his  sadness,  and  as¬ 
sured  him  that  he  might  set 
his  heart  at  rest,  for  he  should 
have  his  desire ;  and  she 
forthwith  commenced  a  train 
of  measures  which  resulted  in 
the  murder  of  Naboth ;  and 
Ahab  then  took  possession  of 
the  vineyard. 

But  his  judgment  lingered 
not.  El  Hah  was  sent  to  charge 
him  with  the  sin  to  which  he 
had  been  accessary,  and  to 
forewarn  him,  not  only  of  his 
own  feurful  doom,  but  of  the 
certain  and  utter  destruction 
of  his.  posterity :  In  the  place 
where  dogs  licked  the  blood  of 
Naboth  shall  dogs  lick  thy 
blood ,  even  thine. 

Guilty  as  Ahab  was,  he  had 
not  yet  lost  all  sense  of  sin, 
and  when  the  judgments  of 
God  were  so  near  him,  he 
humbled  himself  and  fasted  ; 
and  for  this  he  was  exempted 
from  the  punishment  in  his 
own  person,  but  it  was  inflict¬ 
ed  on  his  son. 

The  circumstances  of  Ahab’s 
death  are  deeply  interesting 
and  instructive.  He  proposed 
<o  Jehoshaphat  king  of  Judah, 


AHA 

to  make  war  on  Kamoth-gilead 
which  was  in  the  possession 
of  the  king  of  Syria.  Jehosha¬ 
phat  expressed  his  willing¬ 
ness  to  join  him,  but  suggested 
the  propriety  of  first  inquiring 
what  the  will  of  the  Lord  was 
respecting  the  enterprise.  So 
Ahab  summoned  his  four  hun¬ 
dred  false  prophets,  and  they 
all  prophesied  favourably. 

Jehoshaphat  seems  to  have 
been  suspicious  of  the  cha¬ 
racter  of  Ahab’s  prophets,  and 
he  therefore  inquired  if  there 
was  no  prophet  of  the  Lord 
besides  them.  Ahab  referred 
him  to  Micaiah,  expressing  at 
the  same  time  his  aversion  to 
him,  because  his  prophecies 
were  always  evil.  However, 
Micaiah  was  sent  for,  and  the 
messenger  (having  probably 
been  instructed  to  that  effect 
by  Ahab)  informed  him  of 
what  had  been  done,  and  de¬ 
sired  him  to  prophesy  favour¬ 
ably,  as  the  other  prophets 
had  done. 

When  Micaiah  came  before 
the  two  kings,  who  were  seat¬ 
ed  each  on  a  throne  at  the 
entrance  of  the  gate  of  Sa¬ 
maria,  and  all  the  prophets 
before  them,  the  question  was 
proposed  to  him  as  it  had 
been  proposed  to  the  other 
prophets,— Shall  we  go  against 
Ramoth-gilead  to  battle,  or 
shall  we  forbear  1  The  pro¬ 
phet  advised  him  to  go,  but 
evidently  with  such  a  tone 
and  manner  as  indicated  (hat 
he  was  not  speaking  in  lh« 
spirit  of  prophecy.  He  there 
fore  solemnly  and  earnestly 
urged  him  to  tell  him  nothini 
but  the  truth,  in  the  name  of 
the  Lord.  Micaiah  then  dis 
closed  to  him  the  whole  mat 
ter,  and  showed  him,  not  onlf 
that  his  enterprise  against 
Ramoth-gilead  would  be  de 
feated,  but  that  God  had  suf¬ 
fered  the  prophets  who  had 
prophesied  favourably  of  it,  t« 
be  filled  with  a  lying  spirit, 


AHA 

that  they  might  lead  him  on 
to  the  certain  ruin  which 
awaited  him. 

Ahab  sent  the  faithful  pro¬ 
phet  back  to  Samaria,  and 
ordered  him  to  be  imprisoned 
till  his  return  from  the  battle. 
So  the  infatuated  kings  of  Is¬ 
rael  and  Judah,  in  the  face  of 
the  counsel  of  the  Almighty, 
went  up  to  battle  against  the 
kingofSyriaatRamoth-gilead. 

In  order  to  secure  himself 
against  the  direct  aim  of  the 
enemy,  Ahab  entered  the  bat¬ 
tle  in  disguise.  But  a  certain 
man  drew  a  bow,  as  he  sup¬ 
posed,  at  a  venture,  yet  the 
arrow  was  directed  with  un¬ 
erring  aim  to  the  heart  of  the 
wicked  Ahab,  and  the  blood 
flowed  out  into  the  chariot,  so 
that  he  died  that  night.  His 
army  was  scattered,  in  literal 
accordance  with  Micaiah’s 
prophecy.  His  body  was  car¬ 
ried  to  Samaria  to  be  buried, 
and  the  blood  was  washed 
from  the  chariot  in  the  pool 
of  Samaria,  and  the  dogs  lick¬ 
ed  it  as  it  was  foretold.  (1  Kings 
acxi.  19.) 

2.  (Jer.  xxix.  21,  22.)  A  son 
of  Kolaiah,  and  a  false  prophet, 
who,  with  Zedekiah,  another 
false  prophet,  prophesied 
falsely  to  the  children  of  Is¬ 
rael,  when  in  captivity  at 
Babylon.  Jeremiah  was  com¬ 
manded  to  make  known  to 
them  that  they  should  be  de¬ 
livered  into  the  hands  of  the 
king  of  Babylon,  who  would 
slay  them;  and  so  dreadful 
would  be  their  end,  that  there¬ 
after  it  should  be  a  form  of 
cursing,— The  Lord  make  thee 
like  Zedekiah  and  like  Ahab, 
whom  the  king  of  Babylon 
roasted  in  the  fire.  This  was 
a  common  Chaldean  punish¬ 
ment.  (Dan.  iii.  6.) 

AHASUERUS.  l.(Dan.ix.l.) 
The  father  ol  Darius  the  Medi¬ 
an, and  the  same  with  Astyages. 

2.  CEzraiv,  6)  Supposed  to 


AHA 

be  the  son  and  successor  of 
Cyrus. 

3.  (Esth.  i.  1.)  The  husband 
of  Esther.  Who  this  king  was 
is  alike  uncertain  and  unim¬ 
portant.  We  are  told  that  he 
reigned  from  India  to  Ethiopia, 
over  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
seven  provinces ;  that  his 
palace  was  in  Shushan,  the 
royal  city  of  Persia,  and  that 
in  the  third  year  of  his  reign 
he  made  a  splendid  feast  for 
his  princes,  servants,  and 
people,  which  is  particularly 
described  in  Esth.  i.  3—8.  In 
the  height  of  this  magnificent 
entertainment,  the  king  sum¬ 
moned  Vashti  his  wife  into 
the  royal  presence,  that  he 
might  show  his  guests  her 
great  beauty.  She  declined 
going,  and  for  that  cause  was 
separated  from  the  king  and 
from  the  royal  estate,  and  was 
succeeded  try  Esther,  the 
cousin  and  adopted  daughter 
of  Mordecai,  a  Jew,  who  re¬ 
sided  at  the  palace. 

Haman,  the  chief  officer  of 
the  king’s  household,  consi¬ 
dering  himself  insulted  by 
Mordecai,  obtained  a  royal  de¬ 
cree  that  all  the  Jews  of  the 
kingdom  should  be  destroyed. 
Esther,  having  received  intel¬ 
ligence  of  this  cruel  plot,  em¬ 
braced  a  favourable  opportu¬ 
nity  to  make  it  known  to  the 
king,  and  implore  his  protec¬ 
tion  of  herself  and  her  people. 
The  king  could  not,  indeed, 
reverse  the  decree,  but  he 
caused  Haman  to  be  hung, 
and  Mordecai  to  be  advanced 
to  the  highest  post  in  the  king¬ 
dom  ;  and  also  despatched 
messengers  in  every  direc¬ 
tion,  to  inform  the  Jews  that 
they  were  at  liberty  to  gather 
themselves  together  for  self- 
defence,  and  to  destroy  all 
that  should  assault  them. 

Availing  themselves  of  the 
royal  favour,  the  Jews  were 
not  only  protected,  but  were 
32 


AHA 

enabled  to  slay  between  70,000 
and  80,000  of  their  enemies. 
Ahasuerus  reigned  forty-eight 
ears,  and  there  is  reason  to 
elieve  that  Esther  and  Mor- 
decai  remained  in  favour  with 
him  to  the  end.  (Esth.  ix.  31, 
and  x.  3.  See  Hadassah,  or 
a  full  life  of  Esther,  published 
by  the  American  Sunday- 
school  Union.) 

AHAVA.  (Ezra  viii.  15.)  A 
river  in  Assyria,  where  Ezra 
assembled  the  captives  who 
■were  returning  from  Judea, 
and  where  he  proclaimed  a 
fast.  Some  have  supposed  it 
to  have  been  in  the  country 
called  Ava.  (2  Kings  xvii.  24.) 
Its  precise  situation  is  not 
known. 

AHAZ  (2Chron.  xxviii.  1) 
Was  the  son  of  Jotham,  and  at 
the  age  of  twenty  succeeded 
him  as  king  of  Judah. 

Ahaz  gave  himself  up  to 
ross  idolatry,  and  even  sacri- 
ced  his  own  children  to  the 
gods  of  the  heathen.  This 
course  of  wickedness  brought 
upon  him,  and  upon  his  king¬ 
dom,  severe  judgments.  They 
suffered  under  a  succession 
of  disastrous  wars,  and  their 
allies  often  proved  unfaithful, 
and  involved  them  in  great 
distress.  Ahaz,  at  last,  aban¬ 
doned  himself  to  the  most 
desperate  iniquity,  and  the 
kingdom  of  Judah  was  brought 
low,  and  made  waste,  because 
of  his  great  sin. 

Early  in  his  reign  (probably 
he  second  year)  the  kings  of 
Syria  and  Israel,  who,  just  at 
the  close  of  Jotham’s  reign 
and  life,  had  confederated  for 
the  destruction  of  Judah,  and 
actually  invaded  the  kingdom 
with  a  powerful  and  victorious 
army,  were  about  to  lay  siege 
to  Jerusalem. 

At  this  juncture,  God  direct¬ 
ed  his  prophet  Isaiah  to  take 
his  son,  Shear-jashub,  and  go 
to  Ahaz,  who  should  be  found 
at  a  particular  spot  in  the 


AHA 

city  of  Jerusalem,  and  make 
known  to  him  the  counsel  of 
the  Lord.  This  favour  was 
shown  to  the  wicked  king  as 
the  representative  of  the  house 
of  David,  and  for  the  people’s 
sake  with  whom  God  had 
made  a  covenant.  (Isa.  vii.  1.) 

Isaiah,  having  found  Ahaz 
at  the  place  designated,  told 
him  that  the  bounds  of  the 
invading  army  were  fixed ; 
that  their  purpose  respecting 
Jerusalem  would  be  defeated, 
and  that  in  a  limited  time  the 
kingdoms  from  which  they 
came  should  be  destroyed ; 
and  to  confirm  the  prophetic 
testimony,  the  king  was  told 
to  ask  any  sign  which  would 
satisfy  him.  Probably  from  a 
wicked  indifference,  but  pro¬ 
fessedly  from  a  better  motive, 
he  refused  to  ask  a  sign  ;  but 
God  saw  fit  to  give  him  one 
of  unerring  import :  “  Be¬ 
hold ,”  said  he,  “  a  virgin  shall 
conceive  and  bear  a  son,  and 
shall  call  his  name  Imma¬ 
nuel (Isa.  vii.  14.  Matt.  i.  23. 
Luke  i.  31— 35.)  “  Butter  and 
honey  shall  he  eat,  that  he 
may  know  to  refuse  the  evil 
and  choose  the  good.  For 
before  the  child  shall  know  to 
refuse  the  evil  and  choose  the 

food,  the  land  that  thou  ab- 
orrest  shall  be  forsaken  of 
both  her  kings."  Some  have 
understood  this  remarkable 
prophecy  to  mean  that  not¬ 
withstanding  the  extraordi¬ 
nary  conception  and  birth  of 
the  promised  child,  he  shall 
eat  butter  and  honey  as  other 
children  do,  and  like  them 
shall  gradually  advance  from 
one  ddgree  of  knowledge  to 
another;  but  before  he  shall 
have  attained  that  measure 
ofdiscrimination  which  would 
enable  him  to  choose  between 
good  and  evil,  the  land  of  the 
Israelite  and  the  Syrian  who 
cause  your  distress  and  per 
plexity,  shall  be  forsaken  of 
both  her  kings.  Others  have 


AHA 


AHA 


Interpreted  the  prophecy  dif¬ 
ferently,  and  receive  the  idea 
that  the  child  to  whom  it  re¬ 
lates  should  be  horn  in  a  time 
of  war,  but  before  he  was  two 
or  three  years  old  he  should 
eat  butter  and  honey,  which 
in  time  of  peace  were  common 
articles  of  food  in  Judea,  and 
the  abundance  of  which  was 
significant  of  peace  and  pros¬ 
perity. 

Again,  various  opinions  exist 
as  to  the  child  to  which  allu¬ 
sion  is  made  in  Isa.  vii.  16; 
some  supposing  that  it  denotes 
the  boy  whom  the  prophet 
look  with  him,  and  others  that 
it  refers  to  the  child  Jesus,  as 
in  v.  14 ;  and  that  the  meaning 
is,  that  in  less  time  than  would 
be  required,  after  the  birth  of 
the  promised  Immanuel, 'for 
him  to  attain  to  the  capacity 
of  distinguishing  good  from 
evil,  (that  is,  within  the  space 
of  two  01  three  years,)  the  ene¬ 
mies  of  Judah  should  perish. 

We  know  that  within  three 
or  four  years  after  the  pro¬ 
phecy  was  uttered,  the  kings 
of  both  Israel  and  Syria  were 
destroyed.  (2  Kings  xv.  30, 
and  xvi.  9.)  This  was  pro¬ 
bably  the  primary  accom¬ 
plishment  of  the  prophecy,  but 
it  received  its  far  more  strik¬ 
ing  and  literal  fulfilment  in 
the  birth  of  Immanuel;  for 
Herod  the  Great  was  the  last 
who  could  be  called  the  king 
either  of  Judah  or  Israel,  and, 
though  he  lived  till  Immanuel 
was  born,  he  died  while  he  was 
yet  an  infant ;  and  then,  Shi¬ 
loh  bein; 
departed 
as  it  had 
from  Isra 

Though  Ahaz  and  his  king¬ 
dom  were  thus  saved  from  the 
hands  of  the  Syrians  and  Is¬ 
raelites,  he  had  warning  of 
the  terrible  judgments  which 
were  in  (tori,  for  him  because 
of  bis  k'o’.v  "y  •-  but  neither 
merer  ao«  uxlguent  could 


r  come,  the  sceptre 
finally  from  Judah, 
long  before  departed 
el.  (Gen.  xlix.  10.) 


divert  him  from  the  wicked 
purposes  of  his  heart. 

He  sent  ambassadors  to 
Tiglath-pileser  king  of  Assy¬ 
ria,  and.  made  him  a  magnifi¬ 
cent  present  of  all  the  gold 
and  silverof  the  temple,  which 
he  collected  for  that  purpose, 
and  besought  his  assistance 
against  the  Syrians,  who  still 
harassed  him.  In  compli¬ 
ance  with  his  wishes,  the  king 
of  Assyria besieged  Damascus, 
and  took  it,  and  slew  the  king 
Ahaz  went  thither  to  congra¬ 
tulate  Tiglath-pileser  on  his 
victory,  and  to  thank  him  for 
his  seasonable  aid  ;  and  there 
he  saw  an  altar,  the  fashion 
of  which  particularly  pleased 
him,  and  he  ordered  one  to  be 
made  and  put  up  in  the  stead 
of  God’s  altar,  which  he  re¬ 
moved  into  an  obscure  place. 
Here  he  sacrificed  to  the  gods 
of  Damascus,  saying,  ^Be¬ 
cause  the  gods  of  the  kings 
of  Syria  help  them,  therefore 
will  I  sacrifice  to  them  that 
they  may  help  me ;  but  they 
were  the  ruin  qf  him  and  of 
all  Israel,”  says  the  sacred 
historian. 

So  greedy  was  this  aban¬ 
doned  man  to  commit  iniquity, 
that  he  wantonly  mutilated 
and  abused  the  furniture  of 
the  temple ;  broke  the  vessels 
in  pieces ;  made  him  altars  in 
every  corner  of  Jerusalem, 
and  seemed  resolved  to  show 
how  utterly  reckless  he  was 
of  the  consequences  of  sin. 

His  purposes  were  cut  off, 
however,  and  he  was  taken 
away  in  his  iniquity  at  the 
early  age  of  thirty-six,  and 
was  succeeded  by  his  son 
Hezekiah.  (2Chron.xviii.27.) 

Though  he  was  buried  in 
the  city  of  Jerusalem,  his  body 
was  not  admitted  to  the  sepul¬ 
chres  of  the  kings,  but  was 
treated  with  ignominy,  as 
were  the  bodies  of  Jehoram 
and  Joash  before  him. 

AHAZIAH,  1.  (1  Kings  xxiL 


AHA 

40,)  was  the  son  and  successor 
of  Ahab  king  of  Israel.  So 
wicked  was  he,  that  when  Je- 
hoshaphat  king  of  Judah  had 
joined  with  him  to  build  a  fleet 
at  Ezion-geber  for  the  Tab- 
shish  trade,  God  sent  his  pro¬ 
phet  to  tel'l  him,  that  because 
of  his  alliance  with  Ahaziah, 
even  in  this  secular  enter¬ 
prise,  his  fleet  should  be  de¬ 
stroyed  ;  and  the  ships  were 
accordingly  shattered  to  pieces 
by  tile  winds. 

Ahaziah  had  a  fall  in  his 
house  at  Samaria,  which  oc¬ 
casioned  a  fit  of  sickness,  and 
he  sent  to  an  idol  god,  at  Ek- 
ron,  to  inquire  if  he  should  re¬ 
cover.  His  messengers  were 
met  by  the  prophet  Elijah, 
who  informed  them  that  Aha- 
ziah’s  sickness  would  be  fatal. 
They  returned,  and  made  the 
occurrence  known  to  the 
king,  who,  supposing  from  the 
description,  that  Elijah  was 
the  man  they  met,  forthwith 
Bent  an  officer  and  fifty  men 
to  seize  him.  The  prophet 
was  sitting  on  the  brow  of  a 
hill  when  the  officer  approach¬ 
ed  and  announced  the  king’s 
summons.  At  the  prayer  of 
Elijah,  the  officer  and  his  men 
were  instantly  consumed  by 
fire  from  heaven.  The  same 
doom  came  upon  a  second 
officer  and  his  party  of  fifty 
men.  The  third  officer  fell 
on  his  knees  before  Elijah, 
and  besougnt  him  to  spare  his 
life  and  the  lives  of  his  men. 
At  an  intimation  from  God, 
Elijah  went  down  with  them 
and  told  the  king  in  person 
that  he  should  not  recover: 
and  he  soon  after  died,  ana 
Jehoram  his  brother  succeed¬ 
ed  him. 

2.  (2  Kings  viii.  25.)  Called 
also  Azariah,  (2Chron.  xxii. 
6,)  was  a  son  of  Jehoram  and 
Athaliah,  and  at  the  age  of 
twenty-two  succeeded  his  fa¬ 
ther  as  king  of  Judah  •  though 
in  2  Chron.  xxii.  2,  it  is  said 


AHI 

he  was  forty-two  years  old 
When  he  began  to  reign. 

Joram  the  king  of  Israel 
was  wounded  in  a  battle  with 
the  king  of  Syria  at  Ramoth- 

ilead,  and  was  carried  ta 

ezreel  to  be  healed.  Thera 
Ahaziah  visited  him,  and 
Jehu,  who  was  left  to  sustain 
the  siege,  (and  who  was  in  the 
mean  time  anointed  king  over 
Israel,)  came  down  to  Jezreel 
to  execute  the  judgment  of 
the  Lord  upon  Joram  the  son 
of  Ahab,  and  the  representa¬ 
tive  of  the  house  of  Ahab. 

As  soon  as  his  approach 
was  announced  by  the  watch¬ 
man,  J oram  and  Ahaziah  went 
out,  each  in  his  chariot,  to 
meet  him.  And  they  met  in 
the  portion  of  Naboth ,  with 
which  one  of  Ahab’s  daring 
crimes  was  so  closely  asso, 
ciated.  (See  Ahab.)  Jehu  re¬ 
minded  Joram  of  the  iniqui¬ 
ties  of  his  house,  and  he, 
suspecting  treachery,  warned 
Ahaziah  to  flee.  Jehu  then 
smote  Joram  (or  Jehoram,  as 
he  is  called,  2  Kings  ix.  24,) 
through  the  heart  with  an 
arrow.  He  pursued  and  slew 
Ahaziah  also,  though  he  had 
strength  to  reach  Megiddo, 
where  he  died,  and  was  car¬ 
ried  thence  to  Jerusalem,  and 
buried,  from  respect  to  the 
memory  of  Jehoshaphat  his 
ancestor.  (See  Jehu.)  In 
2  Chron.  xxii.  the  circum¬ 
stances  of  the  death  of  Aha¬ 
ziah  are  stated  differently,  but 
the  variation  is  not  substan¬ 
tial,  and  therefore  requires  no 
particular  notice. 

AHIAH.  1.  (1  Kings  iv.  3.) 
The  son  of  Shisha,  one  of 
Solomon’s  scribes  or  secreta¬ 
ries. 

2.  (1  Sam.  xiv.  3.  18.)  Sup¬ 
posed  by  some  to  be  the  same 
with  Ahimelech,  (1  Sam.  xxi. 
1,)  was  the  son  of  Ahitub,  and 
his  successor  in  the  priest’s 
office.  (See  Ahimelech  and 
Ahitub.) 


'A  HI 

3.  (1  Chron.  viii.  7.)  A  de¬ 
scendant  of  Benjamin. 
AHIJAH.  (1  Kin?sxi.29.)  A 
rophet  of  God  who  lived  at 
hiloh.  For  the  most  inte¬ 
resting  and  important  trans¬ 
actions  with  which  Ahijah  was 
connected,  see  Jeroboam.  He 
lived  to  a  great  age.  (1  Kings 
xiv.  4.) 

AHIKAM.  (2Kings xxii.  12.) 
A  son  of  Shaphan,  and  the 
father  of  Gedaliah,  was  one  of 
those  whom  Josiah  sent  to 
Huldah,  the  prophetess,  to  in¬ 
quire  of  her  concerning  the 
book  of  the  law  which  had 
been  found  in  the  temple. 
His  influence  was  of  great 
service  to  the  prophet  Jere¬ 
miah.  (Jer.  xxvi.  24.  See  Life 
of  Jeremiah,  by  the  Ame¬ 
rican  Sunday-School  Union, 
ch.  vi.) 

AHIMAAZ.  (1  Sam.  xiv.  50.) 
Son  and  successor  of  Zadok 
the  priest. 

During  the  revolt  of  Absa¬ 
lom,  Zadok,  and  Abiathar, 
another  of  the  priests,  stayed 
in  Jerusalem  with  Hushai,. 
David’s  friend;  while  Ahimaaz 
and  another  young  man,  (son 
of  Abiathar,)  whose  name 
was  Jonathan,  stationed  them¬ 
selves  at  Enrogel,  a  short  dis¬ 
tance  from  the  city ;  and  it 
was  agreed  that  whatever 
Hushai  should  hear  respect¬ 
ing  Absalom’s  plans  he  should 
communicate  to  Zadok  and 
Abiathar,  and  they  to  their 
sons  Ahimaaz  and  Jonathan, 
by  whom  the  intelligence 
should  be  communicated  to 
David. 

As  soon  as  Absalom  had  re¬ 
jected  the  counsel  of  Ahitho- 
phel,  and  adopted  that  of  Hu¬ 
shai, Zadok  and  Abiathar  were 
promptly  informed  of  it,  and 
directed  to  send  with  all  pos¬ 
sible  haste  to  David.  But 
(perhaps  to  avoid  suspicion) 
the  message  was  sent  by  a 
female.  The  transaction  was 
seen  by  a  lad,  who  went  im- 


AHI 

mediately  and  informed  Ab¬ 
salom. 

Ahimaaz  and  his  companion 
set  off  at  once,  however,  and 
when  they  came  to  Bahurim, 
the  site  of  which  is  now  un¬ 
certain,  they  concealed,  them¬ 
selves  in  a  well,  to  escape  the 
observation  of  their  pursuers. 
The  woman  of  the  house  near 
which  they  were  concealed 
covered  the  mouth  of  the  well 
with  a  blanket,  on  which  she 
spread  corn  to  dry ;  and  when 
Absalom’s  messengers  came 
up  in  the  pursuit,  and  inquired 
where  they  were,  she  deceived 
them,  and  told  them  that  the 
young  men  were  in  great 
haste,  and  had  passed  on. 
Thus  they  escaped,  and.  while 
their  pursuers  returned  to 
Jerusalem,  they  hastened  to 
David  with  their  message. 

At  his  own  urgent  request, 
Ahimaaz  was  employed  to 
carry  the  intelligence  of  Ab¬ 
salom's  death  to  David  his 
father.  He  outran  Cushi,  who 
had  been  previously  despatch¬ 
ed  on  the  same  errand.  Be¬ 
fore  he  had  delivered  his 
message, however, Cushi  came 
up,  and  made  known  the  sad 
event.  The  whole  history  of 
the  transaction,  as  recorded, 
(2  Sam.  xviii.  19—33,)  is  of 
thrilling  interest,  but  it  would 
be  out  of  place  here.  (See 
David.) 

AHIMELECH  (1  Sam.  xxi. 
1)  is  supposed  by  some  to  be 
the  same  with  Ahiah ;  but 
others  suppose  Ahiah  to  have 
been  the  son  of  Ahitub,  and 
his  successor  in  the  priest¬ 
hood,  and  Ahimelech  to  have 
been  his  brother  and  successor 
in  the  same  office.  It  is  im¬ 
material  which  of  these  opi¬ 
nions  is  correct.  David,  in 
h'S  flight  from  Saul,  came  to 
Nob,  where  Ahimelech  the 
priest  dwelt.  He  represented 
himself  to  be  in  great  haste 
on  the  king’s  urgent  business, 
and  by  this  means  obtained 
36 


AHT  «■  A I 


from  Ahimelech  some  of  the 
hallowed  bread,  and  also  the 
sword  of  Goliath,  which  was 
preserved  among  the  sacred 
things. 

Does,  the  Edomite,  a  prin¬ 
cipal  “servant  of  Saul,  who 
happened  to  be  at  Nob,  and  to 
be  a  witness  of  the  interview 
between  David  and  Ahime¬ 
lech,  told  Saul  of  the  matter, 
who  immediately  summoned 
Ahimelech  and  all  the  priests 
that  were  with  him  (eighty-five 

gersnns)  into  his  presence. 

[e  charged  them  with  a  con¬ 
spiracy  in  aiding  and  abetting 
his  enemy  ;  and  they  replied 
by  declaring  their  ignorance 
of  any  hostile  views,  on  the 
part  of  David,  towards  Saul, 
or  Ins  kingdom.  This  de¬ 
fence  (sufficient  as  it  surely 
was)  availed  them  nothing, 
however ;  and  the  king  com¬ 
manded  his  guard  to  slay 
them.  The  guard  declining 
to  lay  violent  hands  on  the 
priests  of  the  Lord,  the  king 
commanded  Doeg  to  fall  upon 
them,  and  he  did,  and  smote 
them,  and  also  the  city  of  Nob 
where  they  dwelt,  and  all  the 
men,  women,  and  children,  as 
well  as  all  the  beasts  which 
were  found  there.  Abiathar, 
Ahimelech’s  son,  was  the  only 
one  who  escaped,  and  he  flea 
with  an  ephoa  in  his  hand,  to 
David.  (See  Abiathar.) 

AHINOAM.  1.  (1  Sam.  xiv. 
50.)  The  daughter  of  Ahimaaz 
and  the  wife  of  Saul.  s 
2.  (1  Sam.  XXV.  43.)  A  woman 
»f  Jezreel  and  one  of  David’s 
wives.  She  was  taken  captive 
by  the  Amalekites  in  the  siege 
of  Ziklag,  and  afterwards  res¬ 
cued  from  captivity  by  David. 
(1  Sam.  xxx.  18.) 

AHIO.  (2  Sam.  vi.  3.)  A  son 
of  Abinadab,  who,  with  his 
brother  Uzzah,  was  intrusted 
by  David  with  the  transporta¬ 
tion  of  the  ark  from  Xirjalh- 
jearim  to  Jerusalem.  (See 
UZZA  II.) 


AH1THOPHEL.  (2  Sam.  xv. 
12.)  A  native  of  Giloh,  anil 
the  familiar  friend,  compa¬ 
nion,  and  counsellor  of  David. 
(1  Chron.  xxvii.  33.  Ps.  lv. 
12-*14.)  He  was  indeed  one 
of  the  most  eminent  counsel¬ 
lors  of  the  age.  (2  Sam.  xvi.  23.) 

Absalom  persuaded  him  to 
join  in  the  conspiracy  against 
his  father  David  ;  but  the  cun¬ 
ning  measures  which  Ahitho- 
phel  proposed  for  the  accom¬ 
plishment  of  Absalom’s  ambi¬ 
tious  plans,  were  all  defeated 
by  the  counsel  of  Husliai. 
Ahithophel,  seeing  that  the 
probable  issue  would  be  the 
utter  ruin  of  Absalom  and  his 
cause,  which  would  almost 
necessarily  involve  his  own 
destruction,  returned  to  Giloh, 
and  deliberately  hung  him¬ 
self. 

AHITUB.  1.  (1  Sam.  xiv.  3.> 
The  son  of  Phinehas,  and 
grandson  of  Eli.  Some  sup¬ 
pose  that  he  succeeded  Eli  i rv 
the  priesthood.  (See  Ahime¬ 
lech.) 

2.  The  name  of  Zadok’s  fa¬ 
ther.  (1  Chron.  vi.  8.) 

AHOLIAB.  (Ex.  xxxv.  34.) 
Son  of  Ahisamach,  of  the  tribe 
of  Dan,  who,  with  Bezaleel,. 
was  divinely  appointed  to  con¬ 
struct  the  tabernacle  and  its 
furniture. 

AHOLIBAH  and  AHOLAH. 
(Ezek.  xxiii.  4.)  Symbolical 
names  fir  Judah  and  Samaria. 

AHUZZATH.  (Gen.  xxvi. 
26.)  A  particular  friend  of  Abi- 
melech.  king  of  Gerar,  and  one 
of  those  wno  attended  him 
when  he  met  Isaac,  and  made 
a  treaty  with  him  at  Beershebn. 

AI,  (Josh.  vii.  2,)  called  also 
Aialh,  (Isa.  x.  28,)  and  Aija, 
(Neh.  xi.  31,)  was  an  elevated 
spot  east  of  Bethel ;  the  scene 
of  Joshua’s  defeat,  and  after¬ 
wards  of  his  victory.  (Josh, 
viii.  See  Joshua.  See  also 
Geography  op  the  Bible, 
by  the  American  Sunday 
school  Union,  p.  142. 


4 


ALA  « 

AIN.  (Josh.  xv.  32.)  Origin¬ 
ally  a  city  of  the  tribe  of  Ju- 
tlah,  but  afterwards  allotted  to 
the  tribe  of  Simeon.  (1  Chron. 
iv.  32.)  It  is  supposed  to  have 
been  near  Hebron.  « 

AJALON.  1.  (Josh.  x.  12.)  A 
village  of  Canaan,  situated  in 
the  tribe  of  Dan,  between  Je¬ 
rusalem  and  Ekron.  In  the 
vicinity  of  Ajalon  is  the  valley 
of  the  same  name,  memorable 
for  the  miracle  of  Joshua. 
(See  Joshua.) 

2.  (Josh.  xix.  42.)  A  town  in 
the  country  of  Zebulon,  where 
Klon  was  buried.  Its  site  is 
now  unknown. 

3.  (2  Chron.  xxviii.  18.)  A 
city  in  the  south  of  Judah, 
captured  by  the  Philistines. 

AKRABBIM,  ascent  of, 
(Num.  xxxiv.  4,)  or  Maalen- 
Acrabbim,  (Josh.  xv.  3,)  was  a 
range  of  hills  on  the  southern 
border  of  Judah  towards  the 
Dead  Sea.  Its  name  is  sup¬ 
posed  to  denote  that  it  was 
infested  with  scorpions. 

ALABASTER.  (Matt.  xxvi. 
7.)  A  fossil,  of  which  there  are 
several  varieties.  It  is  a  bright 
and  elegant  substance,  sus¬ 
ceptible  of  a  fine  polish,  and 
so  easily  wrought  that  it  is 
made  into  vessels  of  every 
form.  The  druggists  in  Egypt 
use  it  at  the  present  day  for 
the  purpose  of  keeping  medi¬ 
cines  and  perfumes.  Theo¬ 
critus,  an  ancient  profane 
historian,  speaks  of  gilded 
slabastersof  Syriacointment. 
The  phrase  “  she  brake  the 
box, ’’used  Mark  xiv.  3,  is  sup¬ 
posed  to  mean  that  she  opened 
or  unsealed  the  vessel,  as  we 
say  familiarly,  “to  break  a 
bottle,”  when  we  mean  to 
open  it  by  drawing  the  cork. 
It  was  the  custom  in  the  east 
then,  as  it  is  now  all  over  the 
world,  to  seal  with  wax  any 
thing  from  which  it  is  desira¬ 
ble  to  keep  the  air,  and  this  is 
especially  necessary  for  the 
preservation -of  precious  per- 


ALE 

fumes  and  ointments.  Th« 
breaking  of  the  wax  would 
be  naturally  denoted  by  the 
form  of  expression  used  in 
the  sacred  text. 

ALEXANDER.  1.  (Mark  xv. 
21.)  The  son  of  Simon  tbs 
Cyrenian. 

2.  (Acts  iv.  6.)  A  distin¬ 
guished  Jew,  who,  with  others, 
took  part  against  Peter  and 
John. 

3.  (Acts  xix.  33.)  A  Jew  of 
Ephesus,  who  took  a  conspi¬ 
cuous  part  in  the  controversy 
between  Paul  and  the  poptv 
lace  of  that  city,  and  attempt¬ 
ed,  without  success,  to  quell 
the  commotion. 

4.  (1  Tim.  i.  19, 20,  and  2  Tim. 
iv.  14.)  A  coppersmith  and 
apostate  from  Christianity, 
whom  Paul  mentions  in  term# 
of  severe  reproach. 

ALEXANDRIA.  (Acts  xviit 
24;  xxvii.  6.)  A  celebrated 
city  of  Egypt,  founded  by 
Alexander  the  -Great,  about 
b.c.  333.  It  was  situated  os 
a  strip  of  land  on  the  southern 
coast  of  the  Mediterranean, 
and  between  that  and  the  lake 
Mareotis,  rather  south  of  the 
present  city  of  the  same  name. 
Ancient  Alexandria  was  at 
one  time  the  centre  of  scien¬ 
tific  knowledge  ;  the  rival  of 
Rome  in  size,  and  the  first 
commercial  city  of  the  earth. 
Historians  tell  us  that  its  free 
population  exceeded  300,000, 
and  an  equal  number  ol 
s^ves.  Its  ancient  magnifi¬ 
cence  may  be  known  from 
the  ruins  of  spacious  streets 
two  thousand  feet  broad,  and 
the  fragments  of  colonnades, 
obelisks,  and  temples.  After 
Alexander’s  death  it  became 
the  regal  capital  of  Egypt, 
and  was  the  residence  ot  ilia 
Ptolemies  for  two  hundred 
years.  They  enriched  it  with 
numerouselegant  edifices,  and 
furnished  it  with  a  library  of 
700,000  volumes,  which  was 
burnt  by  the  Saracens  in  the 


ALI 

seventh  century.  From  the 
days  of  the  apostles  to  the 
Saracen  invasion,  Alexandria 
was  under  the  dominion  of 
Rome,  and  as  it  afforded  an 
extensive  market  for  grain, 
tile  centurion  who  had  charge 
of  Paul  on  his  way  as  a  pri¬ 
soner  to  Rome,  readily 11  found 
a  ship  of  Alexandria ,  laden 
with  com ,  sailing  into  Italy.” 
Some  of  the  persecutors  of 
Stephen  were  from  this  city, 
and  so  was  the  eloquent  Apol- 
los.  Here  also  lived  Clement, 
Origen,  and  Arius,  the  founder 
of  the  sect  of  Arians.  And 
here,  too,  was  the  Greek  or 
Alexandrian  version  of  the 
Bible  made  by  seventy-two 
learned  Jews,  and  hence  call¬ 
ed  the  Septuagint,  or  version 
by  the  seventy.  (See  Scrip¬ 
tures.) 

Modern  Alexandria  is  built 
of  the  ruins  of  the  ancient 
city.  It  contains  a  population 
of  15,000  souls,  and  is  merely 
the  port  of  Cairo,  where  ves¬ 
sels  touch;  and  exchanges  of 
merchandise  are  made.  It  is 
one  hundred  and  twenty-five 
miles  north-west  of  Cairo, 
and  is  the  residence  of  many 
European  merchants  and  fac¬ 
tors. 

ALEXANDRIANS.  (Acts  vi. 
9  )  Jews  from  Alexandria,  who 
were  present  at  Jerusalem 
when  Stephen  preached  there, 
and  where  they  had  a  syna- 
ogue  by  themselves.  Per- 
aps  the  Libertines  and  Cyre- 
nians  worshipped  with  them, 
or  each  sect  or  school  might 
have  had  separate  synagogues. 
In  either  case  they  are  pro¬ 
perly  described  as  being  cer¬ 
tain  of  the  synagogue  which  is 
called  the  synagogue  of  the 
Alexandrians,  See. 

ALGUM.  (See  Almuc.) 
ALIEN.  (Ex.  xviii.  3.)  A  fo¬ 
reigner  or  person  born  in  an¬ 
other  country,  and  not  having 
the  usual  rights  and  privileges 


ALM 

of  the  citizens  of  the  country 
in  which  he  lives.  The  force 
of  the  figure  (Eph.  ii.  12)  is 
sufficiently  obvious. 

ALLEGORY.  (Gal.  iv.  24.) 
A  figure  of  speech,  nearly  re¬ 
sembling  the  parable  or  fable, 
common  in  the  Scriptures 
and  among  all  oriental  na¬ 
tions.  It  personifies  irrational 
and  inanimate  objects  or  mo¬ 
ral  qualities,  and  enforces  or 
illustrates  truth  by  their  con¬ 
duct  or  by  a  supposed  conver¬ 
sation  between  them.  Bun- 
yan’s  Pilgrim’s  Progress  is  a 
continued  allegory ;  so  also 
are  our  Saviour's  discourses 
concerning  the  vine  (John  xv.) 
and  the  shepherd.  (John  x.) 

ALLELUIA,  (Rev.  xix.  1,) 
or  HALLELUJAH,  a  Hebrew 
word  signifying  Praise  ye  the 
Lord.  It  was  a  common  excla¬ 
mation  of  joy  and  praise  in  the 
Jewish  worship,  and  begins 
and  concludes  several  of  the 
Psalms,  as  cvi.  cxi.  cxiii.  cxvii. 
and  cxxxv. 

ALMOND.  (Gen.xliii.il.)  A 
well  known  fruit,  and  among 
the  best  that  Canaan  pro^ 
duced.  The  leaves  and  blos¬ 
soms  of  the  almond  tree  re¬ 
semble  those  of  the  peach 
tree,  and  it  is  remarkable  for 
its  early  maturity.  A  modern 
traveller  states  that  it  flowers 
in  January  and  gives  its  fruit 
in  April.  The  fruit  is  en¬ 
closed  in  a  tough  shell,  and 
this  again  within  a  horny 
husk,  which  opens  of  itself 
when  the  fruit  is  ripe.  It  is 
cultivated  with  great  care  at 
the  present  day  in  England 
for  its  early  and  beautiful 
flowers,  and  in  the  south  of 
Europe  for  exportation.  Four 
hundred  and  fifty  tons  are  an¬ 
nually  imported  into  Great 
Britain  alone,  paying  a  duty 
of  $80,000.  It  blossoms  on 
the  bare  branches,  and  hence 
the  striking  allusion  of  the 
poet: — 


39 


ALt> 

The  hope,  in  dreams  of  a  happier  hour, 
That  alights  on  misery’s  brow  ; 

Springs  out  of  the  silvery  almond  flower 
That  blooms  on  a  leafless  bough. 

The  original  word  from  which 
almoml  is  derived,  means  to 
make  haste,  or  awake  early, 
denoting  its  hasty  growth  and 
early  maturity.  Hence  the 
allusion  in  Jer.  i.  Id  is  to  the 
haste  with  which  God  would 
send  his  judgments,  or  the 
vigilance  with  which  he 
watched  over  his  word  to 
fulfil  it.  So  the  chiefs  of  the 
tribes  had  almond  roils,  em¬ 
blematical  of  the  vigilance 
which  became  them  as  the 
leadei*S  of  God’s  chosen  peo- 

Itle.  (Num.  xvii.  6 — 8.)  Ill 
Sccl.  xii.  5,  an  allusion  is 
niade  to  the  white  silvery  hair 
which  covers  the  head  in  old 
age,  and  which,  if  found  in  the 
way  of  righteousness,  is  a 
crown  of  glory.  (Prov.  xvi. 
31.  For  engraving  see  Na¬ 
tural  History  of  the  Bi¬ 
ble,  by  the  American  Sunday- 
SchoolUnion,article  Almond.) 

ALMS,  ALMS-DEEDS. 
(Matt.  vi.  1.  Acts  ix.  36.) 
Deeds  of  charity,  or  (Luke  xi. 
41)  the  thing  given  in  charity. 
The  giving  of  alms  is  an  im¬ 
portant  duty  enjoined  by  the 
Scriptures,  and  the  manner 
of  it  is  prescribed  with  great 
precision.  (SeeActsx.2-4,and 
the  passages  already  cited.) 

ALmUG  TREES,  (1  Kings 
X.  11,)  or  ALGUM  TREES.  (2 
Chron.  ij.  8.)  One  of  the  kinds 
of  timber  which  Solomon  or¬ 
dered  from  Tyre  for  the  build¬ 
ing  of  the  temple.  Jewish  his¬ 
torians  describe  it  as  a. fine, 
while,  glossy  wood,  and  used 
for  musical  instruments,  and 
the  ornamental  work  of  the 
temple.  Dr.  Shaw  supposes  it 
to  have  been  what  we  call  the 
cypress,  which  is  still  used 
for  harpsichords,  and  other 
stringed  instruments. 

ALOES.  (So).  Song  iv.  14.) 


ALP 

A  plant  with  broad  thick 
prickly  leaves.  The  juice  of 
this  plant,  when  boiled,  pro¬ 
duces  the  medicinal  article 
called  aloes  ;  and  it  was  also 
used  in  embalming.  (John  xix. 
39.)  The  Cape  of  Good  Hope 
and  the  islands  of  Sumatra 
and  Ceylon  furnish  many  va¬ 
rieties.  The  aloes  which  is 
cultivated  in  this  country  as 
an  ornamental  plant,  is  of  a 
very  different  species  from  the 
medicinal  aloes. 

The  wood,6f  the  aloe  tree  is 
called  lign-aioe.  (Num.  xxiv. 

6.)  The  smell  of  it  is  very 
fragrant,  and  the  wood  of 
|  some  s|>ecies  is  worth  more 
I  than  its  weight  in  gold.  Be¬ 
sides  its  useTas  a  strong  per¬ 
fume,  it  was  employed  for  fine 
cabinet  and  ornamental  work. 

ALPHA.  (Rev.  i.  8 ;  xxi. 
and  xxii.  13.)  The  name  of  the 
first  letter  of  the  Greek  alpha¬ 
bet.  ■“  /  am  Alpha  and  Omegt 
the  beginning  and  the  end,  tin 
first  and  the  last,'1’  is  the  ex¬ 
pressive  language  employed 
by  our  Saviour  in  reference  to 
himself.  The  phrase  among 
the  Jews  to  denote  from  first  ) 
to  last  was,  “from  Aleph  to 
Tau,”  which  are  the  names 
of  the  first  and  last  letters  of 
the  Hebrew  alphabet.  .The 
expressions  in  the  passages 
cited,  denote  the  eternity  and 
perfection  of  the  being  to 
whom  they  are  applied,  and 
their  force  will  appear  by 
comparing  them  with  Isa.  xix 
4;  xliv.  6,  and  xlviii.  12. 

ALPHEUS.  1.  (Malt.  x.  & 
Mark  iii.  18.  Luke  vi.  15,  and 
Acts  i.  13.)  The  father  of  the 
apostle  James.  2.  (Mark  ii. 
14.)  The  father  of  Levi,  or  . 
Matthew,  as  he  is  called. 
(Matt.  ix.  9.)  Many  suppose 
that  Alpheus  was  the  same 
person  as  Cleopas,  who  is 
mentioned  (John  xix.TEo)  as 
the  husband  of  Mary  the  sis¬ 
ter  of  our  Lord’s  mother,  and 
40 


ALT 

that  hence  James,  his  son,  is 
called  our  Lord’s  brother. 
(Compare  Matt.  xiii.  55.  and 
xxvii.  56,  and  Mark  vi.  3,  and 
Lu.xxiv.10.  See  Jambs, Jo§es.) 

ALTAR.  (Gen.  viti.  20.)  A 
structure  appropriated  exclu¬ 
sively  to  the  offering  of  sacri¬ 
fices,  under  the  Jewish  law. 
(See  Sacrifices.)  Though 
sacrifices  were  offered  before 
the  flood,  the  word  altar  does 
not  occur  until  the  time  of 
Noah’s  departure  from  the 
tirk. 

Altars  were  of  various  forms, 
and  at  first  very  rude  in  their 
construction,  being  nothing 
more,  probably, Than  a  square 
heap  of  stones,  or  mound  of 
earth.  The  altar  on  which 
Jacob  made  an  offering  at 
Bethel,  was  the  single  stone 
which  had  served  him  for  a 
pillow  during  the  night.  (Gen. 
xxviii.  18.)  "The  altar  which 
Moses  was  commanded  to 
build,  (Ex.  xx.  24.)  was  to  be 
made  of  earth.  If  made  of 
stone,  it  was  expressly  re¬ 
quired  to  be  rough,  the  use  of 
a  tool  being  regarded  as  pol¬ 
luting.  (Ex.  xx.  25.)  It  was 
also  to  be  without  steps.  (Ex. 
xx.  26.  See  also  Deut.  xxvii. 
2 — 6,  and  Josh.  viii.  31.) 

Among  the  ancient  Egyptian 
pictures  lately  discovered  in 
the  ruins  of  Herculaneum,  wo 
have  models  of  the  altar. 


Figure  1  is  a  side  view,  and 
figure  2  is  an  angular  view. 
The  structures  are  different, 
as  well  as  the  apparent  orna- 


ALT, 

ments  and  uses.  On  both, 
however,  we  observe  a  projec¬ 
tion  upward  at  each  corner, 
which  represents  the  true 
figure  of  the  horns.  (Ex. 
xxvii.  2.  1  Kings  ii.  23.  Rev. 
ix.  13.)  They  were  probably 
used  to  confine  the  victim. 
(Ps.  cxviii.  27.) 

The  altars  required  in  the 
Jewish  worship  were,  (l.)  Tlte 
altar  of  burnt-offering ,  or  the 
brazen  altar,  in  the  taber¬ 
nacle  in  the  wilderness;  this 
altar  stood  directly  in  front 
of  the  principal  entrance,  as 
seen  in  the  figure  under  tlie 
article  Tabernacle. 

It  was  made  of  shittim  wood, 
seven  feet  and  six  inches 
square,  and  four  feet  and  six 
inches  high.  It  was  hollow, 
and  covered  or  overlaid  with 
plates  of  brass.  The  horns 
(of  which  there  was  one  on 
each  corner)  were  of  wood, 
and  overlaid  in  the  same  way. 
A  grate  or  net  work  of  brass 
was  also  attached  to  it,  either 
to  hold  the  fire  or  to  support  a 
hearth  of  earth.  (Biblical  An¬ 
tiquities,  by  the  American 
Sunday-School  Union,  vol.  ij. 
ch.  ii.)  The  furniture  of  the  al¬ 
tar  was  all  of  brass,  and  con¬ 
sisted  of  such  articles  as  a  sho¬ 
vel  to  remove  the  ashes  from 
the  altar,  and  a  pan  to  receive 
them;  the  skins  or  vessels  for 
receiving  the  blood  of  the  vic¬ 
tims,  and  hooks  f  >r  turning  tlie 
sacrifice.  At  each  corner  was 
a  brass  ring,  and  there  were 
also  two  staves  or  rods  over¬ 
laid  with  brass  which  passed 
through  these  rings,  and  serv¬ 
ed  for  carrying  the  altar  from 
place  to  place. 

The  fire  used  on  this  altar 
was  perpetually  maintained. 
It  was  kindled  miraculously, 
and  the  flame  was  cherished 
with  the  most  devoted  care. 
It  was  also  a  place  of  constant 
sacrifice :  fresh  blood  was 
shed  upon  it  continually,  and 
the  smoke  of  the  burning  sa- 
41 


ALT 


ALT 


crifice  ascended  up  towards 
heaven  without  interruption. 

In  the  first  temple,  (which 
in  its  general  plan  was  con¬ 
structed  after  the  pattern  of 
the  tabernacle  in  the  wilder¬ 
ness,  that  being  a  tent  and 
this  a  house,)  the  altar  of 
burnt-offering  stood  in  the 
same  relative  position  as  in 
the  tabernacle.  It  was  much 
larger,  however,  being  thirty 


feet  square  and  fifteen  feet 
high ;  its  particular  plan  be¬ 
ing  appointed  expressly  by 
divine  authority.  (1  Citron, 
xxviii.  1 1—20.)  And  in  the 
second  temple  it  occupied  the 
same  position,  though  it  was 
still  larger  and  more  beautiful 
than  in  the  first. 

2.  The  ultur  of  inrerise,  or 
the  golden  altar ,  stood  within 
the  holy  place,  and  near  to  the 
42 


AM  A 

inmost  veil.  (Ex.  xxx.  1-6.)  It 
was  made  of  the  same  wood 
with  the  brazen  altar,  and 
was  eighteen  inches  square, 
and  three  feet  high.  The  top, 
as  well  as  the  sides  and  horns, 
was  overlaid  with  pure  gold, 
and  it  was  finished  around  the 
upper  surface  with  a  crown  or 
border  of  gold.  Just  below 
this  border  four  golden  rings 
were  attached  to  each  side  of 
the  altar,  one  near  each  cor¬ 
ner.  The  staves  or  rod^ 
for  bearing  the  altar  passed 
through  these  rings,  and  were 
made  of  the  same  wood  with 
the  altar  itself,  and  richly 
overlaid  with  the  same  pre¬ 
cious  metal. 

Upon  this  altar  incense  was 
burnt  every  morning  and 
every  evening,  (see  Incense,) 
so  that  it  was  literally  per¬ 
petual.  (Ex.  xxx.  8.)  Neither 
burnt-sacrifice,  nor  meat-offer¬ 
ing,  nor  drink-offering,  were 
permitted  upon  this  altar;  nor 
was  it  ever  stained  with  blood, 
except  once  annually,  when 
the  priest  made  atonement. 
(Lev.  xvi.  18,  19.) 

AMALEK.  (Gen.  xxxvi.  16.) 
He  was  the  son  of  Eliphaz, 
and  grandson  of  Esau.  Some 
have  supposed  him  to  be  the 
father  of  the  Amalekites,  but 
they  are  mentioned  as  a  pow¬ 
erful  people  long  before  the 
birth  of  Amalek.  (Gen.  xiv.  7.) 
The  Arabians  have  a  tradition 
that  he  was  the  son  of  Ham. 

AMALEKITES.  (1  Sam.  xv. 
6.)  A  powerful  people,  but  of 
uncertain  origin  anu  resi¬ 
dence.  They  are  called  (Num. 
xxiv.  20)  the  first  of  all 
the  nations.  They  were  sig¬ 
nally  defeated  in  a  contest 
with  the  children  of  Israel 
at  Rephidim  and  for  their 
guilt  in  opposing  the  progress 
of  God’s  people,  they  became 
objects  of  his  terrible  judg¬ 
ments.  They  were  afterwards 
defeated  and  repulsed  by 
Gideon,  (Judg.  vii.  12,)  and 


AMA 

by  Saul,  (1  Sam.  xv.)  and  by 
David,  (1  Sam.  xxx.;)  till  at 
last  the  word  of  the  Lord  was 
fulfilled  to  the  very  letter,  and 
their  name  was  blotted  from 
the  earth.  (1  Sam.  xxx.  17, 
and  1  Chron.  iv.  43.) 

AMANA.  (Sol.  Song  iv.  8.) 
A  southern  peak  of  one  of  the 
mountains  of  Lebanon ;  pro¬ 
bably  so  called  from  a  river 
of  that  name  which  flowed 
from  it. 

AMASA.  (1  Chron.  ii.  17.) 
A  son  of  Jether,  who  is  else¬ 
where  called  Ithra.  (2  Sam. 
xvii.  25.)  Absalom  placed  him 
at  the  head’of  his  troops  in 
the  rebellion  against  his  lather 
David ;  but  he  was  defeated  by 
his  cousin  Joab.  Afterwards, 
JSavid  recognising  the  rela¬ 
tionship  between  them,  not 
only  pardoned  Amasa,  but 
made  him  captain  of  his  host 
in  the  room  of  Joab. 

On  the  revolt  of  Sheba,  Da¬ 
vid  required  Amasa  to  assem¬ 
ble  the  people  within  three 
days,  and  march  with  them  to 
suppress  it;  but  in  conses- 
uence  of  his  delay,  the  king 
espatched  Abishai  with  such 
an  army  as  could  be  mustered 
at  the  moment,  and  together 
with  Joab  they  pursued  after 
Sheba.  At  a  particular  place 
in  Gibeon,  Amasa  joined  them. 
The  envious  and  mortified 
Joab  approached  to  salute 
him,  and  seized  the  oppor¬ 
tunity  to  give  him  a  deadly 
wound. 

AMASAI.  (1  Chrhn.  vi.  25.) 
A  Levite,  and  one  qf  the  sons 
of  Elkanah.  He  w>as  chief  of 
a  gallant  party  that  came  to 
David,  when  he  was  dying 
from  Saul.  (1  Chron.  xii.  HI- 
18.)  David  gladly  availed  him- 
selfoftheiraid,and  gave  them 
commissions  in  his  army. 

AMAZIAH,  (2  Kings  xiv.  1— 
20,)  the  eighth  king  of  Judah, 
was  son  and  successor  of  Je- 
hoash.  He  commenced  his 
reign  in  the  twenty-fifth  yeat 
43 


AMA 

of  Ills  age.  His  character  is 
peculiarly  described.  He  did 
that  which  was  right  in  the 
sight  of  the  Lord,  but  not  with 
a  peifect  heart.  (2  Chron. 
xxv.  2.  2  Kings  xiv.  3.) 

At  the  commencement  of  his 
reign,  he  showed  an  outward 
regar^  to  the  law  of  the  Lord ; 
out  power  and  ambition  turn¬ 
ed  his  heart ;  he  fell  into  a 
snare,  and  was  destroyed  by 
Hie  hand  of  violence. 

Amaziah  resolved  to  make 
war  upon  the  Edomites,  who 
had  revolted  from  the  king¬ 
dom  of  Judah  several  years 
before,  (2  Kings  wiii.  20 ;)  and 
for  this  purpose  he  raised  an 
army  of  300,000  men  from 
among  his  own  subjects,  and 
hired  100,000  men  of  Israel, 
fur  whose  services  he  paid 
S  150,000.  Before  he  com¬ 
menced  the  expedition,  how¬ 
ever,  he  was  directed  by  di¬ 
vine  authority  to  dismiss  his 
hired  soldiers,  and  was  told 
that  if  he  did  not,  he  should 
certainly  fall  before  his  ene¬ 
mies.  After  some  hesitation 
he  dismissed  the  Israelitish 
army,  and  sent  them  home. 

Amaziah  met  the  Edomites 
in  a  place  called  the  Valley 
of  Salt,  and  gained  a  signal 
victory  over  them,  slaying 
10,000,  and  taking  10,000  pri¬ 
soners.  Elated  by  his  success, 
and  forgetful  of  the  God  of 
battles  who  had  given  him  the 
victory,  he  took  the  idols 
which  his  vanquished  enemy 
had  worshipped,  and  set  them 
up  as  his  own  gods.  The 
anger  of  the  Almighty  was 
kindled  against  him,  and  he 
sept  a  message  to  him,  the 
very  terms  of  which  exposed 
and  rebuked  his  si.i.  (2  Chron. 
xxv.  15.)  The  king  was  al¬ 
ready  hardened  enough  to 
question  the  authority  of  God’s 
messenger,  and  even  to 
threaten  him  with  death.  He 
was  warned  of  the  destruc¬ 
tion  lie  would  bring  upon 


AMB 

himself  for  hid  idolatry  and 
unbelief. 

Thus  given  up  to  follow  his 
own  devices,  he  sought  occa¬ 
sion  of  war  with  the  king  of 
Israel.  The  answer  of  the 
king  to  the  challenge  was 
given  in  the  form  of  a  fable, 
but  was  expressive  of  the  ut¬ 
most  contempt,  and  contained 
at  the  same  time  a  severe  re¬ 
buke  to  the  king  of  Judah  for 
his  pride  and  vain-glory. 

Amaziah  was  not  to  be  de¬ 
terred  from  his  purpose  ;  and 
he  met  the  army  of  Israel  al 
Beth-shemesh  in  Judea,  and  it 
is  said  by  Jewish  historians, 
that  the  army  of  Judah  was 
suddenly  seized  with  a  panic, 
and  fled  before  Israel  without 
a  blow  on  either  side.  Ania- 
ziah,  however,  was  taken  pri¬ 
soner  by  the  king  of  Israel, 
who  forthwith  proceeded  to 
break  down  a  section  of  the 
city  wall  six  hundred  feet  in 
length,  and  marched  through 
the  breach ;  plundered  the 
temple  of  its  gold  and  silver 
vessels ;  seized  the  king's 
treasures,  and  taking  such 
hostages  as  he  pleased,  re¬ 
turned  in  triumph  to  Samaria, 
leaving  the  king  of  Judah  to 
reflect  on  the  folly  and  mad¬ 
ness  of  rejecting  the  counsel 
and  disobeying  the  command 
of  God.  (2  Kings  xiv.)  About 
fifteen  years  after  this  dis¬ 
graceful  defeat,  Amaziah  fled 
from  Jerusalem  to  Laehish  to 
escape  a  conspiracy ;  but  he 
was  followed  to  the  place  to 
which  he  fled,  and  put  to 
death,  and  his  body  taken 
back  to  Jerusalem,  and  buried 
with  his  fathers.  (See  Amos.) 

AMBASSADOR.  (Isa.xxxiii. 
7.)  A  person  appointed  tc 
■  sume  business  in  a  foreign 
country,  in  the  transaction  of 
which  he  represents  the  go¬ 
vernment  that  appoints  him. 
(2Chrun.  xxxii.  31.)  The  word 
is  figuratively  used  (2  Cor.  v. 
|  18—20)  to  denote  those  who 
44 


A  ME 

are  aent  forth,  by  divine  au¬ 
thority,  to  proclaim  the  terms 
of  pardon  and  eternal  life  to 
tile  rebellious  and  condemned 
subjects  of  .God’s  government. 

AMBASSAGE.  (Luke  xiv. 
32.)  A  public  message.  The 
term  may  include  the  mes 
senger  or  ambassador  as  well 
as  his  message. 

AMBER.  (Ezek.  i.  4, 27, an<f 
viii.  2.)  A  beautiful  bitumi¬ 
nous  substance,  susceptible 
of  a  fine  polish,  and  present¬ 
ing  several  colours,  though 
chiefly  yellow  and  orange.  It 
is  found  in  Prussia  and  near 
the  shores  of  the  Baltic  Sea. 
In  the  passages  cited,  the  al¬ 
lusion  is  simnly  to  the  colour 
of  amber  ana  does  not  imply 
that  it  is  indestructible  by 
fire. 

AMEN.  (Deut.  xxvii.  15.) 
This  word,  though  variously 
used,  has  substantially  the 
same  meaning.  It  is  an  af¬ 
firmative  response,  and  is 
used  to  denote  assent,  or  en¬ 
tire  acquiescence.  (Deut. xxvii. 
15—26.)  It  is  sometimes  trans¬ 
lated  verily,  and  was  fre- 
puently  used  by  our  Saviour 
when  he  was  about  to  utter 
some  distinct,  important,  and 
solemn  truth.  Its  repetition, 
“  verily,  verily,  I  say  unto 
you,”  strengthens  the  asser¬ 
tion. 

It  was  the  custom  among 
the  early  Christians  for  all 
the  worshippers  to  say  amen 
about  the  close  of  the  prayer, 
or  at  the  giving  of  thanks. 
(1  Cor.  xiv.  16.)  And  Jewish 
writers  say,  “there  is  nothing 
greater  in  the  sight  of  God 
than  the  amen  with  which 
the  Israelite  answers.”  The 
romises  of  God  are  amen, 
ecause  they  are  made  sure 
and  certain  in  Christ.  (2  Cor. 
i.  20.)  Amen  is  one  of  the  titles 
of  our  blessed  Saviour,  (Rev. 
iii.  14,)  as  he  is  the  faithful  and 
true  witness.  Amen  and  amen 
is  the  eloqueot  and  sublime 


AMI 

conclusion  of  one  of  David’s 
triumphant  songs.  (Ps.  xli.  13.) 
•  AMETHYST.  (Exod.  xxxix. 
12.)  One  of  the  most  valuable 
o(  the  precious  stones.  It  has 
a  variety  of  colours,  though 
purple,  prevails. 

AMMINADAB.  (Exod.  vi. 
23.)  Aaron’s  father-in-law. 
The  allusion  to  the  chariots 
of  Amminadab,  or  Ammina- 
dib,  (Sol.  S*^)g  vi.  12,)  may 
refer  to  the  known  beauty  and 
swiftness  of  the  vehicles  of 
some  famous  chieftain,  or  cha 
rioteer  of  that  neriod. 

AMMONITES,  or  children 
of  AMMON,  (Gen.  xix.  38,? 
were  the  descendants  of  Ben- 
ammi,  a  son  of  Lot,  by  incest. 
He  was  born  in  the  neighbour¬ 
hood  of  Zoar,  but  his  posterity 
spread  northwardly,  and  oc¬ 
cupied  the  mountainous  re¬ 
gions  of  Gilead,  between  the 
rivers  Arnon  and  Jabbok.  Ori- 
ginally  their  possessions  were 
bounded  north  by  the  river 
Jabbok,  west  by  Jordan-,  south 
by  Arnon,  and  stretched  east- 
wardly  into  Arabia.  The 
Amorites,  under  Sihon  their 
king,  expelled  them  from  the 
richest  part  of  their  posses¬ 
sions,  which  lay  between  the 
two  rivers;  but  Moses  reco¬ 
vered  it  from  the  Amorites, 
and  divided  it  between  Reuben 
and  Gad.  The  western  bound¬ 
ary  of  the  Ammonites  then 
became  a  branch  of  the  river 
Jabbok,  (on  which  their  oa 
pital  city,  Rabbah  or  Rabbath- 
Ammon,  stood,)  and  the  moun 
tains  of  Gilead  bounded  them 
on  the  east,  while  the  mail, 
stream  of  tne  Jabbok  conti¬ 
nued  to  be  their  northern 
boundary,  and  the  land  of 
Moab  the.  southern.  This  last 
is  intended  by  the  kingdom 
of  Ammon  as  used  in  the 
sacred  history. 

The  children  of  Arnmon 
were  gross  idolaters.  (Judg. 
x.  6.)  Their  chief  idol  was 
Moloch  supposed  to  be  the 
45 


A.  MM 

game  with  Baal,  Milcom,  &c. 
and  their  history  is  full  of  the 
judgments  which  their  sins 
brought  upon  them,  though 
they  were  spared,  by  God’s 
express  command,  when  Is¬ 
rael  passed  by  them  from 
Egypt.  (Deut.  it.  19.  2Chron. 
xx.  10.) 

Three  hundred  years  after¬ 
wards  the  king  of  the  Am¬ 
monites  made  war  upon  the 
Israelites,  under  the  pretence 
that  they  had  taken  their 
land,  (Judg.  xi'13,)  and  after 
a  severe  battle  the  Ammonites 
were  routed  with  great  slaugh¬ 
ter. 

In  the  beginning  of  Saul’s 
reign,  (1  Sam.  xi.  1,)  the  Am¬ 
monites,  under  Nahash  their 
king,  attacked  Jabesh-gilead  ; 
but  proposed  to  spare  the  in¬ 
habitants  provided  they  would 
all  consent  to  lose  the  right 
eye.  During  the  time  allowed 
for  their  answer,  they  collect¬ 
ed  a  sufficient  force  to  meet 
the  Ammonites,  and  so  com¬ 
pletely  routed  them,  that  two 
of  them  were  not  left  together. 

Fifty  or  sixty  years  after 
this,  one  of  the  kings  of  the 
Ammonites  died,  and  David, 
who  seems  to  have  been  under 
some  obligation  to  him,  sent 
a  message  of  condolence  to 
his  son  and  successor.  This 
friendly  act  was  not  received 
kindly,  and  the  messengers 
of  David  were  grossly  abused 
and  insulted.  (See  Hanun.) 
Expecting  that  David  would 
attempt  to  revenge  the  insult, 
they  obtained  large  supplies 
of  men  from  the  Syrans  ;  and 
when  David  heard  of  their 
preparation  for  war,  he  sent 
Joab,  with  a  chosen  troop  from 
the  army  of  Israel,  to  meet 
tiiem.  The  result  was  fatal 
to  the  Ammonites.  They  and 
•Jheir  allies  were  subdued,  and 
fled.  Rabbath,  their  capital, 
and  all  the  rest  of  their  cities, 
were  afterwards  destroyed 
by  the  Israelites;  the  king’s 


AMO 

crown  was  taken  from  his 
head  and  put  on  David’s  head, 
and  tlie  people  were  reduced 
to  a,  state  of  abject,  servitude. 
(2  Sam.  xii.  29—31.) 

In  this  condition  they  re¬ 
mained  till  the  reign  of  Je, 
hoshaphat,  when  they  united 
with  the  Moabites  and  others, 
and  made  war  upon  Judah, 
#nd  were  miraculously  cut 
off.  (2  Chron.  xx.)  Jotham 
fought  and  prevailed  against 
them,  and  made  them  tribu¬ 
tary  for  several  years.  The 
most  dreadful  judgments  were 
threatened  against  them  and 
their  chief  city,  because  they 
seized  and  occupied  a  part  of 
the  territory  of  Israel,  (Jer. 
xlix.  1—6;)  and  again,  because 
they  insolently  triumphed 
over  the  Israelites  in  the  days 
of  their  captivity,  (Ezek.  xxv. 
2—7.  10.;)  and  every  threat 
was  executed  to  the  very  utter¬ 
most,  in  due  time,  as  profane 
history  abundantly  attests. 
They  soon  became  extinct 
as  a  nation,  and  Origen,  a 
writer  of  the  third  century, 
assures  us,  that  in  his  time 
they  were  only  known  under 
the  general  name  of  Arabs. 
Where  their  capital  once 
stood  is  now  the  village  of 
Amman,  twenty  miles  south¬ 
east  of  the  modern  town  of 
Szalt. 

AMMON-NO.  (See  No.) 

AMNON  (1  Chron.  iii.  1) 
was  the  eldest  son  of  David, 
and  was  guilty  of  violating 
the  chastity  of  his  half-sis¬ 
ter,,  Tamar.  (2  Sam.  xiii.) 
David  was  very  angry,  though 
he  did  not  punish  Amnon ; 
but  his  brother  Absalom  deter¬ 
mined  to  revenge  the  injury; 
and  after  cherisTiing  his  pur¬ 
pose  for  two  years,  he  finally 
executed  it  in  his  house  at  a 
feast  to  which  he  had  invited 
Amnon,  with  the  rest  of  his  fa¬ 
ther’s  family.  (See  Absai.om.) 

AMON.  (2Kingsxxi.  18-26.) 
The  fourteenth  king  of  Judah. 

46 


AMO 

and  the  son  and  successor  of 
Manasseh.  He  was  a  wicked 
king,  and  died  in  his  own 
house  by  the  hands  of  his  ser¬ 
vants,  who  conspired  against 
him.  He  was  succeeded  by 
his  son  Josiah. 

AMOKITES,  (Gen.  x.  16.) 
A  Syrian  tribe  descended  front 
Canaan,  and  among  the  most 
formidable  of  the  tribes  with 
whom  the  Israelite's  contend¬ 
ed.  They  were  of  gigantic 
stature  and  great  courage, 
(Amos  ii.  5,)  and  inhabited  one 
of  the  most  fertile  districts  of 
the  country,  being  bounded 
on  three  sides  by  the  rivers 
Arnon,  Jabbok,  and  Jordan. 
(See  Ammonites.)  The  Israel¬ 
ites  asked  permission  of  their 
king  to  travel  through  their 
territory,  promising  to  injure 
nothing,  not  even  to  draw 
water  from  their  wells  ;  but  it 
was  refused.  The  Amorites 
collected  and  attempted  to  op¬ 
pose  their  progress,  but  were 
defeated,  and  their  territory 
taken  and  divided  between 
the  tribes  of  Reuben  and  Gad. 
Some  have  supposed  that 
there  were  two  distinct  people 
or  tribes  called  Amorites;  but 
there  seems  to  be  no  sufficient 
ground  for  the  supposition. 

AMOS.  (Amos  i.  1.)  One  of 
the  lesser  prophets,  who  lived 
in  the  reign  of  Uzziah  king  of 
Judah,  nearly  eight  hundred 
years  before  Christ.  Of  course 
he  was  a  contemporary  of  Ho- 
sea.  The  place  of  his  birth 
is  not  known ;  but  while  em¬ 
ployed  as  a  herdsman,  he  was 
divinely  appointed  to  prophe¬ 
sy  againetlsrael.  Being  driven 
from  Bethel  upon  the  false  re¬ 
presentation  made  to  the  king 
by  the  idolatrous  priest  Ama- 
nah,  (Amos  vii.  10 — 17,)  he 
went  to  Tekoa,  an  obscure 
town  ten  or  fifteen  miles  south 
of  Jerusalem.  The  time  and 
manner  of  his  death  are  un¬ 
certain. 

Amos,  prophecy  op,  is  the 


ANA 

thirtieth  in  the  order  of  the 
books  of  the  Old  Testament, 
and  is  full  of  interest  and  in¬ 
struction.  It  has  been  remark¬ 
ed  as  a  peculiar  feature  of 
this  prophecy,  that  it  abounds 
with  illustrations  drawn  from 
husbandry,  and-the  scenes  of 
rustic  life ;  but  it  certainly 
contains  some  of  the  most 
perfect  specimens  of  sublime 
thought  and  beautiful  expres¬ 
sion  that  are  to  be  found  in 
any  language.  We  may  refer 
specially  to  chapters  v.  vii. 
and  ix. 

AMPHIPOLIS.  (Acts  xvii. 

1. )  A  city  of  European  Tur¬ 
key,  originally  founded  by 
Cimon,  the  renowned  Athe¬ 
nian  general,  (b.c.  500,)  and 
formerly  the  capital  of  East¬ 
ern  Macedonia.  It  lies  on  the 
river  Strymon,  about  seventy 
miles  east  of  Thessalonica. 
It  is  now  an  obscure  place 
and  is  called  by  the  Turks, 
Emboli. 

AiVIRAPHEL.  (Gen.  xiv.  1.) 
The  king  of  Shinar,  (Gen.  xi. 

2. )  or  Babylonia,  who,  con¬ 
federated  with  other  kings, 
made  war  on  Sodom  and  the 
other  cities  of  the  plain ;  plun 
dering  them,  and  making  pri¬ 
soners  of  their  inhabitants. 
Among  the  captives  was  Lot, 
Abraham’s  nephew.  (See 
Lot.) 

ANAH.  (See  Mules.) 

ANAK  (Num.  xiii.  22)  was 
the  son  of  Arba,  who  gave  the 
name  of  Kirjalh-arba,  or  city 
of  Arba,  to  what  is  otherwise 
called  Hebron.  (Josh.  xiv.  15.) 
Anak  had  three  sons,  who 
were  giants  ;  and  their  child¬ 
ren,  who  were  called  Anak- 
ims,  were  also  remarkable 
for  their  stature  and  fierce¬ 
ness.  In  the  time  of  Moses 
they  occupied  the  territory 
between  Hebron  and  Jerusa¬ 
lem,  and  were  divided  into 
several  tribes  op  clans.  (Josh, 
xi.  21,  22.)  They  were,  how¬ 
ever,  cut  off  by  Joshua  and 


ANA 

Caleb,  and  the  Israelites  en¬ 
tered  into  their  possessions. 
The  messengers  who  were 
Bent  forward  by  the  Israelites 
to  search  the  land,  reported 
themselves  to  be  as  grasshop¬ 
pers  in  comparison  with  the 
children  of  Anak.  (See  Gi¬ 
ants.) 

ANAMMELECH.  (See  Ad- 

RAMMELECH.) 

ANANIAS.  1 .  (Acts  v.  1-10.) 
One  of  the  professed  converts 
to  the  Christian  faith  under 
the  preaching  of  the  apostles. 
When  the  disciples  had 
thrown  their  property  into  a 
common  stock,  Ananias  sold 
his  estate,  and  brought  a  part 
of  the  purchase  money,  pre¬ 
tending  it  was  the  whole  pro¬ 
ceeds  of  the  sale.  Being 
Charged  by  Peter  with  his  fla¬ 
grant  and  aggravated  sin,  he 
fell  down  dead  upon  the  spot. 
His  wife  Sapphira,  who  was 
rivy  to  the  fraud  of  her  hus- 
and,  'but  ignorant  of  his 
dreadful  end,  being  asked  for 
how  much  their  estate  had 
been  sold,  confirmed  the  false¬ 
hood  which  Ananias  had  told, 
and  instantly  met  the  same 
dreadful  doom. 

2.  (Acts  xxii.  12.)  A  primi¬ 
tive  disciple  who  lived  at 
Damascus,  and  was  commis¬ 
sioned  to  visit  Paul  soon  after 
his  conversion,  and  restore 
him  to  sight.  The  apostle  tells 
us  what  took  place  on  that 
occasion,  and  also  speaks  of 
Ananias  as  a  devout  man,  and 
highly  esteemed  in  the  place 
ofhis  residence.  'It  is  thought 
by  many  that  he  was  one  of 
the  seventy  disciples,  and  that 
he  died  a  martyr. 

3.  (Acts  xxii i.  2.)  A  Jewish 
higli  priest.  When  Paul  was 
commencing  his  defence  be¬ 
fore  the  Jewish  sanhedrim, 
Ananias,  who  is  called  the 
high  priest,  ordered  him  to  be 
struck  upon  the  mouth.  The 
apostle,  sensible  of  the  viola¬ 
tion  of  his  rights,  rebuked  the 


ANA 

high  priest  for  his  breach  of 
the  very  law  he  was  appointed 
to  administer.  Upon  being 
reminded  of  the  official  cha¬ 
racter  of  Ananias,  as  “  God’s 
high  priest,”  the  apostle  re¬ 
plied  that  he  was  not  aware 
of  his  holding  that  office.  But 
how  could  he  be  ignorant  of 
so  notorious  a  fact  1  asks  the 
caviller.  Profane  history  fur¬ 
nishes  an  answer  which  tri¬ 
umphantly  -  vindicates  the 
truth.  In  consequence  of  some 
misunderstanding  between  the 
Jews  and  Samaritans,  Ananias 
had  been  a  few  years  before 
deposed  from  office,  and  sent 
a  prisoner  to  Rome.  Jonathan 
succeeded  him  as  high  priest, 
but  being  murdered  by  Felix, 
there  was  an  interval  in  which 
the  office  was  vacant.  During 
this  interval  Paul  was  arraign¬ 
ed.  On  this  occasion  Ananias 
assumed  the  office  of  president 
of  the  sanhedrim,  (having  been 
formerly  high-priest,)  but  with¬ 
out  any  aufhoiity.  Hence  the 
force  and  propriety  of  the  apos¬ 
tle’s  answer.  Ananias  was  one 
of  Paul’s  accusers  before  Fe¬ 
lix,  and  had  formed  a  design  to 
waylay  and  assassinate  him; 
but  his  murderous  purpose  was 
defeated.  (Acts  xxv.  3.) 

ANATHEMA.  (1  Cor.  xvi. 
22.)  In  its  usual  acceptation 
it  means  the  devoting  of  an 
animal,  person,  or  place  to  de¬ 
struction. 

Anathema  maranatha  is 
a  Syriac  exclamation,  signify¬ 
ing,  Let  him  be  accursed  whom 
the  Lord  curses.  These  were 
the  words  with  which  the 
Jews  began  the  sentence  of 
utter  excommunication ;  not 
only  cutting  the  subject  off 
from  their  communion,  but 
consigning  him,  as  far  as  it 
was  possible,  to  everlasting 
perdition.  The  use  of  such  a 
dreadful  curse  by  the  aposlle, 
shows  in  what  light  he  regard¬ 
ed  the  sin  of  not  loving  out 
Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

48 


AND 

ANATHOTH.  (Josh,  xxi. 
18.)  A  city  of  the  tribe  of 
Benjamin,  situated  a  few 
miles  north  of  Jerusalem.  It 
was  the  birth-place  of  Jere¬ 
miah,  (Jer.  i.  1,)  and  the  sub¬ 
ject  of  one  of  his  prophecies, 
(Jer.  xi.  19 — 22,)  as  well  as  of 
Isaiah’s.  (Isa.  x.  30.)  It  is  also 
an  interesting  place  in  con¬ 
nexion  with  the  Jewish  his¬ 
tory.  (2  Sam.  xxiii.  27.  1  Kings 
ii.  26.  Neh.  vii.  27.) 

ANCHOR.  (Acts  xxvii.  29.) 
The  anchor  was  formerly  cast 
from  the  stern  of  the  ship.  In 
the  passage  cited,  reference 
may  be  had  to  an  anchor  with 
four  flukes  or  arms,  such  as 
are  sometimes  used  by  boats 
in  shallow  water;  or  it  may 


mean  four  distinct  separate 
anchors.  The  above  repre¬ 
sents  a  common  anchor  with 
two  flukes  or  arms.  (For  a  de¬ 
scription  of  the  anchor,  and  an 
illustration  of  its  real  and  fig¬ 
urative  uses,  see  The  An¬ 
chor,  published  by  Am.  S.  S. 
Union.) 

ANDREW,  (John  i.  40,)  the 
son  of  Jonas  and  brother  of 
Simon  Peter,  was  a  native  of 
Bethsaida,  in  Galilee,  and 
originally  a  disciple  of  John 
the  Baptist,  whom  he  left  to 
follow  our  Saviour.  When  he 
had  found  the  Messiah,  he 
forthwith  sought  his  brother 
Simon,  and  brought  him  to 
Jesus,  and  soon  after  they 
both  attached  themselves  to 
the  little  band  of  his  disciples, 
and  followed  him  till  the  close 
of  his  ministry.  The  events 
with  which  Andrew  was  par¬ 
ticularly  connected  are  re- 
5 


ANG 

I  corded  in  Matt.  iv.  18—20. 
Mark  xiii.  3. ;  and  John  i.  35— 
40 ;  vi.  3—13 ;  xii.  22. 

ANGEL.  (Gen.  xxiv.  7.) 
This  word,  both  in  the  Greek 
and  Hebrew  languages,  signi¬ 
fies  a  messenger.  The  original 
word  is  often  applied  to  men. 
(2 Sam.  ii.  5.  Luke  vii.  24,  and 
ix.  52.)  When  the  term  is 
used,  as  it  generally  is,  to 
designate  spiritual  beings,  it 
denotes  the  office  they  sustain 
as  God’s  messengers,  or  the 
agents  by  whom  he  makes 
known  his  will  and  executes 
the  purposes  of  his  govern¬ 
ment. 

Our  knowledge  of  the  exist¬ 
ence  of  such  beings  is  derived 
wholly  from  revelation,  and 
that  rather  incidentally.  We 
know,  from  their  residence 
and  employment,  that  they 
must  possess  knowledge  and 
purity  far  beyond  our  present 
conceptions ;  and  the  titles 
applied  to  them  denote  the 
exalted  place  they  hold  among 
created  intelligences. 

Of  their  appearance  and 
employment  we  may  form 
some  idea  from  the  following 

Bassages,  viz.  Gen.  xvi.  7 — 11. 

ompare  Gen.  xviii.  2 ;  xix.  2, 
with  Heb.  xiii.  2.  Judges 
xiii.  6.  Ezek.  x.  Dan.  iii.  28, 
and  vi.  22.  Matt.,  iv.  11 ;  xviii. 
10,  and  xxviii.  2 — 7.  Luke  i. 
19;  xvi.  22,  and  xxii.  43.  Acts 
vi.  15;  xii.  9.  Heb.  i.  14.  ii.  16. 
2  Thess.  i.  7.  Rev.  x.  1,  2.  6. 

Of  their  number  some  idea 
may  be  inferred  from  1  Kings 
xxii.  19.  Ps.  lxviii.  17.  Dan. 
vii.  10.  Matt.  xxvi.  53.  Luke 
ii.  9—14.  I  Cor.  iv.  9.  Heb. 
xii.  22. 

Of  their  strength,  we  may 
judge  from  Ps.  ciii.  20.  2  Pet. 
ii.  11.  Rev.  v.  2;  xviii.  21; 
xix.  17. 

And  we  learn  their  incon¬ 
ceivable  activity  from  Judg, 
xiii.  20.  Isa.  vi.  2—6.  Matt. 
xiii.  49 ;  xxvi.  53.  Acts  xxvii. 
23,  Rev.  viii.  13. 

49 


AN  9 

These  are  but  a  few  of  the 
leading  passages  in  which 
some  intimations  are  given 
of  this  superior  order  ol  spi¬ 
ritual  .beings.  There  is  also 
an  order  of  evil  spirits,  mi¬ 
nistering  to  the  will  of  the 
prince  of  darkness,  and  both 
active  and  powerful  in  their 
opposition  to  the  will  and 
government  of  God.  (Matt, 
xxv.  41.) 

The  above  references,  if 
examined  closely,  will  afford 
very  satisfactory  knowledge 
respecting  the  character,  em¬ 
ployment,  &c.  of  the  heavenly 
messengers. 

It  may  not  be  amiss  to  re¬ 
mark,  however — 

1.  That  the  expression 
(Matt,  xviii.  10)  seems  to  de¬ 
note  the  relation  which  the 
children  of  God  sustain  to 
him,  and  of  course  to  his  peo¬ 
ple,  and  the  watchful  care 
and  protection  which  they 
enjoy.  The  same  idea  is  sug- 

fested  in  other  passages,  as 
's.  xci.  11,  12.  Luke'xv.  10. 
Acts  xii.  15. 

2.  The  angels  in  heaven 
have  never  sinned,  and  are 
not  therefore  partakers  of  the 
benefit  of  Christ’s  blood,  as 
men  are.  Yet  it  is  obvious, 
that  as  this  wonderful  scheme 
of  mercy  and  grace  declares 
and  illustrates  the  infinite 
glory  of  the  divine  attributes 
and  perfections,  so  their  con¬ 
ceptions  of  the  divine  charac¬ 
ter  are  enlarged  by  the  con¬ 
templation  of  it,  and  their 
happiness  greatly  increased. 
(Epn.  iii.  10.  1  Pet.  i.  12.) 

d.  They  will  be  the  future 
companions  of  the  heirs  of 
salvation.  (Heo.  xii.  22,  23. 
Rev.  v.  11,  12.) 

4.  Angels  are  to  sustain  an 
important  office  in  the  future 
and  final  administration  of 
God’s  government  on  earth. 
(Matt.  xiii.  39 ;  xxv.  31—33.  1 
Thess  Iv.  16.)  i 


AN! 

5.  Angels  are  not  proper 
objects  of  adoration.  (Col.  it. 
IS.  Rev.  xix.  10.) 

Angel  op  his  presence 
(Isa.  lxiii.  9)  by  some  is  sup¬ 
posed  to  denote  the  highest 
angel  in  heaven,  as  “  Gabriel 
who  stands  in  the  presence 
of  God but  others  believe  R 
refers  to  no  other  than  the  in¬ 
carnate  Word,  the  brightness 
of  the  Father’s  glory,  and  not 
only  the  messenger  of  his  pre 
sence,  but  the  express  image 
of  his  person. 

Angel  op  the  lord  (Gen. 
xvi.  7)  is  one  of  the  common 
titles  of  Christ  in  the  Old 
Testament.  (Ex.  xxiii.  20. 
Compare  Acts  vii.  30 — 32,  and 
37, 38.) 

Angel  of  the  church. 
(Rev.  ii.  1.)  It  is  said  that  the 
minister  of  the  Jewish  syna¬ 
gogue  was  called  the  angel 
of  the  church,  because  he  ad¬ 
dressed  God  in  their  behalf, 
and  offered  supplications  as 
their  representative,  messen¬ 
ger,  or  angel.  Hence,  the 
persons  in  charge  of  the  seven 
churches  of  Asia  are  address¬ 
ed  as  the  angels  of  those 
churches  respectively. 

Angel  of  light. (See  Devil.) 
ANGER.  (Ps.  vii.  11,  and 
xc.  11.)  A  strong  emotion, 
which  is  sinful  or  otherwise, 
according  to  its  object  anti 
degree.  When  ascribed  t© 
holy  beings,  it  is  used  figura¬ 
tively,  to  denote  high  displea¬ 
sure  at  sin.  In  this  sense 
good  men  may  be  angry  and 
sin  not,  (Neh.  v.  6.  2  Pet.  ii. 
7,  8 ;)  and  even  God  is  said  to 
be  angry  with  the  wicked 
every  day.  Anger  is  reckoned 
among  chief  sins,  and  as  such 
is  severely  rebuked.  (Eph. 
iv.  31.  Col.  iii.  8,  and  nume- 
rous  passages  in  Proverbs.) 

ANISE,  (Matt,  xxiii.  23.) 
properly  Dill,  or  a  plant  of 
the  same  family  with  dill,  h 
grew  abundantly  in  Judea, 


ANO 

and  the  tithe  of  it  was  scru¬ 
pulously  paid  by  the  Phari¬ 
sees.  (See  Mint.) 

ANNA.  (Luke  ii.  36.)  A 
descendant  of  Asher,  and  a 
prophetess.  She  was  very 
constant  in  her  attendance  on 
the  services  of  the  temple. 
At  a  very  advanced  age,  she 
listened  to  the  prophetic  bless¬ 
ing  which  Simeon  uttered 
while  he  held  the  infant  Re¬ 
deemer  in  his  arms,  and  join¬ 
ed  in  it  with  great  fervour. 

ANNAS.  (Luke  iii.  2.)  At 
the  commencement  of  John’s 
ministry,  Caiaphas  was  high 
priest  of  the  Jews,  and  they 
had.only  one  ;  but  it  was  cus¬ 
tomary  often  to  continue  the 
title  to  one  who  had  held  the 
office,  after  he  ceased  to  offi¬ 
ciate.  This  was  the  case  with 
Annas.  He  is  mentioned  first 
because  he  was  eldest  in  years 
and  office.  Five  of  his  sons 
had  filled  the  office  in  succes¬ 
sion  ;  and  he  was  father-in-law 
to  the  incumbent  at  that  time. 
When  our  Saviour  was  appre¬ 
hended  by  the  Jewish  mob,  he 
was  carried  before  Annas  first 
to  secure  the  favour  and  sanc¬ 
tion  of  one  who  had  great  in¬ 
fluence,  and  by  him  was  sent 
in  bonds  to  Caiaphas.  (John 
xviii.  13—24.) 

•  ANOINT.  (Gen.  xxxi.  13.) 
The  earliest  use  of  this  word 
in  the  sacred  writings,  is  in 
the  passage  cited ;  and  it  sig¬ 
nifies  in  that  connexion  the 
pourin»  of  oil  upon  the  stone 
which  Jacob  had  set  up  for  a 
pillar.  (Gen.  xxviii.  18.) 

The  anointing  of  persons, 
places,  and  things,  with  oil  or 
ointment  of  a  particular  com¬ 
position,  was  a  mode  of  con¬ 
secration  prescribed  by  divine 
authority,  and  extensively 
practised  among  the  Hebrews. 
(Ex.  xxviii.  41.)  The  ingre¬ 
dients  of  the  ointment,  em¬ 
bracing  the  most  exquisite 
perfumes  and  balsams,  are  mi¬ 
nutely  given, (Ex.  xxx.  23—33,)  | 


ANO 

and  the  common  use  of  it  was 
expressly  forbidden.  (Ex.  xxx 
33.) 

It  was  customary  at  festi¬ 
vals,  and  on  other  great,  and 
joyful  occasions,  to  anoint  the 
head  with  fragrant  oils;  hence, 
it  became  a  sTgn  of  joy  or  hap¬ 
piness.  This  fact  explains 
2  Sam.  xi v.  2.  Ps.  xxiii.  5 ;  xcii. 
10.  Eccl.  ix.  8.  Matt.  vi.  17. 
It  is  supposed  that  anointing 
was  a  daily  custom.  (Ruth  iii. 
3.)  The  anointing  of  kings 
and  rulers  is  particularly  pre¬ 
scribed,  and  we  have  frequent 
accounts  of  the  process.  (2 
Sam.  xix.  10.  1  Kings  i.  39 ; 
xix.  15,  16.) 

The  manner  of  anointing  is 
represented  in  the  annexed 
cut.  It  was  sometimes  done 
privately  by  a  prophet,  (1  Sam. 
x.  1 ;  xvi.  1—13.  1  Kings  xix. 
16.  2  Kings  ix.  1—6,)  and  was 
a  symbolical  intimation  that 
the  person  so  anointed  would 
at  some  future. day  ascend  the 
throne.  After  the  monarchy 
was  established,  the  anoint¬ 
ing  was  done  by  the  priest, 
(1  Kings  i.  39,)  probably  in 
some  public  place,  (1  Kings  i. 
32 — 34,)  and,  at  least  on  one 
occasion,  in  the  temple  sur¬ 
rounded  by  the  royal  guards. 
(2  Kings  xi.  12,  13.) 

It  was  common  to  anoint  the 
person,  or  some  part  of  it,  (as 
the  head,  feet,  hair,  &c.)  for 
the  sake  of  health  or  cleanli¬ 
ness,  or  as  a  token  of  respect, 
and  also  in  connexion  with 
religious  observances.  (Matt, 
vi.  17.  Luke  vii.  46.  John  xii.  3.) 
When  practised  to  show  re¬ 
spect,  the  most  expensive 
materials  were  used,  and  the 
ceremony  was  performed  in 
such  a  manner  as  to  denote 
the  most  humble  and  submis¬ 
sive  reverence. 

The  anointing  of  the  sick 
with  oil  was  also  common. 
The  healing  properties  of  oil 
are  well  known,  and  though 
the  cures  wrought  by  the  dis- 
'  51 


ANO 


AN1 


■iples  of  our  Lord  were  obvi¬ 
ously  miraculous,  they  still 
employed  the  ordinary  means 
of  cure.  (Mark  vi.  13.)  The 
apostolic  direction  (James  v. 
14)  respecting  the  anointing 
of  the  sick,  shows  us  that, 
together  with  prayer,  the  ap¬ 
propriate  means  of  healing 
shouldbe  employed  independ¬ 
ence  upon  or  in  the  name  of 
the  Lord.  This  anointing,  it 
will  be  observed,  is  commend¬ 
ed  with  a  view  to  its  healing 
effect,  for  which  purpose  it 
was  in  constant  use  among  the 
Jews.  Of  course  to  employ  it 
for  the  professed  purpose  of 
sanctifying  the  soul,  or  pre¬ 
paring  it  for  death,  is  sinful 
and  highly  superstitious.  It 
is  clear  that  the  use  of  this 
passage  to  justify  such  prac¬ 
tices  is  a  gross  perversion  of 
language. 

The  bodies  of  the  dead  were 
often  anointed  to  preserve 
them  from  corruption.  (Mark 
xiv.  8;  xvi.  1,  and  Lukexxiii. 
56) 

The  Anointed,  or  Messiah, 
who  is  constituled  our  high 


priest  and  intercessor,  was 
anointed  with  the  Holy  Ghost, 
of  which  the  anointing  of 
priests  under  the  Jewish  dis¬ 
pensation  is  supposed  to  be 
typical.  (Ps.xliv.7.  Isa.  lxi.  1. 
Dan.  ix.  24.  Luke  iv.  18.  21. 
Acts  iv.  27,  and  x.  38.)  The 
terms  anoint,  anointed,  and 
anointing,  are  employed  also 
in  a  variety  of  forms  to  illus¬ 
trate  the  sanctifying  influences 
of  divine  grace  upon  the  soul. 
(2  Cor.  i.  21.  1  John  ii.  20-27. 
Rev.  iii.  18.) 

ANT.  (Prov.  vi.  6,  and  xxx. 
25.)  A  little  insect,  remarkable 
for  industry,  economy,  and 
architectural  skill.  They  are 
called  by  an  inspired  writei 
“  exceeding  wise,”  and  Cicero 
was  so  filled  with  wonder  at 
their  wisdom,  that  he  declared 
they  must  have  mind,  reason, 
and  memory. 

The  account  of  the  manner 
in  which  they  collect  grain 
and  prevent  it  from  germinat¬ 
ing  is  entirely  fanciful,  as  is, 
also  the  supposition  that  they 
lay  up  grain  for  winter.  That 
they  provide  themselves  food 


ANT 

in  the  season  of  it,  is  rightly 
Inferred  from  their  whole  cha¬ 
racter  and  habits ;  and  the  re¬ 
roach  of  the  sluggard  is,  that 
e  lets  the  summer  pass  and 
the  harvest  end,  while  he  is 
indulging  in  sloth  and  idle¬ 
ness.  (ProV.  vi.  6.) 

That  the  ant  is  “  exceeding 
wise1’  is  evident  from  its  his¬ 
tory  and  habits,  which  have 
been  investigated  by  modern 
naturalists.  Their  habitations 
are  constructed  with  regular 
stories,  sometimes  to  the  num¬ 
ber  of  thirty  or  forty,  and  have 
large  chambers ;  numerous 
Vaulted  ceilings,  covered  with 
a  single  roof;  long  galleries 
and  corridors,  with  pillars  or 
columns  of  very  perfect  pro¬ 
portions. 

The  materials  of  their  build¬ 
ing,  such  as  earth,  leaves,  and 
the  fragments  of  wood,  are 
tempered  with  rain,  and  then 
dried  in  the  sun.  By  this  pro¬ 
cess  the  fabric  becomes  so 
firm  and  comfiact,  that  a  piece 
may  be  broken  out  without 
any  injury  to  the  surrounding 
parts ;  and  it  is  so  nearly  im¬ 
pervious,  that  the  longest  and 
most  violent  rains  never  pene¬ 
trate  more  than  a  quarter  of 
an  inch. 

They  are  well  sheltered  in 
their  chambers,  the  largest 
of  which  is  placed  nearly  in 
the  centre  of  the  building.  It 
is  much  higher  than  the  rest, 
and  all  the  galleries  termi¬ 
nate  in  it.  In  this  apartment 
they  spend  the  night  and  the 
cold  months,  during  which 
they  are  torpid  or  nearly  so, 
and  require  not  the  food 
which  they  are  fancifully  sup¬ 
posed  to  lay  up. 

To  illustrate  their  industry 
and  immense  labour,  it  is  said 
that  their  edifices  are  more 
than  five  hundred  times  the 
height  of  the  builders;  and 
that  if  the  same  proportion 
were  preserved  between  hu¬ 
man  dwellings  and  those  who 
6* 


ANT 

build  them,  our  bouses  would 
be  four  or  five  times  higher 
than  the  pyramids  of  Egypt, 
the  largest  of  which  is  "four 
hundred  and  eighty  leet  in 
height,  and  requires  a  base 
of  seven  hundred  feet  square 
to  support  it.  The  largest 
of  one  species  of  ant  does’not 
stand  more  than  a  quarter 
of  an  inch  high,  while  their 
nests  or  houses  are  from 
twelve  to  twenty  feet  high, 
qnd  large  enough  to  hold  a 
dozen  men.  It  is  scarcely 
necessary  to  say  that  the  ant 
to  which  this  article  refers,  is 
the  Asiatic  or  South  Ameri¬ 
can  ant,  and  not  that 'insect 
which  we  know  by  the  same 
name. 

ANTICHRIST.  (1  John  ii. 
18. 22.)  This  word  occurs  only 
in  the  epistles  of  John  ;  and 
as  he  uses  it,  it  denotes— 

1.  A  great  power  that  was 
to  arise  at  a  period  succeed¬ 
ing  the  apostolic  days,  and 
which  would  oppose,  with 
great  virulence  and  blasphe¬ 
my,  the  doctrines  and  disci¬ 
ples  of  Christ.  The  same 
power  is  supposed  to  be 
meant  in  2  Thess.  ii.  3.  8,  9 
Rev.  xvii.  and  xviii. 

2.  False  teachers  who  are 
hostile  to  the  church  of  Christ, 
and  to  the  spirit  and  precepts 
of  his  religion.'  In  this  sense 
the  same  thing  is  probably 
meant,  (1  Tjm.'iv.  1,)  and  th.i"s 
antichrist  was  in  the  world  in 
the  days  of  the  apostles.  (1 
John  iv.  3.) 

Who  is  antichrist'!  has  been 
a  question  of  curious  and  not 
uninteresting  speculation  for 
ages.  The  prevailing  opinion 
seems  to  be,  that  the  papal 
power  is  intended  to  be  repre¬ 
sented  ;  and  that  the  history 
of  that  power  thus  far  corres¬ 
ponds  very  accurately  in  its 
principal  features  with  the 
sure  word  of  prophecy._  For 
the  grounds  of  this  opinion, 
reference  may  be  had  to 


ANT 

Newton,  Simpson,  Ward,  and 
others,  on  the  prophecies. 

ANTIOCH.  1.  (Acts  xi.  26.) 
A  city  of  this  name  was  long 
the  capital  of  Syria.  It  was 
lituated  on  the  banks  of  the 
Brontes,  about  equi-distant 
from  Constantinople  and 
Alexandria,  and  was  once  a 
place  of  great  opulence  and 
commercial  enterprise.  Its  ci¬ 
tizens  enjoyed  peculiar  civil 
privileges,  and  it  ranked  as 
the  third  city  of  the  Koinan 
provinces.  Paul  and  Barnabas 
preached  here ;  and  here,  too, 
the.  name  Christian  was  first 
applied  to  the  disciples,  whe¬ 
ther  as  a  term  of  reproach  or 
as  a  mere  distinctive  title,  is 
not  certain.  The  same  word 
occurs,  A  els  xxvi.  28,  and  IPet. 
iv.  16-  Galileans  or  Nazarenes 
were  terms  of  reproach ;  hut  it 
is  supposed  the  name  Chris¬ 
tian  merely  denoted  the  adhe¬ 
rents  of  Christ,  or  the  supposed 
Messiah.  (See  Christian.) 

The  calamities  which  have 
befallen  the  city  of  Antioch  are 
probably  without  a  parallel, 
both  in  respect  to  number  and 
severity.  It  has  been  besieged 
and  plundered  at  least  fifteen 
times,  and  in  one  instance 
117,000  persons  were  slain  or 
taken  prisoners.  Three  limes 
has  it  been  visited  with  famine, 
twice  with  fire,  and  once  with 
plague ;  and  four  times  it  was 
overthrown  by  an  earthquake, 
by  one  of  which  twenty -five 
thousand  persons  are  supposed 
to  have  perished.  These  visi¬ 
tations  of  God,  connected  with 
the  sins  and  idolatries  of  the 
people,  have  long  since  re¬ 
duced  the  city  to  desolation. 
The  splendid  buildings  of 
ancient  times  have  "given 
place  to  mean  hovels,  and 
a  population  of  500,000  souls 
is  reduced  to  10,000,  and  these 
are  wretched  and  miserable 
in  the  extreme.  In  1822, 
an  earthquake  overwhelmed 
even  the  ruins  of  the  city; 


APE 

so  that  it  may  be  said,  with 
the  force  of  literal  truth,  that 
every  thing  relating  to  Anti¬ 
och  is  past.  Modern  Antioch 
is  situated  twenty  miles  east 
of  the  Mediterranean,  and  is 
called  by  the  Arabs,  Anthakia. 
Most  of  the  houses  are  built 
of  mud  and  straw,  and  thfc 
place  exhibits  every  appear¬ 
ance  of  misery  and  wretched¬ 
ness. 

2.  Antioch  (Acts  xiti.  14)  was 
the  name  of  the  capital  of  the 
province  of  Pisidia,  in  Asia 
Minor.  Paul  and  Barnabas 
preached  there,  and  we  have  a 
fuller  abstract  of  one  of  Paul’s 
sermons  at  this  place,  than  of 
any  of  the  apostolic  discourses. 
A  violent  persecution  was  rais¬ 
ed  against  them,  and  they  were 
compelled  to  flee  for  their 
lives.  There  were  at  least 
sixteen  cities  of  the  name  of 
Antioch  in  Syria  and  Asia 
Minor. 

ANTIPATKIS.  (Acts  xxiii. 
31.)  A  town  between  Cesarea 
and  Jerusalem,  ten  or  filteen 
miles  from  Joppa.  It  was 
founded  by  Herod  the  Great, 
and  is  distinguished  as  the 
place  to  which  Paul  was  con¬ 
veyed  by  the  Roman  guard,  to 
escape  the  conspiracy  formed 
against  him  by  tne  Jews,  who 
had  agreed  to  waylay  him  on 
the  following  day,  and  put  him 
to  death. 

APE.  (1  Kings  x.  22.)  This 
animal,  which  bears  a  rude  re¬ 
semblance  to  the  human  race, 
both  in  figure  and  physical 
capacity,  was  among  the  arti¬ 
cles  of  merchandise  import¬ 
ed  from  Ophir,  in  Solomon’s 
ships. 

The  ape  was  an  object  of 
worship  among  the  Egyptians, 
and  is  still  such  in  many  pans 
of  India.  We  have  an  account 
of  a  temple  in  India,  dedicated 
to  the  worship  of  the  ape, 
supported  by  seven  hundred 
columns,  not  inferior  to  those 
of  the  Roman  Pantheon.  An 
54 


APH 


APE 


ape’s  tooth  was  found  by  the 
Portuguese  when  they  pib 
laged  the  island  of  Ceylon 
many  years  since,  and  so  de¬ 
sirous  were  they  to  redeem  it 
as  an  object  of  devout  wor¬ 
ship,  that  the  kings  of  the  coun¬ 
try  offered  nearly  seventy-five 
thousand  dollars  for  it. 

In  other  temples  of  India, 
as  travellers  inform  us,  not 
less  than  10,000  apes  are  mai  n- 
tained  as  sacred  animals.  The 
above  engraving  shows  the  in¬ 
terior  of  a  temple  of  the  ape, 
in  the  island  of  Japan,  with 
the  worshippers  bowing  in 
adoration  of  the  image  of  the 
sacred  animal. 

APELLES.  (Rom.  xvi.  10.) 
His  origin  and  residence  are 
Unknown,  but  his  character 


is  given  in  three  words,— ap. 
proved  in  Christ. 

APHARSITES.  (Ezra  iv.  9.) 
This,  with  several  other  tribes 
named  in  the  same  connexion, 
are  supposed  to  have  been 
colonies  from  Chaldea,  Media, 
and  Persia,  who  settled  in  Sa¬ 
maria. 

APHEK.  1.  (1  Sam,  iv.  1- 
11.)  A  city  on  the  border  of 
Judah  and  Benjamin,  east  of 
Jerusalem,  where  the  Israel¬ 
ites  were  defeated  by  the  Phi¬ 
listines,  and  the  ark  taken 
from  them.  This  place  is  sup¬ 
posed  to  be  the  same  which 
is  elsewhere  called  Aphekah. 
(Josh.  xv.  53.) 

2.  A  city  in  Issachar,  situ¬ 
ated  in  the  plain  of  Esdraelon 
not  far  from  Shunem,  in  the 
55 


APO 

vicinity  of  which  Saul  and 
Jonathanfell  in  battle.  (1  Sam. 
xxix.  1.)  Its  exact  site  is  not 
known. 

3.  A  city  in  the  tribe  of  Ash¬ 
er,  also  called  Aphik,  (Judg.  i. 
31,)  situated  in  Lebanon,  on 
the  northern  border  of  Ca¬ 
naan,  where  there  is  now  a 
village  called  Aphka.  It  was 
here  that  Benhadad  assembled 
the  Syrians,  (Josh.  xii.  18; 
xiii.  4 ;  xix.  30.  1  Kings  xx. 

26,)  37,000  of  whom  were  de¬ 
stroyed  by  the  falling  of  a  wall. 
APHEKAH.  7  g„e  abov„ 
APHIK.  5  b 
APHKAH.  (See  Ophrah.) 
APOLLONIA.  (Acts  xvii. 
1.)  A  city  of  Macedonia,  situ, 
ated  at  the  head  of  the  jEgean 
Sea,  on  a  promontory  between 
Phessalonica  and  Philippi. 

APOLLOS.  (Acts  xviii.  24.) 
He  was  born  at  Alexandria,  in 
Egypt,  of  Jewish  parents, and 
is  described  as  an  eloquent 
man,  and  mighty  in  the  Scrip¬ 
tures.  As  one  of  John’s  dis¬ 
ciples,  he  had  been  instructed 
in  the  elements  of  the  Chris¬ 
tian  faith,  and  came  to  Ephe¬ 
sus  to  speak  and  teach  the 
things  of  the  Lord.  He  was 
there  more  particularly  and 
fully  taught  the  doctrines  of 
the  gospel  by  Aquila  and 
Priscilla,  who  had  themselves 
been  favoured  with  the  com¬ 
pany  and  instruction  of  Paul, 
at  Corinth  and  on  a  voyage 
from  that  city  to  Ephesus.  He 
afterwards  went  into  Achaia, 
where  his  labours  were  crown¬ 
ed  with  abundant  success.  At 
Corinth,  too,  he  was  regarded 
as  a  powerful  and  successful 
reacher  of  the  gospel.  Paul 
ad  alreadybeen  instrumental 
in  establishing  a  church  there, 
to  the  care  of  which  Apollos 
succeeded.  (1  Cor.  iii.  6.)  The 
members  of  it  were  divided 
into  parties,  some  being  par¬ 
ticularly  partial  to  Paul,  others 
jo  Apollos,  and  others  still  to 
Jephas.  The  rebuke  of  the 


APO 

apostle  (1  Cor.  i.  12,)  is  direct 
ed  against  these  partialities, 
in  all  which  the  power  and 
grace  of  God  seemed  to  be 
overlooked  or  disregarded.  It 
has  been  remarked  as  an  ex¬ 
emplary  trait  of  character  of 
these  two  eminent  apostles, 
that  the  contention  of  their 
respective  friends  and  admir¬ 
ers  had  no  effect  on  their  love 
and  respect  for  each  other. 
They  both  refrained  from  vi¬ 
siting  the  church  while  it  was 
distracted  with  such  preju¬ 
dices  and  partialities,  though 
a  worldly  ambitionmight  have 
selected  it  as  the  field  and 
the  season  of  self-aggrandi  ce¬ 
ment. 

APOLLYON.  (See  Abad¬ 
don.) 

APOSTLE.  1.  (Matt,  x.2.) 
This  term  was  given,  origin¬ 
ally,  to  the  twelve  chief  disci¬ 
ples  of  our  Lurch  Their  names 
were,  Simon  Peter;  Andrew; 
James  and  John,  (sons  of  Ze- 
bedee  ;)  Philip  ;  Bartholo¬ 
mew;  Thomas;  Matthew; 
James  and  Lebbeus,  who  is 
also  called  Judas  or  Jude, 
(sons  of  Alpheus  ;)  Simon,  the 
Canaanite ;  and  Judas  Isca¬ 
riot.  Christ’s  charge  to  them 
is  recorded  in  Matt.  x.  5 — 12, 
and  is  worthy  to  be  diligently 
studied.  The  circumstances 
of  their  history,  as  far  as  they 
are  known,  will  be  found  un¬ 
der  their  respective  names. 

After  the  ascension  of  the 
Redeemer,  we  find  the  names 
of  eleven  of  the  apostles  re¬ 
peated,  as  among  those  who 
were  engaged  in  prayer  and 
supplication  at  Jerusalem,  for 
the  descent  of  the  Spirit ;  and 
Matthias  is  also  named,  he 
having  been  appointed  to  the 
apostleship  in  the  place  of 
Judas  Iscariot. 

The  office  and  commissicn 
of  apostles  were  remarkable 
in  the  following  particulars : — 
(1.)  They  were  all  required 
to  have  been  eye  and  ear  wit* 
66 


APP 

nesses  of  what,  they  testified. 
(John  xv.  27.  Acts  i.  21,  22, 
and  xxii.  14,  15.  1  Cor.  ix.  1, 
and  xv.  8.  1  John  i.  3.)  (2.) 
They  were  all  called  or  chosen 
by  our  Saviour  himself.  (Luke 
vi.  13.  Gal.  i.  1.)  Even  Mat¬ 
thias  is  not  an  exception  to 
this  remark,  as  the  determi¬ 
nation  of  the  lot  was  of  God. 
(Acts  i.  24—26.)  (3.)  They 

were  inspired.  (John  xvi.  13.) 
(4.)  They  had  the  power  of 
miracles.  (Mark  xvi.  20.  Acts 
ii.  43.  Heb.  ii.  4.) 

2.  The  term  apostle  is  ap¬ 
plied  to  our  Saviour,  (Heb.  iii. 
I,)  and  with  singular  pro¬ 
priety,  as  in  the  character  of 
Messiah  he  is  emphatically 
the  sent  of  God. 

APPAREL.  (See  Clothes.) 

APPEAL.  (Acts  xxv.  11.)  By 
the  Roman  law  every  accused 
citizen  had  a  right  to  carry 
his  cause  before  the  emperor 
at  Rome,  by  appeal  from  the 
judgment  of  the  magistrate. 

APPII-FORUM.  (Acts  xxviii. 
15.)  The  place  where  Paul 
met  several  of  his  brethren 
from  Rome,  when  he  was  on 
his  way  to  that  city  as  a  pri¬ 
soner.  It  was  about  fifty  miles 
from  Rome.  The  place  is  now 
called  Piperno,  and  is  on  the 
Naples  road.  The  name  is  de¬ 
rived  from  the  circumstance 
that,  it  is  on  the  Appian  way ; 
a  road  leading  from  Rome  to 
Capua,  which  was  made  by 
Appius  Claudius  ;  and  that  it 
contained  a  forum  or  market¬ 
place,  to  which  pedlars  and 
petty  merchants  resorted  in 
great  numbers. 

APPLES,  APPLE  TREE. 
Sol.  Song  it.  3.  Joel  i.  12.)  It 
is  generally  agreed  that  these 
terms  refer  to  the  citron  tree, 
and  its  fruit.  The  proper  apple 
tree  is  very  rare  in  the  east, 
and  its  fruit  is  destitute  both 
of  beauty  and  fragrance,  and 
in  both  these  respects  ill  ac¬ 
cords  with  the  allusions  to  it 


AP. 

in  the  sacred  writings.  (See 
Biblical  Antiquities,  vol.  i. 
p.  38.) 

Apples  op  sold  in  pictures 
of  silver  (Prov.  xxv.  11)  is 
a  figurative  expression,  com¬ 
aring  delicious  fruit  in  silver 

askets,  or  salvers  curiously 
wrought  like  basket  work, 
and  perhaps  representing  ani¬ 
mals  or  landscapes,  to  sea¬ 
sonable  advice  wisely  and  Vfc 
courteously  administered.  ' 

Apple  of  the  eye.  (Prov. 
vii.2.  Zech.  ii.  8.)  In  these 
passages  reference  is  had  to 
the  keen  sensibility  of  the 
ball  of  the  eye.  The  same 
figure  is  used  (Deut.  xxxii.  10, 
and  Ps.  xvii.  8)  to  denote  the 
most  complete  protection  and 
security.  And  in  Lam.  ii.  18 
the  phrase  “apple  of  thine 
eye”‘  is  figuratively  used  for 
tears. 

AQUILA.  (Acts  xviii.  2.)  A 
Jew  born  at  Pontus,  in  Asia 
Minor.  Being  driven  from 
Rome  by  a  decree  of  the  go¬ 
vernment  requiring  all  Jews 
to  leave  that  city,  he  and  his 
wife  Priscilla  came  to  Co¬ 
rinth,  and  were  dwelling  there 
at  the  time  of  Paul’s  first  visit 
to  that  city.  (Acts  xviii.  1.) 
They  were  of  like  occupation, 
(tent  makers,)  and  Paul  was 
received  and  hospitably  en¬ 
tertained  at  Aquila’s  house ; 
and  they  also  accompanied 
him  from  Corinth  to  Ephesus. 

On  some  occasion  they  ren¬ 
dered  Paul  very  important 
service,  and  a  very  warm 
friendship  existed  between 
them.  (Rom.  xvi.  3—5.  See 
Apollos.) 

AR,  (Num.  xxi.  28.)  or  RAB- 
BAH-MOAB,  the  chief  town 
of  Moab,  was  situated  twenty 
or  twenty-five  miles  s  iuth  of 
the  river  Arnnn.  It  is  called 
Rabbah  or  Great.,  as  the  chief 
town  of  the  Ammonites  was 
called  Rabbah-Ammon,  and 
by  the  Greeks  it  was  called 


ARA 

Ai'enpolis.  Its  present  name 
is  El-Rabbi,  ana  modern  tra¬ 
vellers  have  discovered  two 
copious  fountains  near  the 
ruins  of  the  ancient  city. 
(Num.  xxi.  15.) 

ARABIA,  (1  Kings  x.  15,) 
called  by  the  natives  the 

fieninsula  of  the  Arabs,  lies 
n  Western  Asia,  south  and 
southwest  of  Judea.  It  is  fif¬ 
teen  hundred  miles  from  north 
to  south,  and  twelve  hundred 
from  east  to  west,  or  about 
four  times  the  extent  of  the 
kingdom  of  France.  It  is 
bounded  north  by  Syria,  east 
by  the  river  Euphrates  and 
the  Persian  gulf,  south  by  the 
Indian  ocean,  and  west  by  the 
Red  Sea,  Palestine,  and  part 
of  Syria.  It  is  described  in 
three  divisions,  the  name  of 
each  being  indicative  of  the 
face  of  the  soil,  and  its  gene¬ 
ral  character:— 

1.  Arabia  Deserta  (or  the 
desert)  is  a  wide  waste  of 
burning  sand,  with  here  and 
there  a  palm  tree,  and  a 
spring  of  brackish  water. 
This  was  the  country  of  the 
Ishmaelites,  and  is  inhabited 
by  the  modern  Bedouins. 

2.  Arabia  Petrea  (or 
rocky)  comprehends  what 
was  formerly  the  land  of 
Midian.  The  Edomites  and 
the  Amalekites  also  dwelt 
here,  and  a  very  powerful  and 
independent  tribe  of  Ishmael¬ 
ites.  It  was  a  land  of  shep¬ 
herds,  and  the  scene  of  some 
of  the  most  interesting  events 
in  the  history  of  man.  Horeb 
and  Sinai  were  within  its 
bounds. 

3.  Arabia  Felix  (or  hap¬ 
py)  was  an  exceedingly  fruit¬ 
ful  land.  The  inhabitants, 
who  claim  their  descent  from 
Shem,  were  unlike  the  shep¬ 
herds  and  robbers  who  occu- 
ied  the  other  districts.  They 
ad  permanent  abodes,  sup- 
Oorted  themselves  by  agricul- 


ARA 

ture  and  commerce,  and  once 
possessed  a  high  degree  of 
wealth  and  refinement. 

It  is  supposed  that  many  of 
the  articles  mentioned  in  Ex. 
xxx.  23,  24,  particularly  the 
balm,  were  imported  from 
Arabia;  and  even  at  this  day, 
caravans  of  merchants,  the 
descendants  of  the  Cushites, 
Ishmaelites  and  Midianites, 
are  found  traversing  the  same 
deserts,  conveying  the  same 
articles  and  in  the  same 
manner,  as  in  the  days  of 
Moses. 

It  has  been  said,  that  if  any 
people  in  the  world  afford,  in 
their  history,  an  instance  of 
high  antiquity,  and  great  sim¬ 
plicity  of  manners,  the  Arabs 
surely  do.  Coming  among 
them,  one  can  hardly  help 
fancying  himself  suddenly 
carried  back  to  the  ages  im¬ 
mediately  succeeding  tha 
flood.  Of  all  nations,  the 
Arabs  have  spread  farthest 
over  the  globe,  and  in  all 
their  wanderings  have  pre¬ 
served  their  language,  man¬ 
ners,  and  peculiar  customs, 
more  perfectly  than  any  other 
nation. 

They  have  various  traditions 
respecting  scripture  person¬ 
ages  and  events ;  and  for  a 
full  and  lucid  view  of  their  po¬ 
litical  and  geographical  rela¬ 
tions,  see  Geography  of  thb 
Bible,  pp.  46—60,  and  Bedou¬ 
in  Arabs,  both  by  Am.  S.  S. 
Union. 

ARAD.  (Judg.  i.  16.)  A  city  in 
the  southern  border  of  Judea, 
whose  king  opposed  the  pas¬ 
sage  of  the  children  of  Israel, 
and  even  took  someofthem  pri¬ 
soners,  for  which  they  were  ac¬ 
cursed  and  their  cilydestroyed. 

ARAM.  (See  Syria.)  When 
this  word  is  coupled  with  some 
other,  as  Aram-Maachah,  it 
means  the  “  Syrians  of  Maa- 
chah,”  and  so  of  other  similar 
cases. 


58 


ARA 

ARARAT.  (Gen.  viii.  4.)  A 
district  of  country  lying  near 
the  centre  of  tile  kingdom  of 
Armenia.  It  contained  seve¬ 
ral  cities,  which  were  the 
residence  of  the  successive 
kings  and  governors  of  Arme¬ 
nia,  and  hence  the  word  Ara¬ 
rat  is  often  applied  to  the 
whole  kingdom.  The  word 
translated  the  land  of  Arme¬ 
nia,  (2  Kings  xix.  37.  Isa. 
xxxvii.  38,)  is,  in  the  original, 
Ararat.  In  the  north-east  part 
of  Armenia  is  a  range  of 
mountains,  on  the  summit  of 
which  the  ark  rested.  It  is 
called  Agridah  by  the  Turks. 
There  are  two  peaks  about 
seven  miles  apart,  the  highest 
of  which  is  15,000  feet  (and 
a  late  French  traveller  says 
16,000  feet)  above  the  level  of 
the  sea,  and  is  perpetually 
covered  with  snow.  A  modern 
traveller  says  of  it,  that  when 
viewed  from  the  plain  below, 
one  would  think  that  the  high¬ 
est  mountains  of  the  world 
had  been  piled  upon  each 
other,  to  form  this  one  sublime 
immensity  of  earth,  and  rocks, 
and  snow ;  this  awful  monu¬ 
ment  of  the  antediluvian 
world  ;  this  stupendous  link 
in  the  history  of  man  before 
and  since  the  flood.  Once  the 
population  of  the  whole  wide 
world  was  embraced  in  one 
small  family,  and  that  family 
inhabited  this  spot.  All  the 
animal  tribes  were  assembled 
here,— birds,  beasts,  reptiles, 
and  insects.  But  one  lan¬ 
guage  was  then  spoken.  Here, 
too,  the  bow  of  the  covenant 
was  set ;  and  here  was  erect¬ 
ed  the  first  altar,  after  the 
dreadful  catastrophe  of  the 
destruction  of  the  world.  The 
immediate  vicinity  of  the 
mountain  is  inhabited  by 
Koords,  a  savage  tribe,  of  Mo¬ 
hammedans.  And  since  the 
last  war  between  Russia  and 
Persia,  the  Russian  bounda¬ 
ries  have  been  so  extended  as 


ARA 

to  embrace  Ararat ;  and  now 
Russia,  Persia,  and  Turkey 
meet  at  that  mountain.  (See 
Map,  pp.  60,  61.) 

There  has  been  much  con¬ 
troversy  as  to  the  fact  whether 
the  ark  rested  on  this  moun¬ 
tain,  chiefly  in  consequence 
of  the  phraseology  of  Gen.  xi. 
2,  which  has  been  supposed  to 
denote  that  the  place  where 
the  ark  rested  was  east  of  the 
plain  of  Shinar,  whereas  the 
Ararat  of  Armenia  is  west  of 
it.  But  this  difficulty  is  alto¬ 
gether  imaginary,  for  we  are 
not  told  the  direction  of  the 
route  which  Noah  and  his 
family  took,  as  if  it  had  been 
said,  they  “journeyed  from 
east  to  westf  and  came  to  a 
plain,  &c.  The  phrase,  from 
the  east,  signifies  in  the  ori¬ 
ginal,  before ,  in  respect  both 
to  time  and  place ;  so  that  the 
expression  only  means  that  in 
their  first  general  migration 
from  Ararat,  they  came  to  a 
plain,  &c.  This  view  of  the 
case  is  confirmed  by  Jewish 
historians,  and  the  prophet 
Jeremiah  (Jer.  li.  27)  speaks 
of  Ararat  as  one  of  the  coun¬ 
tries  of  the  north ,  from  which 
an  invading  force  should  come 
upon  Babylon;  and  this  cor¬ 
rectly  describes  the  situation 
of  Ararat,  in  Armenia:  it  is 
almost  due  north  of  Babylon. 
(See  Evening  Recreations, 
by  the  American  Sunday- 
school  Union,  part  i.  pp.  1>— 
23.) 

ARAUNAH,  or  ORNAN,  <2 
Sam.  xxiv.  16,)  was  a  Jebusite, 
who  lived  at  Jerusalem,  ana 
owned  a  threshing-place  or 
floor,  where  the  temple  was 
afterwards  built.  In  conse¬ 
quence  of  the  sin  of  David, 
the  king,  a  pestilence  was  sent 
through  the  nation,  which  was 
sweeping  off  its  inhabitants 
at  the  rate  of  70,000  in  a  day. 
An  angel  was  seen  hovering 
over  the  threshing-floor  of 
Araunah,  with  his  arm  lifted 


6 


61 


ARC 

up  for  the  destruction  of  Jeru¬ 
salem.  David  was  humbled, 
and  confessed  his  sin,  and 
God,  by  one  of  the  prophets, 
directed  him  to  go  to  that  spot 
and  build  an  altar  there  unto 
the  Lord.  He  obeyed,  and 
when  he  came  to  the  spot  and 
made  known  his  business, 
Araunah  refused  to  receive 
any  thing  for  it,  but  offered  it 
to  him,  together  with  oxen  for 
sacrifices,  and  the  timber  of 
the  threshing  instruments  for 
fuel.  David  refused  to  receive 
them  as  a  gift,  as  he  would  not 
offer  to  the  Lord  that  which 
had  cost  him  nothing.  He 
therefore  bought  the  oxen  for 
fifty  shekels  of  silver,  (2  Sam. 
xxiv.  24,)  or  $22  50,  and  the 
whole  place  for  six  hundred 
shekels  of  gold,  (IChron.  xxi. 
25,)  or  $4524,  and  offered  his 
sacrifices,  which  were  accept¬ 
ed,  and  the  plague  stayed. 

ARBA.  (See  Hebeon.) 

ARCHANGEL.  (1  Thess.  iv. 
16.)  The  prince  or  chief  of 
angels.  Michael  is  called  the 
archangel,  (Jude  9,)  and  it  is 
generally  believed  that  a  cre¬ 
ated,  though  highly  exalted, 
being  is  denoted  by  the  term, 
and  not  Him  whose  goings 
forth  have  been  from  of  old, 
from  everlasting.  (Micah  v. 
2-) 

ARCHELAUS.  (Matt.  ii.  22.) 
A  son  of  Herod  the  Great.  On 
the  decease  of  his  father,  the 
same  year  that  our  Saviour 
was  born,  Archelaus  succeed¬ 
ed  to  the  government  of  Judea, 
and  reigned  there  when  Jo¬ 
seph  and  Mary,  with  the  in¬ 
fant  Jesus,  were  returning 
from  Egypt,  whither  they  had 
gone  to  escape  the  fury  of  He¬ 
rod.  Archelaus,  however,  was 
much  like  his  father  in  the 
malignity  of  his  temper,  and 
they  were  therefore  still  afraid 
to  return. 

ARCHER.  (Gen.  xxi.  20.) 
One  who  is  skilled  in  the  use 
of  the  bow  and  arrows,  as 


ARE 

Ishmael  and  Esau  were.  (See 
Armour.) 

ARCHI.  (Josh.  xvi.  2.)  A 
town  on  the  southern  border 
of  Ephraim,  between  Bethel 
and  Beth-horon  the  nether. 
It  is  celebrated  as  the  birth- 
placeofHushaijDavid’sfriend. 
(See  Hushai.) 

.  AKCITURUS.  (Job  xxxviii. 
32.)  The  name  of  a  star,  or 
more  probably  a  constellation, 
in  the  northern  heavens.  Som'e 
have  supposed  that  Jupiter 
and  the  satellites  were  in¬ 
tended  in  the  allusion  of  the 
poet. 

AREOPAGITE,  AREOPA¬ 
GUS.  (Acts  xvii.  19.  34.)  The 
title  of  the  judges  of  the  su¬ 
preme  tribunal  of  Athens. 
The  name  is  derived  from 
Areopagus,  (the  hill  of  Mars,') 
which  signifies  either  the  court 
itself,  or  the  hill  or  spot  on 
which  it  was  held.  It  was  a 
rocky  elevation  almost  in  the 
centre  of  the  city.  The  tri¬ 
bunal  that  assembled  here  had 
particular  cugnizance  of  all 
blasphemies  against,  the  hea- 
thengods;  and  therefore  Paul, 
who  so  pointedly  condemn¬ 
ed  the  idolatries  of  the  city, 
while  he  urged  them  to  seek 
and  serve  Jehovah  as  the 
only  living  and  true  God, 
was  esteemed  “  a  setter  forth 
of  strange  gods,”  and  wag 
brought,  before  the  Areopagus 
for  trial.  He  there  exhibited 
the  sin  and  folly  of  idol  wor¬ 
ship  with  such  power  that 
Dionysius,  one  of  the  judges, 
and  Damaris,  and  several 
other  persons,  believed  his 
testimony. 

The  place  supposed  to  have 
been  Mars’ hill  is  now  covered 
with  the  rubbish  of  spacious 
buildings ;  they  are  probably 
the  ruins  of  the  palace  of  Di¬ 
onysius,  and  the  house  of  the 
archbishop,  both  of  which 
were  built  after  the  establish 
mentofthe  Christian  religion 
in  Athens. 


62 


ARK 

It  is  said  that  the  sessions 
of  the  Areopagus  were  held 
only  in  the  night,  that  the 
minds  of  the  judges  might  not 
be  distracted  or  biassed  by 
extraneous  objects. 

ARETAS.  (2  Cor.  xi.  32.) 
The  king  of  Syria,  at  the  time 
the  governor  of  Damascus  at¬ 
tempted  to  apprehend  Paul. 
(Acts  ix.  24, 25.) 

ARGOB.  (Deut.  iii.  4.)  A 
district  of  Bashan,  the  king¬ 
dom  of  Og,  belonging  to  the 
half  tribe  of  Manasseh.  It 
lay  east  of  Jordan,  near  the 
sea  of  Galilee,  and  contained 
sixty  fortified  cities.  The  go¬ 
vernor  of  this  place  is  sup- 

gosed  to  be  intended  in  2 
lings  xv.  25. 

ARIEL  (Ezra  viii.  16)  was 
the  name  of  one  of  Ezra’s 
chief  men.  The  original  word 
means  “  the  lion  of  God,”  and 
Jerusalem  being  the  chief  city 
of  Judah,  whose  emblem  was 
a  lion,  (Gen.  xlix.  9,)  the  word 
Ariel  is  applied  to  that  city. 
(Isa.  xxix.  1.) 

ARIMATHEA.  (See  Rama.) 
ARISTARCHUS  (Acts  xix. 
29)  was  a  Macedonian,  and 
one  of  those  who  accompanied 
Paul  to  Ephesus,  and  shared 
his  labours  there.  He  was 
nearly  killed  in  the  tumult 
which  Demetrius  excited  in 
that  city,  and  it  is  said  that  he 
was  finally  beheaded  at  Rome. 
Paul  alludes  to  him  both  as 
his  fellow  labourer  and  fellow 
prisoner.  (Col.  iv.  10.  Philem. 
ti.) 

ARK.  (Gen.  vi  14.)  The 
vessel  constructed  by  Noah, 
at  God’s  command,  for  the 
preservation  of  himself  and 
family,  and  a  stock  of  the  va¬ 
rious  animals,  &c.,  when  the 
earth  was  devastated  by  the 
flood. 

It  was  four  hundred  and 
fifty  feet  long,  seventy-five  in 
breadth,  and  forty-five  in 
height;  and  was  designed, not 
to  sail,  but  only  to  float,  when 


ARK 

borne  up  by  the  waters.  It 
had  lower,  second,  and  third 
stories,  besides  what,  in  com¬ 
mon  vessels,  is  called  the 
hold.  A  door  was  placed  in 
the  side,  and  it  had  also  a 
window  made  of  some  trans¬ 
lucent  substance  for  the  ad. 
mission  of  light.  (See  Teach- 
ee’s  Assistant,  to  vol.  iii. 
Union  Questions,  by  the  Ame¬ 
rican  Sunday-school  Union, 
pp.  40,41.) 

The  ark  was  constructed 
of  gopher  wood,  and  covered 
with  bitumen  or  pitch,  to  ex. 
elude  water,  as  tar  is  now 
used  for  the  like  purpose. 
The  bitumen  now  found  in 
the  east,  as  we  are  told  by 
travellers,  is  so  like  the 
Stockholm  pitch,  that  they 
can  be  distinguished  from 
each  other  only  by  the  pecu¬ 
liar  smell  and  superior  hard¬ 
ness  of  the  bitumen. 

It  is  doubtful  where  the  ark 
was  built,  and  also  how  much 
time  was  employed  upon  it. 
On  the  latter  point  the  weight 
of  opinion  is,  that  it  was  from 
one  hundred  to  one  hundred 
and  twenty  years ;  the  former 
period  being'  inferred  from 
comparing  Gen.  v.  32,  and  vii. 
6 ;  and  the  latter  from  com¬ 
paring  Gen.  vi.  3,  with  1  Pet. 
iii.  20. 

The  form  of  the  ark  is  sup¬ 
posed  to  have  been  an  oblong 
square,  with  a  flat  bottom  and 
sloping  roof;  and  the  parti¬ 
cular  construction  of  it  has 
been  the  subject  of  much  cu¬ 
rious,  not  to  say  useless, 
speculation.  To  show  the  va¬ 
riance  of  opinions,  it  may  be 
enough  to  say,  that  in  the 
single  point  of  the  number  of 
apartments,  the  computation 
has  varied  from  seventy-two 
to  four  hundred.  Some  of  the 
results  of  modern  investiga¬ 
tions  have,  however,  been 
highly  valuable.  The  caviller 
has  sometimes  started  difficul¬ 
ties  respecting  the  capacity  of 


ARK 


ARK 


the  ark  to  contain  what  the 
sacretl  history  informs  us  was 
ut  into  it;  and  it  has  also 
een  asked  where  Noah  could 
have  acquired  skill  sufficient 
to  construct  such  a  vessel  for 
such  a  purpose.  On  this  point, 
however,  the  degree  of  skill  is 
in  itself  conclusive  evidence 
of  its  origin;  for  after  the 
most  accurate  computations 
by  those  best  versed  in  ship¬ 
building,  and  supposing  the 
dimensions  given  in  the  sa¬ 
cred  history  to  be  geometri¬ 
cally  exact,  it  is  found  that 
the  vessel,  in  all  its  known 
parts  and  proportions,  is  in 
perfect  accordance  with  the 
received  principles  of  naval 
architecture.  And  on  the  sub¬ 
ject  of  capacity ,  the  point  has 
been  satisfactorily  establish¬ 
ed,  that  upon  the  smallest  es¬ 
timate  of  tile  cubit  measure, 
the  ark  was  fully  adequate  to 


the  purpose  for  which  it  was 
prepared ;  and  that  besides 
all  the  room  occupied  by  the 
persons  and  things  which  the 
sacred  history  informs  us 
were  preserved  in  it,  there 
was  space  for  many  species 
of  animals  which  probably 
existed  then,  and  were  pre¬ 
served  in  the  ark,  but  whjch 
have  now  become  extinct- 
There  can  be  no  doubt,  there¬ 
fore,  that  the  ark  wqs  built  on 
strictly  scientific  principles, 
and  was  proportioned  with 
mathematical  precision  to  its 
contents. 

Ark  op  the  covenant. 
(Ex.  xxv.  10.)  A  small  chest, 
constructed  in  a  particular 
form  and  manner,  and  for  a 
specific  purpose,  by  the  ex 
press  command  of  Jehovah. 
It  was  three  feet  and  nine 
inches  in  length,  and  two  feet 
three  inches  in  width  and 


64 


ARK 

height.  It  was  made  of  shittim 
wood,  and  covered  with  plates 
of  gold.  A  border  or  crown 
of  gold  encircled  it  near  the 
top,  and  it  was  surmounted  by 
the  mercy-seat,  which  was  of 
solid  gold,  and  answered  the 
purpose  of  a  cover  or  lid  to 
the  ark.  On  each  end  of  the 
mercy- seat  was  placed  a  gold¬ 
en  image  representing  che¬ 
rubim  lacing  inwards,  and 
bending  down  over  the  ark. 
Two  rings  of  gold  were  at¬ 
tached  to  the  body  of  the  ark 
on  each  side,  through  which 
passed  the  staves  or  poles 
that  were  used  in  carrying  it 
from  place  to  place.  These 
were  made  of  the  same  wood 
with  the  ark,  and  were  over¬ 
laid  in  the  same  manner. 
This  ark  contained,  1.  Agold- 
en  pot,  in  which  the  three 
quarts  of  manna  were  pre¬ 
served.  (Ex.  xvi.  33.)  2.  Aa¬ 
ron’s  rod,  which  miraculously 
budded  and  blossomed  and 
yielded  fruit  all  at  once, 
(Num.  xvii.  10 ;)  and,  3.  The 
tables  of  the  testimony,  or  the 
tables  of  the  ten  command¬ 
ments,  written  with  the  finger 
of  God,  and  constituting  the 
testimony  or  evidence  of  the 
covenant  between  God  and 
the  people.  (Deut.  xxxi.  26.) 
Hence  it  is  sometimes  called 
the  ark  of  the  testimony,  and 
sometimes  the  ark  of  the  co¬ 
venant.  (Ex.  xxxiv.  29,  and 
xl.  20.  Heb.  ix.  3,  4.)  The  ap¬ 
parent  contradiction  between 
Hub.  ix.  3,  4,  and  1  Kings  viii. 
9,  may  be  reconciled  either 
by  supposing  (what  is  not  im¬ 
probable)  that  the  contents 
of  the  ark  were  different  at 
the  different  periods  referred 
to,  or  that  the  phrase,  “  where¬ 
in”  in  Hebrews,  refers  not  to 
the  ark,  but  to  the  remote  an¬ 
tecedent,  viz.  “  the  taberna¬ 
cle  which  is  called  the  holiest 
of  all.” 

On  the  mercy-seat  which 
surmounted  the  ark  rested  the 

6* 


ARK 

awful  and  mysterious  symbol 
of  the  divine  presence.  (Lev. 
xvi.  2.  Num.  vii.  89.)  For  a 
very  full  and  interesting  de¬ 
scription  of  the.  ark  of  the  co¬ 
venant,  and  its  contents,  See., 
and  also  of  the  cherubim  and 
Shechinah,  or  the  manifesta¬ 
tion  of  God’s  presence,  see 
Biblical  Antiquities,  by 
the  American  Sunday-school 
Union,  vol.  ii.  chap.  ii.  pp.  50 
— 53. 

After  the  children  of  Israel 
had  passed  the  Jordan,  whose 
waters  divided  atthe  approach 
of  the  ark,  (Josh.  iii.  14 — 17,) 
the  tabernacle  was  set  up  at 
Gilgal,  and  this  sacred  vessel 
remained  in  it  for  a  season. 
It  was  then  removed  to  Shiloh, 
where  it  was  stationary  be¬ 
tween  three  and  four  hundred 
years,  (Jer.  vii.  12—15;)  and 
being  then  taken  out  and 
borne  before  the  army,  it  fell 
into  the  hands  of  the  Philis¬ 
tines,  at  the  defeat  of  the  Is¬ 
raelites  near  Aphek.  (1  Sam. 
iv.)  The  Philistines  took  it  to 
Ashdod,  and  placed  it  by  the 
side  of  their  idol  god  Dagon. 
(1  Sam.  v.)  But  being  taught 
in  a  very  surprising  manner 
that  their  profane  use  of  the 
ark  was  highly  displeasing  to 
God,  they  returned  it  by  di¬ 
vine  direction,  and  with  signal 
tokens  of  divine  oversight,  to 
the  people  of  Israel,  by  whom 
it  was  lodged  at  Kirjath-jea- 
rim.  (1  Sam.  vi.  and  vii.) 
When  David  had  fixed  his 
residence  at  Jerusalem,  the 
ark  was  removed  thither  with 
sacred  ceremonies,  and  kept 
until  the  temple  was  prepared 
to  receive  it.  (1  Kings  viii. 
1—11.  1  Chron.  xv.  25—28;) 
on  which  occasion  it  is  sup¬ 
posed  the  one  hundred  and 
thirty-second  psalm  was  writ¬ 
ten. 

The  second  temple  did  not 
contain  the  ark :  whether  it 
was  seized  among  the  spoils 
when  the  city  was  sacked,  or 
65 


66 


ARM 

whether  it  was  secreted  and 
afterwards  destroyed,  does  not 
appear.  The  Jews  think  it 
will  be  restored  when  their 
Messiah  appears;  but  the  pro¬ 
phet,  (Jer.  lii.  16,)  if  they  would 
believe  his  testimony,  would 
end  this  and  many  similar  de¬ 
lusions. 

Wherever  the  Jews  dwelt 
or  wandered,  they  always  wor¬ 
shipped  towards  the  place 
where  the  ark  of  the  covenant 
rested.  (Dan.  vi.  10.) 

ARKITE.  (Gen.  x.  17.)  The 
Arkites  were  a  branch  of  the 
family  of  Canaan  whichsettled 
in  Phenicia  and  Syria.  The 
ruins  of  the  city  which  they 
are  supposed  to  nave  inhabit¬ 
ed  are  now  to  be  seen  at  Arka, 
twenty -five  miles  north  of  Tri¬ 
poli,  and  directly  opposite  the 
northern  extremity  of  Leba¬ 
non. 

ARM.  (1  Sam.  ii.  31.)  Meta¬ 
phorically  used  for  strength, 
power,  or  protection;  (Ex.  vi. 
6.  Isa.  lii.  10 ;)  in  which  last 
passage  allusion  is  made  to 
the  custom  of  making  the  arm 
bare  by  throwing  it  out  of  the 
loose  garment  or  fold,  when 
engaged  in  close  combat,  so 
that  its  strength  and  action 
might  be  free  and  unembar- 
r  asset! 

ARMAGEDDON.  (Rev.  xvi. 
16-)  The  mountain  of  Meged- 
don,  or  Megiddo,  a  city  at  the 
foot  of  mount  Carmel,  and 
noted  for  scenes  of  carnage. 
(2  Kings  xxiii.  29,  30.  Judg. 
v.  19.) 

ARMENIA.  (2  Kings  xix. 
37.)  An  inland  country  at  the 
eastern  extremity  of  Asia  Mi¬ 
nor,  four  hundred  and  thirty 
miles  from  east  to  west,  and 
about  three  hundred  from 
north  to  south.  It  has  the 
Mediterranean  on  the  south- 
'  west,  the  Black  Sea  on  the 
northwest,  and  the  Caspian 
Sea  on  the  east,  and  its  west¬ 
ern  boundary  is  about  six 
hundred  miles  east  of  Con- 


ARM 

stantinople.  The  Euphrates, 
the  Tigris,  and  other  rivers 
rise  within  the  boundaries  of 
Armenia.  (See  Map,  pp.  66, 
67.)  It  is  divided  into  fifteen 
provinces,  of  which  the  cen¬ 
tral  one  is  called  Ararat. 
In  this  province  was  the 
mountain  on-  which  the  ark 
rested,  and  here  was  the  usual 
residence  of  the  imperial 
court:  hence  this  province  is 
intended  by  the  term  Armenia 
in  the  Scriptures,  and  not 
the  whole  kingdom.  Two  of 
our  American  missionaries 
(Messrs.  Smith  and  Dwight) 
have  recently  explored  this 
interesting  country,  and  their 
observations  are  published  in 
two  volumes,  entitled  Re¬ 
searches  in  Armenia. 

ARMLES,  or  HOSTS.  (1 
Sam  xvii.  10.)  The  armies  of 
the  Israelites  embraced  the 
whole  male  adult  population 
of  the  country,  (Num.  i.  2,  3; 
xxvi.  2,)  and  when  occasion 
required,  the  entire  body  was 
readily  mustered.  (Judg.  xx. 
1—11.  1  Sam.  xi.  7,  8.)  This 
accounts  for  the  prodigious 
numbers  which  were  often  as¬ 
sembled.  (2Chron.  xiii.  3;  xiv. 
9.  See  art.  War.)  The  sol¬ 
diers  received  no  wage-s,  and 
each  man  armed  and  support¬ 
ed  himself.  Hence  their  cam¬ 
paigns  were  short,  and  gene¬ 
rally  terminated  by  a  single 
battle.  Horses  were  not  used, 
it  is  supposed,  until  Solomon’s 
time.  The  manner  of  declar¬ 
ing  war,  and  the  character  and 
occupation  of  exempts,  are 
minutely  stated.  (Deut.  xx.  1— 
14 ;  xxiv.  5.)  And  for  a  very 
interesting  sketch  of  the  whole 
military  system  of  the  Jews, 
see  Biblical  Antkacitjes,  by 
the  American  Sunday-school 
Union,  vol.  i.  chap.  viii.  §  6. 

ARMORY.  (Sol.  Song  iv. 
4.)  The  place  in  which  armour 
was  deposited  in  times  of 
jfeace.  (Jer.  1.  25.) 

'  ARMOUR.  (1  Sam.  xvii.  54.) 

68 


ARM 

Weapons  or  instruments  of 
defence.  These  were  in  ge¬ 
neral  the  shield,  or  buckler, 
the  target,  the  coat  of  mail, 
the  greaves,  and  the  helmet. 

1.  The  shield  or  buckler, 
(1  Kings  x.  17.  Ezek.  xxvi.  8,) 


was  probably  one  of  the  earli¬ 
est  pieces  of  armour,  for  allu¬ 
sion  is  often  made  to  it  by 
the  earliest  writers.  (Gen.  xv. 
1.  Ps.  v.  12;  xviii.2;  xlvii.9.) 
It  was  of  various  sizes,  and 
usually  made  of  light  wood, 
and  cov  ered  with  several  folds 


ARM 

or  thicknesses  of  stout  hide, 
which  were  preserved  and 
polished  by  frequent  applica¬ 
tions  of  oil,  (Isa.  xxi.  5,)  and 
often  painted  with  circles  of 
various  colours  or  figures. 
(Nah.  ii.  3.)  Sometimes  osiers, 
or  reeds  woven  like  basket- 
work,  were  used  to  stretch  the 
hide  upon,  and  sometimes  the 
shield  was  made  either  entire¬ 
ly  of  brass  or  gold,  or  covered 
with  thick  plates  of  those  me¬ 
tals.  (1  Kings  xiv.  2G,  27.) 

The  shield  was  held  by  the 
left  arm.  The  hand  passed 
through  under  two  straps  or 
thongs  placed  thus,  X,  and 
grasped,  with  the  fingers,  an¬ 
other  small  strap  near  the 
edge  of  the  shield,  as  repre¬ 
sented  in  the  annexed  cut,  so 


that  it  was  held  with  great 
firmness.  A  single  handle  of 
wood  or  leather  in  the  centre, 
as  represented  in  the  first  two 
cuts,  was  used  in  later  times, 
The  outer  surface  was  made 
more  or  less  rounding  from 
the  centre  to  the  edge,  and 
being  polished  smooth,  made 
the  arrows  or  darts  glance  off 
or  rebound  with  increased 
force ;  and  the  edges  were 
armed  with  plates  of  iron,  not 
only  to  strengthen  them,  but 
to  preserve  the  perishable 
part  from  the  dampness  while 
lying  upon  the  grcund.  In 


ARM 


ARM 


times  of  engagement,  the 
shields  were  either  held  above 
the  head,  or  they  were  placed 
together  edge  to  edge,  and 
thus  formed  a  continuous  bar¬ 
rier.  Another  form  of  the 
ancient  shield  is  seen  in  the 
following  cut. 


2.  The  target  (1  Sam.  xvii. 
6)  was  a  larger  sort  of  shield, 
the  relative  weight  of  which 
may  be  inferred  from  1  Kings 
x.  16,  17.  It  is  Usually  men¬ 
tioned  by  the  sacred  writers 
in  connexion  with  heavy 
arms,  while  the  shield  is 
spoken  of  with  the  sword, 
dart,  and  other  light  arms.  It 
probably  resembled  the  great 
shield  of  the  Romans,  which 
rn  some  cases  was  four  feet 
high,  and  two  and  a  half  feet 
broad,  and  so  curved  as  to  fit 
the  body  of  the  soldier. 

3.  The  coat  of  mailx  (1  Sam. 
xvii.  5,)  or  habergeon,  (Neh. 
iv.  16.  Job  xli.  26,)  or  breast¬ 
plate,  (Rev.  ix.  9,)  covered  the 


body  upon  and  below  the 
breast  and  back.  It  consisted 
of  two  parts,  and  was  fasten¬ 
ed  together  at  the  sides.  We 
are  told  that  Goliath’s  coat  of 
mail  weighed  five  thousand 
shekels  of  brass,  or  nearly 
one  hundred  and  sixty  pounds. 
It  was  probably  formed  of 
layers  of  brass,  one  upon  the 
other,  like  the  scales  of  a  fish. 
Sometimes  the  coat  of  mail 
was  made  of  wicker-work, 
covered  with  a  brass  plate. 
As  it  was  the  principal  and 
.most  complete  part  of  the 
armour,  it  is  a  most  appropri¬ 
ate  emblem  of  defence  and 
safety.  (Isa.  lix.  17.  Eph.  vi. 
14.) 

4.  Greaves,  or  boots,  (1  Sam. 
xvii.  6,)  were  for  the  protec¬ 


tion  of  the  legs.  They  are 
mentioned  only  as  a  part  of 
the  armour  of  Goliath,  and 
were  not  probably  in  common 
use  among  the  Hebrews, 
70 


ARM 


ARM 

though  they  were  almost  uni¬ 
versal  among  the  Greeks  and 
Romans. 

5.  Helmet.  (Ezek.  xxvii.  10.) 
This  was  a  cap,  the  shape  of 
which  is  seen  in  the  annexed 
figure.  It  was  made  of  thick 


tough  hide,  and  sometimes  of 
plated  brass,  (1  Sam.  xvii.  38,) 
and  usually  crowned  with  a 
crest  or  plume  as  an  orna¬ 
ment. 

Armour-bearer.  (Jud».  ix. 
54.)  An  officer  selected  by 
kings  and  generals  from  the 
bravest  of  their  favourites, 
whose  service  it  was  not  only 
to  bear  their  armour,  but  to 
stand  by  them  in  danger  and 
carry  their  orders,  somewhat 
after  the  manner  of  adjutants 
in  modern  service.  (1  Sam. 
xvi.  21,  and  xxxi.  4.) 

Arms  were  weapons  or  in¬ 
struments  of  offence  ;  they 
were  the  sword,  the  spear,  or 
javelin,  dart,  or  lance,  the 
bow  and  arrow,  the  sling,  the 
quiver,  and  the  battle-axe. 

1.  The  sword.  (Gen.  xxvii. 
40.)  This  was  a  short  two- 
edged  instrument,  resembling 
what  we  call  a  dagger.  It  was 
tarried  in  a  sheath  or  seab¬ 
oard,  (Jer.  xlvii.  6.  Ezek.  xxi. 
8.30,)  and  suspended  to  the  gir¬ 
dle.  (Judg.  iii.  1G.  2  Sam.xx.  8.) 

2.  The  spear ,  (Josh.  viii.  18,) 
nr  javelin ,  (Num.  xxv.  7,  8,) 
or  dart,  (2  Sam.  xviii.  14,)  or 
lance,  (Jer.  1.  42,)  were  differ¬ 
ent  chiefly  in  length  and  size. 
The  spear  was  a  long  wooden 
staff,  with  a  stout  metal  point 
at  one  end.  The  Greek  spears 
were  sometimes  twenty-five 
feet  long,  and  the  Arabs  now 


A 


use  them  fifteen  feet  long. 
They  were  required  to  be  long 
enough  to  reach  beyond  the 
front  rahk,  when  used  by  those 
who  were  in  the  second  rank. 
The  lance  was  shaped  and 
used  like  the  spear,  though 
probably  a  lighter  weapon. 
The  javelin  was  a  short  spear. 


cast,  as  is  supposed,  with  the 
hand.  (lSam.xviii.il.)  The 
dart  was  still  smaller  than 
the  javelin,  and  used  in  like 
manner. 

3.  The  arrow  (1  Sam.  xx. 
36)  was  a  slender  missile,  shot 
from  a  bow,  as  in  modern 
days.  (Gen.  xxi.  16.)  It  was 
used  in  hunting,  (Gen.  xxvii. 
3,)  as  well  as  in  combat.  (Gen. 
xlviii.  22.)  Those  who  used 
them  were,  called  archers. 
Arrows  were  originally  made 
of  reeds,  and  afterwards  of 
any  light  wood.  The  bows 
were  made  of  flexible  wood 
or  steel,  (Ps.  xviii.  34,)  and  the 
bowstring  of  leather,  horse¬ 
hair  or  the  tendons  of  ani- 
71 


4RM 

mals.  A  deceitful  bow  (Ps. 
lxxviii.  57)  is  either  one  which 
springs  back  and  wounds  the 
archer  himself,  or  one  which, 
from  weakness  or  other  de¬ 
fects,  fails  to  project  the  arrow. 
The  point,  of  the  arrow  was 
barbed  like  a  fish-hook.  (Ps. 
xxxviii.  2.)  Job  refers  to  the 
use  of  poisoned  arrows,  (Job 
vi.  4,)  and  fire  was  often  con¬ 
veyed  by  the-  use  of  juniper 
wood,  which  kindled  upon  the 
combustible  baggage  or  arma¬ 
ment  of  the  enemy.  (Ps.  xci. 
5 ;  cxx.  4.)  It  is  said  that  the 
coals  of  the  juniper  wood  are 
very  hot,  and  it  is  known  that 
the  Phenicians  and  (in  later 
times)  the  Spaniards  have 
used  arrows  for  the  like  pur¬ 
pose.  Arrows  were  used  in 
divination.  (Ezek.  xxi.  21.) 

Arrows  were  kept  in  a  case 
Or  box  called  a  quiver,  which 


ARO 

was  slung  over  the  shoulder 
in  such  a  position,  that  the 
soldier  could  draw  out  the 
arrows  when  wanted.  The 
position  of  the  quiver  and  bow 
is  seen  in  the  preceding  cut. 
The  drawing  of  the  bow  was  a 
test  of  strength,  and  is  still  so 
among  the  Arabians.  Hence 
the  allusion  in  Ps.  xviii.  34. 

4.  The  sling  (1  Sam.  xvii. 
40,)  was  an  early  weapon  of 
war,  by  which  stones  were 
thrown  with  great  force  and 
surprising  accuracy  of  aim. 
(Judg.  xx.  15,  16.)  This  skill 
was  shown  in  a  remarkable 
degree  by  the  Benjamites,  who 
could  employ  either  hand  in 
its  use  with  equal  adroitness. 
The  slingers  ranked  next  to 
the  archers  in  efficiency. 

5.  The  battle-axe  (Jer.  li. 
20)  was  obviously  a  powerful 
weapon  of  war,  but  of  its  form 
and  manner  of  use  we  have 
now  no  knowledge. 

The  term  armour,  and  the 
various  offensive  and  defen¬ 
sive  articles  comprised  in  it, 
are  frequently  used  figurative¬ 
ly  in  the  Bible  ;  and  with  re¬ 
markable  force  and  eloquence 
in  Eph.  vi.  11—18,  where  the 
graces  of  the  Christian  cha¬ 
racter  are  represented  as  the 
armour  of-  God,  in  which  he 
clothes  the  believer,  and  by 
which  he  is  enabled  to  fight 
the  good  fight  of  faith  with  a 
steady  and  victorious  arm. 

ARMY.  (See  War.) 

ARNON.  (Deut.  ii.  24.)  The 
principal  river  east  of  Jordan, 
and  originally  the  boundary 
between  the  Moabites  and  the 
Ammonites',  then  between  the 
Moabites  and  Amorites;  and 
finally,  between  the  Moabites 
and  the  tribe  of  Reuben.  It  is 
now  called  the  Modjeb  or  Mu 
jeb,  and  is  about  fifty  miles 
long,  emptying  into  the  Dead 
Sea.  The  current  in  Winter 
is  full  and  rapid,  but  in  sum¬ 
mer  the  channel  is  nearly  dry 

AROER.  1.  CDeut.  iii.  12,  ani 

73 


ARV 

iv.  48.)  A  city  on  the  north 
oank  of  the  river  Arnon.  It  is 
now  called  Araayr.  The  term 
“  the  city  in  the  midst  of  the 
river,”  (Josh.  xiii.  9,)  ori¬ 
ginated  in  the  circumstance 
that  the  city  stood  partly  on 
the  bank  and  partly  on  an 
island  formed  by  the  river. 

2.  Aroer  before  Kabbah 
(htsh.  xiii.  25)  is  supposed  to 
have  been  situated  on  the 
Jabbok,  or  river  of  Gad. 

ARPAD,  ARPHAD.  (Isa.  x. 
9.)  A  city  of  Syria,  always 
mentioned  in  connexion  with 
Hamath,  and  probably  in  the 
vicinity  of  Damascus,  but  its 
exact  site  is  now  unknown. 
(Jer.  xlix.  23.  Ezek.  xxvii.  8. 
See  Arvad.) 

ARTAXERXES.  (Ezra  iv. 
T,  and  vii.  7.  Nell.  ii.  I.)  A 
king  of  Persia,  who  reigned 
forty-seven  years,  and  died 
four  hundred  and  twenty-five 
years  before  Christ.  In  the 
seventh  year  of  his  reign  he 
permitted  Ezra  to  return  into 
Judea,  with  such  of  his  coun¬ 
trymen  as  chose  to  follow 
him  ;  and  fourteen  years  after¬ 
wards  he  allowed  Nehemiah  to 
return  and  build  up  Jerusalem. 
(See  Elisama,  by  the  Ameri¬ 
can  Sunday-school  Union,  pp. 
187,  188.) 

ARTILLERY.  (1  Sam.  xx. 
40.)  Any  missive  weapons,  as 
arrows,  lances,  &c. 

ARTS.  (Acts  xix.  19.)  Pre¬ 
tended  skill  in  the  practice 
of  magic,  astrology.  &c. 

ARUMAH,  or  RUMAH. 
(Judg.  ix.  41.  2  Kings  xxiii. 
30.)  A  village  near  Shechem, 
where  Abimelech  lived. 

ARVAD.  (Ezek.  xxvii.  8— 
11.)  Called  also  Arpad  and 
Arphad,  and  by  the  Turks, 
Ru-ad.  A  small  village  on  an 
island  of  the  same  name  near 
the  eastern  shore  of  the  Medi¬ 
terranean,  and  twenty  or 
thirty  miles  north  of  Tripoli. 
Modern  travellers  describe 
Arvad  as  a  deserted  ruin, 


ASA 

though  the  site  makes  a  fine 
appearance  at  a  distance. 

ARVADITES.  (Gen.  x.  ia> 
The  people  of  Arvad  were 
called  Arvadites,  and  in  the- 
time  t  of  Ezekiel  were  gene- 
rally  known  as  mariners  and1 
soldiers  in  the  Syrian  service, 
(Ezek.  xxvii.  8 — 11.) 

ASA  (1  Kings  xv.  8)  was  som 
and  successor  of  Abijam  oa 
the  throne  of  Judah..  Eh 
began  his  reign  *.  a.  953, 
and  reigned  forty-one  years. 
Though  educated  fn>  the  prin¬ 
ciples  of  a  false  religion,  he 
Bhowed,  from  the  first,  his  de¬ 
cided  opposition,  to  idolatry, 
and  even  deposed  his  mother 
Maacbah  because  she  hail 
made  an  idol  in  a  grove.  The 
first  part  of  his  reign  was 
peaceful,  and  tie  improved  the 
opportunity  to  purify  his  king¬ 
dom  from  idntairy,  and  to 
build  and  fortify  several  ci¬ 
ties;  and  when  Zerah,  an 
Ethiopian  king,  invaded  his 
territories,  with  an  army  of 
a  million  of  men  amt  three 
hundred  chariots,  Asa  met 
him  with  six  hundred  thou¬ 
sand,  and  defeated  him.  This 
memorable  battle  was  fought 
at  Mareshah.  (2Chrnn.  xiv.) 

At  the  suggestion  of  Azari, ill, 
a  prophet  whom  God  specially 
deputed  for  that  purpose,  Asa 
set  about  the  reformation  of 
every  abuse  in  his  kingdom, 
and  appointed  a  solemn  festi¬ 
val  of  thanksgiving  to  God,  at 
which  all  the  people  were  as¬ 
sembled,  and  entered  into  a 
formal  covenant  with  God. 
Baasha,  king  of  Israel,  find¬ 
ing  his  subjects  too  much  dis¬ 
posed  to  go  into  Judah  anil 
dwell  there,  commenced  for¬ 
tifying  Ramah,  a  place  near 
the  frontiers  of  both  king¬ 
doms,  with  a  view  to  cut  olT 
the  passage  of  emigrants  to 
Jerusalem,  and  other  parts  of 
J^idah.  Asa,  though  he  had  so 
long  enjoyed  the  favour  and 
protection  of  God,  was  now 


ASA 

tempted  to  forsake  him.  In¬ 
stead  of  trusting  in  his  al¬ 
mighty  arm  for  deliverance, 
as  he  had  done  in  years  pas(( 
he  sent  to  Benhadad  the  King 
of  Syria,  and  prevailed  on 
him,  even  in  violation  of  a 
treaty  which  existed  between 
Benhadad  and  Baasha,  to 
come  to  th.e  help  of  Judah, 
against  Israel.  The  Syrian 
king,  won  by  the  presents 
which  Asa  had  sent  him,  im¬ 
mediately  attacked  and  de¬ 
stroyed  several  important  ci¬ 
ties  of  Israel.  Baasha,  finding 
his  kingdom  thus  invaded, 
abandoned  the  fortification  of 
Ramah,  that  he  might  protect 
tne  provinces  of  the  interior 
from  desolation.  Asa  seized 
the  opportunity  to  demolish 
Raman,  and  take  away  the 
stone  and  timber  which  were 
collected  there,  and  use  them 
in  the  building  of  his  own 
cities. 

In  the  mean  time,  a  prophet 
was  sent  to  remind  him  of  his 
sin  and  folly  in  forsaking  the 
Lord  his  God  and  trusting  to 
an  arm  of  flesh,  and  to  warn 
him  of  the  punishment  which 
would  come  upon  him  for  all 
these  things.  But  the  heart 
of  Asa  was  already  so  alien¬ 
ated  from  God,  that  he  was 
enraged  by  the  faithful  mes¬ 
sage,  and  caused  the  bearer 
<rf  it  to  be  thrown  into  prison. 

He  was  afterwards  visited 
with  a  most  distressing  dis¬ 
ease  of  the  feet,  but  even  this 
did  not  lead  him  to  renew  his 
tru  t  in  God.  He  died  A.  M. 
3090,  in  the  forty-first  year 
of  his  reign ;  and  his  burial 
was  attended  with  great  pomp. 

ASAHEL.  (2  Sam.  ii.  18, 19.) 
A  brother  of  Joab.  (See  Ab¬ 
ner.) 

ASAPH  (1  Chron.  xxv.  1,  2) 
was  a  celebrated  musician, 
and  one  of  the  chief  leaders 
of  the  temple  choir.  Several 
of  the  psalms  of  David  are 
entitled,  a  psalm  of  or  for 


ASH 

Asaph.  (Psalms  lxxiii.  to 
lxxxiii.)  That  these  were  not  . 
written  by  Asaph  is  evident 
from  the  fact  that  allusion  is 
made  in  some  of  them  te 
events  which  took  place  after 
his  death. 

ASCENSION.  (SeeCHRisT.) 

ASH.  (Isa.  xliv.  14.)  A  well 
known  forest  tree,  of  rapid 
growth,  the  wood  of  which 
was  wrought  into  the  images 
of  idolatry. 

ASHAN.  (Josh.  xv.  42.)  A 
city  of  Judah,  situated  about 
twenty  miles  south-west-  of 
Jerusalem,  and  probably  the 
Chorashan  mentioned  1  Sam. 
xxx.  30. 

ASHDOD.  (Josh.  xv.  47.)  One 
of  the  five  capital  cities  of 
the  Philistines,  called  by  the 
Greeks,  and  known  in  the 
New  Testament,  as  Azotus. 
(Acts  viii.40.)  It  was  situated 
on  the  Mediterranean,  be¬ 
tween  Askelon  and  Ekron, 
fifteen  or  twenty  miles  north 
of  Gaza.  Here  was  the  temple 
of  Dagon,  in  which  the  Philis¬ 
tines  placed  the  ark.  The 
city  was  more  than  once  cap¬ 
tured.  (2  Chron.  xxvi.  6.  Isa. 
xx.  1.)  A  late  traveller  states 
that  Ashdod  is  to  be  seen 
from  an  elevated  spot  near 
Joppa;  and  that  it  abounds 
withfine  old  olive  trees,  and 
with  fruits  and  vegetables  of 
every  kind.  Messrs.  King  and 
Fisk,  American  missionaries, 
were  there  in  1823. 

ASHDOTH-PISGAH.  (Deut. 
iii.  17.)  A  city  of  the  tribe  of 
Reuben,  which  is  elsewhere 
called  the  springs  of  Pisgah. 
(Deut.  iv.  49.) 

ASHER.  (Gen.  xxx.  13.)  The 
son  of  Jacob,  by  Zilpah.  Ha 
was  one  of  the  twelve  patri¬ 
archs.  The  portion  of  the 
holy  land  assigned  to  his  tribe 
was  loounded  by  Phenicia  on 
the  west;  mount  Lebanon  on 
the  north ;  mount  Carmel  and 
the  tribe  of  Issachar  on  the 
south,  and  the  tribes  of  Zebu- 
74 


ASH 

Ion  and  Naplitali  on  the  east. 
His  descendants  are  called 
Asherites.  (Judg.  i.  32.) 

ASHES.  (Gen.  xviii.  27.)  To 
cover  the  head  with  ashes,  or 
to  sit  in  ashes,  betokens  self¬ 
abhorrence,  humiliation,  ex¬ 
treme  grief,  or  penitence.  (2 
Sam.  xTii.  19.  Esth.  iv.  3.  Job 
ti.  8.  Jer.  vi.  26.  Lam.  iii.  16. 
Jonah  iii.  6.  Malt.  xi.  21.) 
There  was  a  sort  of  lye  made 
of  the  ashes  of  the  heifer, 
sacrificed  on  the  great  day  of 
expiation,  which  was  used 
for  ceremonial  purification. 
(Num.  xix.  17, 18.  See  Heifer.) 

ASHKENAZ.  (Gen.  ,x.  3.) 
A  grandson  of  Japhet,  and  the 
probable  ancestor  of  those 
who  inhabited  a  country  of  the 
same  name,  (Jer.  li.  27,)  lying 
along  the  eastern  and  south¬ 
eastern  shore  of  the  Black 
Sea.  The  precise  district  is 
unknown.  (See  Mlnni.) 

ASHTAROTIL  1.  A  place 
(Josh.  ix.  10)  called  Astaroth, 
(Deut.  i.  4,)  and  Ashteroth  Kar- 
naim,  (Gen.  xiv.  5,)  the  word 
karnaim  meaning  two-homed, 
and  having  reference  to  a 
heathen  goddess,  who  was  re¬ 
presented  with  a  crescent,  or 


two  horned  moon.  It  was  one 
of  the  chief  cities  of  Bashan, 
and  is  supposed  to  be  the  same 
with  the  modern  Mezaraib,  on 
the  route  of  the  pilgrims  from 
Damascus  to  Mecca. 

2.  An  idol  ;  represented  in 
the  above  cut,  (Judg.  ii.  13,) 


ASI 

called  also  Aahtoretli,  the  god¬ 
dess  of  the  Sidonians.  It  was 
much  worshipped  in  Syria 
and  Pheniria.  Solomon  in¬ 
troduced  the  worship  of  it. 
(1  Kings  xi  33.)  The  Pheni- 
cians  called  it  Astarte.  The 
four  hundred  priests  of  Jeze¬ 
bel,  mentioned  1  Kings  xviii. 
19,  are  supposed  to  have  been 
employed  in  the  service  of 
this  idol ;  and  we  are  told  that 
under  this  name  three  hun¬ 
dred  priests  were  constantly 
employed  in  its  service  at 
Hierapolin,  in  Syria,  many 
ages  after  Jezebel’s  time. 
This  idol  was  also  called  the 
“  queen  of  heaven,”  and  the 
worship  was  said  to  be  paid 
to  the  “  host  of  heaven.”  It  is 
usually  mentioned  in  connex¬ 
ion  with  Baal. 

ASHTORETH.  (See  pre¬ 
ceding  article.) 

ASIA.  (Acts  ii.  9.)  Asia  was 
not  known  to  the  ancients  as 
one  of  the  four  grand  divisions 
of  the  earth.  The  name  was 
‘originally  applied  to  a  small 
district  of  Lydia,  including 
perhaps  Ionia  and  iEolis.  The 
term  was  gradually  enlarged 
in  its  application,  until  it  em¬ 
braced  the  whole  of  Asia  Mi¬ 
nor,  and  finally  denoted  a 
large  portion  of  the  eastern 
division  of  the  earth. 

The  Asia  of  the  Bible  is  a 
peninsula,  on  the  western  or 
south-western  side  of  the  con¬ 
tinent  of  Asia,  which  stretch¬ 
es  into  the  Mediterranean  or 
Great  Sea,  extending  east  as 
far  as  the  Euphrates,  west  to 
the  islands  of  the  sea,  (see 
Islands,)  north  to  what  is 
now  called  the  Black  Sea, 
and  south  to  the  Mediterra¬ 
nean  or  Great  Sea.  It  includes 
the  provinces  of  Bithynia, 
Pontus,  Galatia,  Cappadocia, 
Cilicia,  Pamphylia,  Pisidia, 
Lycaonia,  Phrygia,  Mysia, 
Troas,  Lydia,  Ly'sia,  and  Ca- 
ria. 

In  the  sense  in  which  it  is 
75 


ASP 

need,  in  Acta  ii .  V) ;  vi.  9 ; 
six.  10.  22.  26, 27.  2  Tim.  i.  15. 

1  Pc-t.  i.  1,  it  was  the  Roman 
proconsular  Asia,  and  com- 
rehends  but  a  portion  of  Asia 
Iinor,  viz.  Phrygia,  Mysia, 
aria,  and  Lydia.  Within  this 
territory  the  seven  churches 
of  Asia  were  situated.  (Rev. 
i.  4.  11.)  In  Acts  xxvii.  2,  the 
term  Asia  may  represent  Asia 
Minor,  but  even  then  it  .may 
refer  only  to  the  western 
coasts.  In  every  other  case  it 
is  so  distinguished  from  other 
portions  of  Asia  Minor,  or  so 
immediately  connected  with 
Ephesus,  as  to  lead  to  the  be¬ 
lief  that  the  Asia  of  which 
Ephesus  was  the  capita)  (or 
proconsular  Asia)  is  intended. 

ASKELON.  (2  Sam.  i.  20.) 
One  of  the  “  fenced  cities”  of 
the  Philistines.  It  was  situ- 
a'ed  on  the  eastern  shore  of 
the  Mediterranean,  twelve 
miles  south  of  Gaza.  After 
the  death  of  Joshua,  it  fell 
into«the  hands  of  the  tribe  of 
Judah.  (Judg.  i.  18.)  At  a  short 
distance  to  the  north  is  a  small 
village  called  Scalona,  evi¬ 
dently  a  corruption  of  the  an¬ 
cient  name. 

ASP.  (Deut.  xxxii.  33.)  A 
small  but  very  poisonous  ser¬ 
pent.  (Rom.  iii.  13.)  Their 
venmn  is  cruel ,  because  it  is 
so  subtle  and  deadly,  and  re¬ 
quires  an  immediate  excision 
of  the  wounded  part.  For  an 
infant  child  to  play  upon  the 
hole  of.  such  a  venomous  rep¬ 
tile  would  seem  to  be  most 
presumptuous ;  and  hence  the 
force  and  beauty  of  the  figure 
used  by  the  prophet,  (Isa.  xi. 
8,)  to  represent  the  security 
and  peace  of  the  Messiah’s 
reign.  In  Ps.  lviii.  4,  5,  and 
Er.cl.  x.  11,  and  Jer.  viii.  17,  al¬ 
lusion  is  made  to  that  singular 
phenomenon,  the  charming  of 
serpents  by  musical  sounds  ; 
and  the  wicked  are  compared 
to  the  deaf  adder,  (or  asp,)  that 
stoppeth  her  ear,  and  will  not 


ASS 

be  charmed.  Whether  the  rep 
tile  is  really  deaf,  or  whether 
it  obstructs  its  hearing,  as  it 
may  easily  do  by  laying  one 
ear  upon  the  ground  and  co¬ 
vering  the  other  with  dust  or 
with  its  tail,  is  not  important 
It  is  enough  that  for  some 
cause  the  effort  to  attract  and 
turn  it,  is  vain.  All  these 
phrases'  import  that  musical 
sounds  may  beguile  and  dis 
arm  some  serpents,  but  not 
others ;  or  that  the  arts  of 
the  charmer  may  be  effectual 
sometimes,  but  not  always 
The  Arabianstellusthat  there 
are  three  classes  of  serpents, 
and  in  the  first  class  they 
place  those  whose  poison  is 
so  fatal  as  to  cause  death  in 
three  hours,  and  who  are  not 
subject  to  the  power  of  the 
charmer ;  such,  they  say,  are 
the  basilisk  and  all  kinds  of 
asps.  It  is  sufficient  for  the 
full  force  of  the  scriptural  al 
lusions,  that  there  are  ser¬ 
pents  on  whom  the  power  of 
the  charmer  is  often  exerted 
in  vain ;  serpents  whose  stroke 
cailnot  be  parried,  and  whose 
poison  is  death. 

ASS.  (Gen.  xxii.  3.)  This 
animal  is  among  the  most 
common  mentioned  in  Scrip¬ 
ture,  and  constituted  a  consi¬ 
derable  part  of  the  wealth  of 
ancient  times.  (Gen.  xii.  16, 
and  xxx.  43.  Job  i.  3 ;  xlii.  12.) 
They  were  sometimes  so  nu¬ 
merous  as  to  require  a  spe¬ 
cial  keeper.  (Gon.  xxxvi.  24. 
1  Chron.  xxvii.  30.)  The  ass 
and  the  ox  were  the  principal 
animals  of  burden  and  draft. 
(Ex.  xxiii.  12.)  The  domestic 
ass  is  indeed  a  most  ser¬ 
viceable  animal,  and  in  some 
respects  preferable  to  the 
horse.  He  subsists  on  very 
coarse  food,  and  submits  to  the 
meanest  drudgery.  His  skin 
is  remarkably  thick,  and  is 
used  at  this  day  for  parch¬ 
ment,  drum  heads,  memoran¬ 
dum  books,  &c.  Their  usual 


ASS 


ASS 


i‘  our  is  red  or  dark  brown, 
h.  i  sometimes  they  are  of  a 
si!  rer  white,  and  these  last 
wire  usually  appropriated  to 

feisons  of  dignity.  (Judg.  v. 
0.)  So  in  Gen.  xlix.  11^  the 
allusion  to  the  ass  and  the 
vine  imports  dignity  and  fruit¬ 
fulness,  and  the  continuance 
and  increase  of  both  in  the 
tribe  of  Judah.  There  was  a 
breed  of  asses  far  superior  to 
those  that  were  used  in  labour, 
and  which  are  supposed  to  be 
referred  to  in  most  of  the  pas¬ 
sages  above  cited. 

The  female,  or  she-ass,  was 
particularly  valuable  for  the 
saddle,  and  for  her  milk, 
which  was.  extensively  used 
for  food  and  for  medicinal 
purposes. 

The  ass  was  used  in  agri¬ 
cultural  labour,  especially'  in 
earing  (ploughing)  the  ground, 
and  treading  it  "to  prepare  it 
for  the  seed.  (Isa.  xxx.  24, 
and  xxxii.  20.)  The  prohibi¬ 
tion  (Deut.  xxii.  10)  might  have 
been  founded  in  part  on  the 
Inequality  of  strength  between 
7* 


the  ox  and  the  ass,  and  the 
cruelty  of  putting  upon  them 
the  same  burden ;  but  was  in¬ 
tended  chiefly  to  mark  the 
separation  of  the  Jews  from 
surrounding  nations,  among 
whom  such  an  union  of  ditfer- 
ent  beasts  was  not  uncommon. 
So  serviceable  and  indeed  es¬ 
sential  to  man  was  this  animal 
in  ancient  limes,  that  to  drive 
away  the  ass  of  the  fatherless 
is  reckoned  among  the  most 
atrocious  acts  of  oppression 
and  cruelty,  (Job  xxiv.  3,)  as 
depriving  an  orphan  family 
of  their  only  cow  would  be 
regarded  at  the  present  day. 
The  attachment  of  this  ani¬ 
mal  to  its  owner  is  among  its 
remarkable  characteristics. 
In  this  respect  it  closely  re¬ 
sembles  the  dog.  Hence  the 
severity  of  the  prophet’s  re¬ 
buke.  (Isa.  i.  3.) 

The  fact  stated  in  2  Kings 
vi.  25,  is  designed  to  show  that 
such  was  the  extremity  of  the 
famine,  that  the  people  were 
not  only  willine  to  give  an  ex¬ 
orbitant  price  for  a  small  and 


ASS 

most  undesirable  portion  of 
meat  which  they  were,  not  ac¬ 
customed  to  eat,  but,  breaking 
through  all  the  restraints  of 
religion  and  superstition,  the 
famished  citizens  seized  with 
avidity  this  unsavoury  and 
forbidden  food. 

The  ass,-  when  dead,  was 
thrown  into  the  open  field,  and 
that  part  of  his  flesh  which 
was  not  consumed  by  beasts 
and  birds,  was  suffered  to 
putrefy  and  decay.  Nothing 
could  be  more  disgraceful  than 
to  expose  a  human  body  in 
the  like  manner.  (Jer.  xxii. 
19,  and  xxxvi.  30.) 

Much  vain  discussion  has 
arisen  respecting  the  passage, 
Num.  xxii.  28.  It  would  be  as 
easy  for  the  Creator  of  both 
man  and  beast  to  take  the 
power  of  speech  from  the 
former  and  give  it  to  the 
latter,  as  it  was  at  first  to  give 
it  to  the  former  and  withhold 
it  from  the  latter.  The  apos¬ 
tle  (2  Pet.  ii.  16)  seems  to  have 
received  the  history  like  a 
little  child,  in  the  plain  and 
obvious  meaning  of  the  lan¬ 
guage.  (See  Balaam.) 

A  variety  ol  opinions  have 
been  entertained  respecting 
our  Saviour’s  entrance  into  Je¬ 
rusalem,  (Matt.  xxi.  I— 11,) 
whether  it  was  under  circum¬ 
stances  of  great  meanness  and 
poverty,  or  with  honour  and 
royal  parade.  The  prophecy 
in  Zech.  ix.  9,  was  fulfilled, 
and  this  is  all  that  it  con¬ 
cerns  us  to  know. 

The  Arabian  ass  has  a  1  ight, 
quick  step.  In  Persia,  Syria, 
and  Egypt,  ladies  are  accus¬ 
tomed  to  ride  on  asses,  and 
they  are  particularly  valuable 
in  mountainous  countries,  be¬ 
ing  more  sure-footed  than 
horses.  Their  ordinary  gait 
is  four  miles  an  hour. 

The  ass  in  his  wild  or  natu¬ 
ral  state  is  an  elegant  animal. 
It  is  often  alluded  to  in  the 
sacred  writings.  (Job  xi.  12; 


ASS 

xxiv.  5,  and  xxxix.  6 — 8.) 
They  usually  roamed  in  herds 
through  barren  and  desolate 
districts.  (Isa.  xxxii.  14.  Hos. 
viii.9.)  One  was  recently  taken 
in  a  pitfall  in  Astrachan,  and 
added  to  the  Surry  Zoological 
collection  in  England.  It  is 
described  as  having  a  (leer- 
like  appearance,  'standing 
high  on  the  legs,  very  active, 
of  a  silvery  colour,  with  a 
dark  brown  streak  along  the 
back.  (See  Youth’s  Friend, 
by  the  American  Sunday- 
school  Union,  vols.  ii.  and  iii. 

ASSEMBLIES,  masters  of. 
(Eccl.  xii.  11.)  This  phrase  by 
itself  is  perfectly  intelligible, 
and  is  supposed  to  refer  to  the 
leading  men  or  master-spirits 
of  the  assemblies  of  the  wise 
and  curious,  which  were  often 
held  in  eastern  countries,  and 
where  sages  and  philosophers 
uttered  their  weighty  sayings. 
The  preacher  endeavoured  to 
clothe  the  infinitely  wise  and 
perfect  doctrines  which  he 
taught  in  proper  laneuaee. 
They  were  the  words  of truth, 
and  were  designed  to  prove 
quickening  to  the  sluggish 
soul  as  goads  are  to  the  dull 
ox.  (Acts  ii.  37.)  They  were  re¬ 
ceived  from  the  one  great  Shep¬ 
herd  or  Teacher,  and  came 
with  great  power  as  the  say¬ 
ings  of  the  most  wise  and  elo¬ 
quent  of  their  learned  assem- 
biles ;  and  they  would  take 
hold  of  the  hearts  and  con¬ 
sciences  of  men,  holding  them 
to  the  obedience  of  the  truth, 
as  nails  driven  throueh  a 
sound  board  firmly  bind  and 
fasten  it.  where  we  will. 

ASSHUR.  (Gen.  x.  22.)  The 
second  son  of  Shem.  He  pro¬ 
bably  gave  name  to  the  coun¬ 
try  of  Assyria.  (Hos.  xiv.  3. 
Mie.  v.  6.)  There  is  some 
I  doubt  whether  the  resiling  of 
'  Gen.  x.  11,  should  not  be  thus. 
;  “  Out  of  (hat  land  he  (that  is 
Nimrod,  spoken  of  in  ver.  9) 
,  went  forth  into  Asshm ,  or  As- 
78 


ASS 

Syria,  and  builded  Nineveh.” 
At  any  rate,  the  weight  of  au¬ 
thority  favours  the  position, 
that  Nineveh  was  founded  by 
Nimrod. 

ASSOS.  (Acts  xx.  13.)  A 
maritime  town  of  Troas,  in 
the  north  of  Mysia,  and  oppo¬ 
site  the  island  of  Lesbos,  now 
called  Beiram. 

ASSYRIA.  (2  Kings  xv.  19.)  A 
most  powerful  empire  of  Asia, 
the  history  of  which,  both  in 
its  glory  and  in  its  overthrow, 
is  most  significantly  told  by 
the  prophet.  (Ezek.  xxxi.)  It 
was  founded  probably  by  Nim¬ 
rod,  one,  hundred  and  twenty 
years  after  the  deluge.  (See 
Asshur.)  In  the  most  compre¬ 
hensive  use  of  the  term,  it  in¬ 
cluded  all  the  countries  and 
nations  from  the  Mediterra¬ 
nean  Sea  on  the  west,  to  the 
river  Indus  on  the  east.  It  is 
important  to  observe  that  by 
the  term  Assyrians,  in  the 
sacred  writings,  is  meant  the 
people  of  Assyria  proper,  or 
the  empire  of  which  Nineveh 
was  the  chief  city ;  by  the 
Babylonians,  or  Chaldeans,  is 
meant  the  people  of  the  coun¬ 
try  of  which  Babylon  was  the. 
capital ;  and  by  the  Syrians, 
the  people  of  the  country  of 
which  Zobah  first,  and  after¬ 
wards  Damascus,  was  the 
capital,  and  whose  south  and 
south-eastern  boundary  was 
the  land  of  Canaan. 

The  early  history  of  Assyria 
is  involved  in  obscurity.  We 
know  from  the  sacred  history 
that  it  was  a  powerful  nation. 
(Nun.  xxiv.  22.).  And  its  ca¬ 
pital  was>  one  of  the  most  re¬ 
nowned  of  the  eastern  world. 
(See  Nineveh.)  It  fell  into 
the  hands  of  the  Medes  ;  the 
monarchy  was  divided  be¬ 
tween  them  and  the  Babylo¬ 
nians,  and  the  very  name  of 
Assyria  was  thenceforth  for¬ 
gotten.  (See  Geography  of 
the  Bible,  p.  24,  and  Eve¬ 
ning  Recreations,  part  i.  pp.  , 


at  a 

£0—70,  both  by  the  American 
S.  Union.) 

ASSURANCE.  1.  Of  the 
understanding,  (Col.  ii.  2) 
is  a  full  knowledge  of  divine 
things  founded  on  the  declara¬ 
tion  of  the  Scriptures. 

.  2.  An  assurance  of  faith 
(Heb.  x.  22)  is  a  firm  belief  in 
Christ,  as  God  has  revealed 
him  to  us  in  the  ScriplureB, 
and  an  exclusive  dependence 
on  him  for  salvation. 

3.  Assurance  of  hope. 
(Heb.  vi.  11)  is  a  firm-expect¬ 
ation  that  God  will  grant  us 
the  complete  enjoyment  of 
what  he  has  promised. 

ASTAROTH.  (See  Ashta- 
roth.) 

ASTROLOGERS.  (Dan.  ii. 
27.)  A  class  of  men  who  pre¬ 
tended  to  foretell  future  events 
by  observing  the  motions  of 
the  heavenly  bodies. 

ASUPPIM,  house  of.  (1 
Chron.  xxvi.  15.)  Some  one  of 
the  apartments  of  the  temple 
where  the  stores  were  kept. 

ATAD.  (See  Abei.-mizraim.) 

ATHALIAH.  (2Kings  xi.  I.) 
The  mother  of  Ahaziah.  Ahab, 
king  of  Israel,  was  her  father. 
Omri,  king  of  Samaria,  was 
her  grandfather,  and  she  mar¬ 
ried  Joram  or  Jehoram,  king 
of  Judah.  The  sacred  biogra¬ 
pher  gives  her  a  most  odious 
and  revolting  character.  She 
advised  her  own  son  in  his 
wickedness,  and  after  Jehu 
had  slain  him,  (see  AhazAah,) 
she  resolved  to  destroy  the 
children  of  her  husband  by 
his  former  wives,  and  then 
take  the  throne  of  Judah.  But 
Jehosheba,  a  half  sister  of 
Ahaziah,  secured  Joash,  one 
of  the  children  and  heirs,  and 
secreted  him  and  his  nurse 
for  six  years.  In  the  seventh 
year,  every  thing  being  pre¬ 
pared  for  the  purpose,  Joash, 
the  young  prince,  was  brought 
out  and  placed  on  the  throne. 
Attracted  by  the  crowd  of 
people  who  had  assembled  to 


ATO 

witness  the  ceremony,  and 
unsuspicious  of  the  cause, 
Athaliah  hastened  to  the  tem¬ 
ple.  When  the  populace  had 
assembled,  and  when  she  saw 
the  young  king  on  the  throne, 
and  heard  the  shouts  of  the 
people,  and  found  that  all  her 
ambitious  designs  were  likely 
to  be  defeated,  she  rent  her 
clothes  and  cried  out,  “  Trea¬ 
son,  Treason,”  hoping  proba- 
Dly  to  rally  a  party  in  favour 
of  her  interests.  But  she  was 
too  late.  The  priest  com¬ 
manded  her  to  be  removed 
from  the  temple,  and  she  was 
taken  without  the  walls  of  the 
city,  and  put  to  death. 

ATHENS.  (Acts  xvii.  15.) 
The  capital  of  Attica  in 
Greece,  situated  on  the  Saro¬ 
nic  Gulf,  forty-six  miles  east  of 
Corinth,  three  hundred  south¬ 
west  of  Constantinople,  and 
five  miles  fromthe  coast.  It  was 
distinguished  notonly  for  poli¬ 
tical  importance  anu  military 

fiower,  but  for  the  eloquence, 
iterature,  and  refinement  of 
its  inhabitants.  Paul  visited 
it  about  a.d.  52,  and  found  the 
people  sunk  in  idolatry  and 
idleness.  He  preached  there, 
and  took  occasion  to  reprove 
their  superstitions,  for  which 
he  was  summoned  before  the 
Arecmagus.  (See  Areopagus. 
See  Life  of  Paul,  by  the  Ame¬ 
rican  .Sunday-school  Union, 
chapters  viii.  ix.  and  x.) 

ATONEMENT-  (Lev.  tv. 
20.  Rom.  v.  11.)  This  word,  in 
its  popular  use,  has  a  variety 
of  significations,  such  as  re¬ 
conciliation,  satisfaction  or  re¬ 
paration,  and  expiation.  The 
word  occurs  often  in  the  Old 
Testament,  but  only  once  in 
the  New;  though  the  subject 
itself  is  presented,  and  illus¬ 
trated,  and  magnified  in  every 
variety  of  form,  aad  by  all  the 
force  of  expression,  both  in 
the  gospels  and  in  the  epis¬ 
tles."  (liom.  iii. — viii.  and  Heb. 
vii. — x.  inclusive.)  The  word 


ATO 

ransom  (Job  xxxiii.  24)  might 
be  rendered  atonement,  and  is 
so  rendered  in  the  margin. 
(See  also  Num.  xvi.  46,  aDd 
2  Sam.  xxi.  3.) 

The  great  atonement  made 
for  sin  by  the  sacrifice  of  our 
Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ, 
constitutes  the  grand  substan¬ 
tial  principle  of  the  Christian 
faith.  The  efficacy  of  it  is 
such,  that  the  sinner,  though 
under  the  wrath  of  God  and 
the  condemnation  of  his  just 
law,  by  faith  in  the  atoning 
blood  of  Christ  is  brought  into 
favour  with  God,  is  delivered 
from  condemnation,  and  made 
an  heir  of  eternal  life  and 
glory. 

The  Hebrew  word  rendered 
atonement  signifies  covering , 
(Ps.  xxxii.  l,)"and  the  Greek 
version  of  this  Hebrew  word 
is  translated  propitiation  in 
our  Bible ;  and  may  denote 
either  that  our  offences  are 
covered,  or  that  we  are  shield¬ 
ed  and  protected  from  the 
curse,  Christ  being  made  a 
curse  for  us.  Generally,  wher¬ 
ever  the  term  occurs,  a  state 
of  controversy,  irreconcilia- 
tion,  or  estrangement  is  im¬ 
plied;  and  in  relation  to  the 
party  offended,  it  imports 
something  done  to  propitiate. 
(Gen.  xxxii. 20.  Ezek.  xvi.  63.) 
The  idea  of  making  an  atone¬ 
ment  is  expressed  by  a  word 
which  signifies  to  make  pro¬ 
pitiation ;  and  the  apostles,  in 
referring  to  the  death  of  Christ, 
use  those  very  terms  which, 
in  the  Sepluagint  version  of 
the  Old  Testament,  are  ap- 
plied  to  legal  sacrifices  and 
their  effect :  thus  representing 
the  death  of  Christ,  not  only 
as  a  real  and  proper  sacrifice, 
but  as  the  truth  and  substance 
of  all  the  Levitical  types  and 
shadows — the  true,  efficacious, 
and  only  atonement  for  sin, 
(1  John  li.  2,  and  iv.  10 ;)  show¬ 
ing  that  Christ  is  not  only  the 
being  or  agent  by  whom  the 


AVE 

propitiation  is  made,  but  was 
nimself  the  propitiatory  sacri¬ 
fice. 

After  all  the  vain  philosophy 
and  ingenious  speculations  of 
men  to  destroy  or  modify  this 
doctrine,  which  on  the  one 
hand  reduces  sinful  man  to 
the  most  humbling  extremity, 
and  on  the  other  proposes  to 
him  a  perfect  and  glorious  sal¬ 
vation  ;  the  atonement  made 
for  him,  by  the  self-sacrifice 
of  Christ,  remains,  and  will 
for  ever  remain,  the  essential 
principle  of  the  gospel.  It  will 
for  ever  illustrafe  the  dreadful 
sinfulness  of  sin,  the  infinite 
purity,  justice,  and  mercy  of 
God,  and  the  love  of  Christ 
which  passeth  knowledge.  No 
teacher  of  divine  truth  to  sin¬ 
ful  men  can  build  a  consistent 
or  safe  system  of  instruction* 
on  any  other  foundation  than 
this.  (Matt.  i.  21,  and  xxvi.  28. 
Mark  x.  45.  John  i.  29,  and 
x.  10—18.)  He  who  rejects  the 
atonement,  and  tramples  un¬ 
der  foot  the  blood  of  the  Son 
of  God,  can  point  out  no  way 
in  which  a  sinner  can  escape 
the  damnation  of  hell. 

ATTAL1A,  (Acts  xiv.  25,) 
known  now  as  Satalia  or  Se- 
talie,  a  city  of  Pamphylia  on 
the  Mediterranean,  and  was 
visited  by  Paul  and  Barnabas, 
on  their  tour  through  Asia 
Minor. 

AUGUSTUS.  (Luke  ii.  1.) 
The  nephew  and  successor  of 
Julius  Cesar,  and  emperor  of 
Rome,  at  the  time  of  our  Sa¬ 
viour’s  birth.  He  reigned  for¬ 
ty-one  years,  and  was  succeed¬ 
ed  by  Tiberius  Cesar.  (Luke 
iii.  1.  See  Cesar.) 

AVEN.  1.  (Amos  i.  5.)  A 
plain  in  Syria,  called  also  the 
Valley  of  Lebanon,  because 
lying  between  the  two  ranges 
of  'the  mountains  of  Lebanon. 
(Josh.  xi.  17.)  The  site  of  it  is 
supposed  to  have  been  where 
Baal-beck  now  is,  thirty  miles 
north  of  Damascus. 


AZA 

2.  (Hns.  x.  8.)  Bethel,  which 
is  sometimes  called  Bethaven, 
or  house  of  iniquity,  is  here 
called  Aven,  or  iniquity  itself, 
to  denote  the  extreme  depra¬ 
vity  which  prevailed  there. 

3.  (Ezek.  xxx.  17.  See  On.) 

AVENGE,  AVENGER. 

(Luke  xviii.  S.  1  Thess.  iv.  6.) 
Vengeance  is  an  act  of  justice; 
revenge  is  an  act  of  passion. 
Hence  injuries  are  revenged  , 
crimes  are  avenged.  The  act 
of  avenging,  though  attended 
with  the  infliction  of  pain,  is 
oftentimes  an  act  of  humanity, 
and  always  supposed  to  be  an 
act  of  justice.  God  is  avenged 
of  his  enemies,  when  he  vin¬ 
dicates  his  own  law,  and  go¬ 
vernment,  and  character,  a'nd 
punishes  theirtransgressions. 
An  avenger  is  the  agent  or 
instrument  by  whom  the 
avengement  is  visited  on  the 
offending  party. 

Avenger  of  blood  was  a 
title  given  to  one  who  pursued 
a  murderer  or  manslayer,  by 
virtue  of  the  ancient  Jewish 
law,  to  avenge  the  blood  of  one 
who  had  been  murdered  or 
slain.  (SeeCiTJESOFREFUGE.) 

AVIM.  (Josh,  xviii.  23.) 
Supposed  by  some  to  be  the 
same  with  the  Hivites  or 
Avites,  who  dwelt  near  Gaza, 
and  who  were  supplanted  by 
the  Philistines. 

AVOUCH.  (Deut.  xxvi.  17, 
18.)  To  avouch,  in  this  con¬ 
nexion,  imports  a  solemn  and 
deliberate  choice  of  God  as  a 
leader  and  portion,  and  an 
avowed  determination  to  obey 
him  ;  and  on  the  part  of  God 
a  solemn  covenant  to  succour 
and  exalt  the  Israelites  as  his 
people. 

AZARIAH.  (2  Kings  xiv.  21.) 
There  are  at  least  sixteen  per¬ 
sons  of  this  name  mentioned 
in  the  Old  Testament.  The 
most  distinguished  of  them 
was  Azariah,  (called  also  Uz- 
ziah,)  the  son  and  successor 
of  Amaziah,  on  the  throne  of 


AZA 

Judah.  He  was  in  many  re¬ 
spects  an  excellent  king  ;  but 
being  elated  by  his  prosperity, 
he  aspired  to  execute  the  of¬ 
fice  of  a  priest,  and  to  offer 
incense  in  the  temple.  In 
this  he  was  resisted  by  the 
priests,  and  while  enraged  by 
their  interference,  the  leprosy 
broke  out  upon  his  forehead, 
and  remained  upon  him  till 
the  day  of  his  death ;  so  that 


AZO 

he  was  obliged  to  spend  the 
latter  part  of  his  life  in  soli¬ 
tude.  (2  Chron.  xxvi.  2] .) 

AZEKAH.  (Josh.  xv.  35.)  A 
place  in  the  tribe  of  Judah, 
about  twelve  miles  east  of 
Bethlehem,  and  twenty  south 
of  Jerusalem.  The  army  of 
the  Philistines  encamped  near 
this  place  at  the  time  Goliath 
tell  before  David. 

AZOTUS.  (See  Ashdod.) 


BAA 

BAAL,  or  BEL.  (I  Kings 
xviii.  21.  Isa.  xlvi.  I.) 
The  name  by  which  several 
nations  of  the  .east  worship¬ 
ped  the  sun  ;  and  which  was 
also  applied  to  other  objects 
of  idolatrous  worship.  An¬ 
cient  writers  tell  us  that  the 
Phenicians  supposed  the  sun 
to  be  the  only  lord  of  hea¬ 
ven,  styling  him  Beel-Samen, 
which  means  lord  of  heaven. 
As  he  was  worshipped  under 
different  forms  in  different 
places,  he  was  designated  by 
adding  the  place — as  Baal- 
Berith,  Baal-Gad,  Baal-Peor, 
meaning  Baal  of  Berith  or  the 
Shechemites— Baal  of  Gad — 
and  Baal  of  Peor  or  the  Moab¬ 
ites  ;  and  these  diferent  names 
were  all  included  under  the 
general  name  Baalim.  (IKings 
Xviii.  18.) 

Baal,  Bel,  or  Belus  was 
worshipped  by  the  Carthagi¬ 
nians,  Babylonians,  Assyri¬ 
ans,  and  others:  and  some 
have  supposed  he  was  the 
same  with  Moloch,  to  whom 
the  Ammonites  made  their 
cruel  and  bloody  sacrifices. 
Human  victims  were  offered 
t.o  Baal,  as  we  learn  from  Jer. 
xix.  5.  Elevated  places  were 
selected  for  his  worship,  and 
his  priests  and  prophets  were 
very  numerous.  Sometimes 
the  tops  of  the  houses  were 
devoted  to  this  purpose.  (2 


BAA 

Kings  xxiii.  12.  Jer.  xxxii.  29.) 
Baalim  and  Ashtaroth  were 
the  general  names  of  all  the 
gods  and  goddesses  of  Syria, 
Palestine,  and  the  neighbour¬ 
ing  countries.  The  worship 
of  Baal  is  supposed  to  have 
►been  general  throughout  the 
British  islands,  and  to  this 
day  there  are  various  super¬ 
stitious  observances  in  Ire¬ 
land,  Scotland  and  Wales, 
which  very  closely  resemble 
the  ancient  worship  of  Baal. 
A  town  in  Perthshire,  on  the 
borders  of  the  Scotch  high¬ 
lands,  is  called  Tilliebeltane, 
that  is,  the  eminence  or  rising 
ground  of  the  fire  of  Baal. 
An  enclosure  of  eight  upright 
staves  is  made  where  it  is 
supposed  the  fire  was  kindled, 
and  a  well  in  the  vicinity  is 
held  in  great  veneration :  af¬ 
ter  drinking  from  it,  the  peo¬ 
ple  pass  around  the  temple 
nine  times,  in  a  procession. 
In  Ireland,  Beltein  is  one  of 
the  festival  days,  and  the  fires 
are  made  early  on  the  tops  of 
the  hills,  and  all  the  cattle  are 
made  to  pass  through  them. 
This,  it  is  supposed,  secures 
them  from  contagion  and  dis¬ 
ease  for  that  year. 

The  cut  represents  an  an 
cient  figure  of  Baal  and  Mo 
loch,  standing  in  the  portico 
of  a  temple,  in  the  centre  of 
which  is  a  pine  tree.  Both 
82 


BAA 


BAA 


the  ad  idols  were  worshipped 
in  a  variety  of  forms,  accord¬ 
ing  to  the  various  tastes  and 
Buperstitions  of  their  devo¬ 
tees. 

House  of  Baal  (1  Kings 
xvi.  321  is  the  same  with  the 
temple  (or  place  of  worship) 
of  Baal. 

We  have  a  most  interest- 
tag  account  of  the  manner 
in  which  the  worshippers  of 
Baal  were  confounded  and 
punished  by  Elijah  at  mount 
Carmel,  in  1  Kings  xviii.  (See 
also  Life  of  Elijah,  by  the 
A.  S.  Union,  chap,  vii.) 

Baalah.  (See  Kirjath.) 

Baal-gad,  Baal-hermon. 
(Josh.  xi.  17;  xii.  7,  and  Judg. 
iii.  3.)  A  city  in  the  valley  of 
Lebanon,  supposed  to  have 
been  under  mount  Hermon, 
and  most  probably  the  same 
as  Baal-hermon,  (1  Chron.  v. 


23.)  A  comparison  of  the  pas¬ 
sages  in  which  this  place  is 
named,  would  incline  us  to 
the  opinion  that  it  was  situ¬ 
ated  somewhere  in  the  north¬ 
ern  limit  of  Joshua’s  conquest; 
all  the  country  from  it  to  Ha* 
math,  including  Anti-Leba¬ 
non,  remaining  unconquered. 

If  this  opinion  is  correct, 
the  modern  Balbec  cannot  be 
the  ruins  of  Baal-gad,  as  it 
has  been  called,  for  that  is  in 
Cosle-Syria,  north  of  Damas 
cus,  and  much  farther  north 
than  the  Israelites  under  Jo¬ 
shua  pushed  their  victories. 

Baal-meon.  (Num.  xxxii. 
38.  Ezek.  xxv.  !).)  A  city  of 
the  tribe  of  Reuben,  called 
also  Beth-meon,  (Jer.  xlviii. 
23,)  and  Be th-baal-meon.  (Josh, 
xiii.  17.) 

Baal-peor.  (Ps.  cvi.  ‘28.) 
It  is  said  under  the  article 
83 


BAA 

Baal  that  Baal-peor  was  the 
name  of  the  image  of  Baal, 
which  was  worshipped  at 
Peor  ;  but  there  is  some  rea¬ 
son  to  suppose  that  it  was  also 
the  name  of  some  other  idol 
god  ;  and  from  the  connexion 
of  the  passage  in  Psalms  just 
cited,  it  has"been  conjectured 
that  it  might  have  been  the 
same  with  the  heathen  god 
Pluto,  to  whom  sacrifices  were 
offered  to  appease  the  manes 
of  tile  dead. 

Baal-perazim.  (2  Sam.  v. 
20.)  A  place  in  the  valley  of 
Kephaim,  a  few  miles  south¬ 
west  of  Jerusalem,  where  Da¬ 
vid  conquered  the  Philistines. 
The  name  in  the  original  is 
significant  of  this  victory,  and 
hence  the  allusion  in  Isa. 
xxviii.  21. 

Baal-zebub.  (See  Beelze- 
Btffs.) 

Baai.-zephon.  (Ex.  xiv.’2. 
9.  Num.  xxxiii.  7.)  A  Sta¬ 
tion  of  the  Israelites  at  the 
northern  extremity  of  the 
Red  Sea,  'corresponding  to 
Suez,  where  there  was  pro¬ 
bably  a  temple  for  the  wor¬ 
ship  of  Baal.  Bruce  supposes 
it  to  be  the  name  of  a  light¬ 
house  or  signal  station,  at  the 
north  entrance  of  the  bay, 
as  the  Hebrew  word  zep/ion 
means  north. 

BAANAH.  (2  Sam.  iv.  2.) 
One  gf  the  sons  of  Rimmon, 
and  an  officer  in  the  army  of 
Ishbosheth,  Saul’s  son.  In 
company  with  his  brother 
Rechab,  he  entered  the  house 
of  Ishbosheth  at  noonday,  and 
stabbed  him  as  he  was  lying 
upon  the  bed.  Taking  the  head 
of  their  victim  with  them, 
they  fled  to  David,  at  Hebron, 
supposing  that  he  would  re¬ 
ward  them  liberally  for  the 
head  of  such  an  enemy ;  but 
so  far  from  it,  he  was  indig¬ 
nant  at  their  cruel  and  cow¬ 
ardly  conduct,  and  forthwith 
Caused  them  to  be  slain,  their 


BAB 

hands  and  feet  to  be  cut  off, 
and  their  bodies  to  be  publicly 
suspended  over  the  pool  at 
Hebron. 

BAASHA  (1  Kings  xv.  1G) 
was  the  son  of  ATiijah,  and 
commander-in-chief  of  a  por¬ 
tion  of  the  army  of  Israel. 
When  Nadab,  king  of  Israel, 
was  besieging  Gibbethon,  a 
city  of  the  Philistines,  Baasha 
formed  a  conspiracy  against 
him  and  murdered  him,  and 
immediately  usurped  -the 
throne,  which  he  held  for 
twenty-four  years.  To  secure 
himself  against  any  disturb¬ 
ance  from  the  family  of  Jero¬ 
boam,  (the  rightful  heirs  of  the 
throne,)  he  caused  them  all  to 
be  put  to  death.  By  this  duel 
act  he  undesignedly  fulfilled 
the  prophecy  respecting  Jero¬ 
boam’s  posterity.  (1  Kings  xiv. 

Baasha  followed  in  the 
•wicked  ways  of  Jeroboam, 
and  was  visited  with  the  most 
fearful  judgments  of  God. 
The  warning  he  received  of 
the  consequences  of  his  con¬ 
duct  (1  Kings  xvi.  1—5)  did 
not  induce  him  to  forsake 
his  evil  course.  His  reign 
was  filled  with  war  and  trea¬ 
chery,  and  his  family  and  re¬ 
latives  were  cutoff,  according 
to  the  prediction.  (1  Kings  xvn 
9,11.  See  Asa.) 

BABEL,  tower  of,  (Gen. 
xi.  4-9,)  was  built  in  the  plain 
of  Shinar,  by  the  descendants 
of  Noah,  probably  from  three 
hundred  to  five  hundred  years 
after  the  flood,  to  serve  as  a  na¬ 
tional  rallying  point,  and  thus 
to  secure  their  union  and  con¬ 
centrate  their  feelings  and  in¬ 
terests,  and  to  prevent  their 
dispersion.  Their  design  was, 
that  the  whole  world  should 
be  one  vast  kingdom,  and  that 
Babel  should  he  its  capital  or 
chief  city. 

The  height  and  extent  of 
the  edifice,  according  to  the 
original  design,  must  have 
84 


BAB 


been  prodigious.  Chronolo- 
gists  suppose  they  were  em¬ 
ployed  three  years  in  collect¬ 
ing  the  materials,  and  twenty- 
two  years  upon  the  building ; 
and  an  ancient  tradition  tells 
us  that  the  bricks  (or  blocks, 
as  they  may  better  be  called) 
of  which  it  was  constructed, 
Were  twenty  feet  long,  fifteen 
oroad,  and  seven  thick. 

Their  vain  and  presumptu¬ 
ous  design  was  frustrated  by 
the  miraculous  interposition 
of  God,  who  confounded  their 
language,  so  that  it  was  im¬ 
possible  for  them  to  under¬ 
stand  each  other’s  speech. 
This  event  obliged  them  to 
separate  into  distinct  compa¬ 
nies  or  tribes,  and  to  settle 
in  different  districts  of  the 
earth. 

The  sacred  history  informs 
us  that  in  the  construction 
of  the  tower  they  used  slime 
for  mortar.  The  word  slime 
is  supposed  to  denote  a  kind 
of  bituminous  mortar,  (in  dis- 
8 


tinction  from  clay  mortar,) 
which  was  capable  of  resist¬ 
ing  the’  effect  of  moisture. 
This  material  still  abounds 
on  the  river  Euphrates,  as  we 
are  informed  by  modern  tra¬ 
vellers. 

In  the  supposed  ruins  of 
Babylon  are  found  bitumen, 
mortar,  and  clay.  The  sun- 
dried  brick  were  larger  than 
the  kiln-burnt,  and  resembled 
a  thick,  clumsy  clod  of  earth, 
with  chopped  straw  scattered 
through  to  bind  it. 

Much  doubt  prevails  as  to 
the  precise  location  of  this 
tower.  Capt.  Mignan  visited 
a  mound  on  the  eastern  bank 
of  the  river  Euphrates,  about 
four  miles  and  a  half  from 
modern  Hilleh,  in  the  pasha- 
lik  of  Bagdad,  32°  25'  N.  lat. 
44°  E.  long,  from  Greenwich. 
It  is  called  by  the  natives  El 
Muiellibah,  “  the  overturn¬ 
ed.”  He  describes  the  ruin  as 
of  a  vast  oblong  shape,  com¬ 
posed  of  hard  cement,  and  of 


BAB 

kiln-burnt  and  sun-dried  brick 
or  tile,  which  measured  thir¬ 
teen  inches  square  by  three 
inches  thick.  Bitumen,  vitri¬ 
fied  and  petrified  brick,  shells, 
and  glass,  were  strewed 
around.  Capt.  M.  thinks  that 
this  must  be  the  ruin  of  the 
ancient  tower,  and  Major  Ren- 
nel,  the  distinguished  geogra¬ 
pher,  is  of  the  same  opinion. 

Another  traveller  who  visit¬ 
ed  the  ruins  in  1779  says— 

“  It  appears  almost  like  a 
mass  of  earth,  being  erected 
of  bricks  dried  by  "the  sun, 
amazingly  thick,  and  betwixt 
every  three  or  four  feet  there 
is  a  layer  of  reeds.  Its  height  is 
at  least  one*  hundred  and  sixty 
feet ;  but  we  found  no  remains 
either  of  a  door  or  stairs.” 

It  has  been  thought  by  very 
learned  men  that  the  tower  in 
the  temple  of  Belus,  in  Baby¬ 
lon,  is  the  same  with  the  tower 
of  Babel.  If  this  opinion  is 
correct,  we  have  the  testimo-' 
ny  of  Herodotus  as  to  its  di¬ 
mensions.  He  tells  us  that 
k  was  a  square  tower,,  built 
in  the  form  of  a  pyramid, 
each  side  of  which  measured 
at  its  base  a  furlong,  making 
the  whole  structure  half  a 
mile  in  circumference;  and 
its  height,  according  to  an¬ 
other  historian,  was  six  hun¬ 
dred  and  sixty  feet;  exceed¬ 
ing  by  sixty  feet  the  highest 
of  the  Egyptian  pyramids. 
Around  the  outside  of  the 
building  there  was  a  winding 
passage  from  the  bottom  to  the 
top,  and  so  broad  as  to  permit 
carriages  to  pass  each  other. 
It  contained  many  spacious 
apartments,  which  became 
part  of  the  temple  of  Belus, 
after  it  was  converted  to  pur¬ 
poses  of  idolatry.  The  tem¬ 
ple  of  Belus  was  greatly  en¬ 
larged  by  Nebuchadnezzar, 
and  its  ruins  are  now  called 
Birs  Nimrood. 

This  is  the  most  stu¬ 
pendous  and  surprising  mass 


BAB 

of  all  the  remains 'of  Baby¬ 
lon.  It  is  found  in  a  desert 
about  six  miles  south-west  of 
Hilleh,  nnd  is  called  by  the 
Jews,  Nebuchadnezzar’s  pri¬ 
son.  The  evidence  that  there 
once  existed  on  this  spot  a 
magnificent  pile  of  buildings, 
of  the  richest,  most  expen¬ 
sive  and  durable  materials ; 
and  that  it  was  destroyed  long 
since  by  violence,  is  Perfectly 
conclusive.  (See  Babylon. 
See  also  Evening  Recrea¬ 
tions,  by  A.  S.  Union,  vol.  ii. 
pp.  50-62.) 

Babel  is  one  of  the  cities 
mentioned  in  Gen.  x.  10,  as 
the  beginning  of  the  kingdom 
of  Nimrod  ;  probably  mean¬ 
ing  one  of  the  cities  founded 
by  him,  or  one  of  the  chiel 
cities  of  bis  kingdom. 

BABYLON.  (Ps.  cxxxvii.  1.) 
The  chief  city  or  .mother  of 
Chaldea.  (Jer.  1.  12.)  It  is  alse 
called  Sheshach.  (Jer.  li.  41.) 
It  was  one  of  the  earliest  and 
most  celebrated  cities  of  anti¬ 
quity,  and  in  the  reign  of  Ne¬ 
buchadnezzar  acquired  such 
strength  and  glory  as  to  be¬ 
come  the  seat  of  universal 
empire  and  the  wonder  of  lha 
world.  (See  Chaldea.) 

The  city  stood  on  .the  river 
Euphrates,  by  which  it  was 
divided  into  two  parts,  eastern 
and  western;  and  these  were 
connected  by  a  bridge  of  won¬ 
derful  construction.  The  wall 
was  at  least  forty-five  miles  in 
circumference ;  and  would  of 
course  include  eight  cities  as 
large  as  London  and  its  ap¬ 
pendages.  It  was  laid  out  in 
six  hundred  and  twenty-five 
squares,  formed  by  the  inter¬ 
section  of  twenty-five  streets 
at  right  angles.  The  walls, 
which  were  of  brick,  were  at 
least  seventy-five  feet  high 
and  thirty-two  broad.  A  trench 
surrounded  the  city,  the  sides 
of  which  were  lyied  with 
brick  and  water-proof  cement. 
1  The  towers,  palaces,  and 


BAB 

Hanging  gardens  with  which  it^ 
was  adorned  and  magnified, 
and  the  pride  and  luxury  of  its 
inhabitants,  are  described  in 
the  Life  of  Daniel,  by  theAm. 
S.  S.  Union,  chap.  vii.  and  ix. 

As  the  river  was  liable  every 
year  to  overflow  its  banks, 
canals  were  made  to  carry  off 
the  water  ;  and  along  the  sides 
of  the  main  channel  immense 
banks  were  constructed  as  a 
still  farther  protection.  To 
facilitate  the  construction  of 
these  works,  the  waters  of  the 
Euphrates  were  turned  tem¬ 
porarily  into  a  basin  about 
forty  miles  square  and  thirty- 
five  feet  deep,  which  was  dug 
for  the  purpose. 

This  magnificent  city  was 
the  subject  of  some  of  the 
most  remarkable  prophecies. 
Among  them  are  Isa.  xiii.  1 — 
22 ;  xiv.  22-24;  xxi.  9;  xlvii.  1— 
7.  Jer.  xxv.  11, 12 ;  1. 24. 46;  li. 

1 1.  36.  39.  57.  The  fulfilment 
of  these  prophecies  has  been  in 
many  points  literal.  The  city 
was  invested  by  the  victorious 
armies  of  Cyrus,  b.  c.  540,  and 
after  a  blockade  of  two  years 
was  at  last  carried  by  strata¬ 
gem.  On  the  night  of  a  vreat 
festival,  the  waters  of  the 
ri  ver  were  turned  off,  and  the 
channel  through  the  city  be¬ 
came  a  highway  for  the  enemy . 
By  this  channel  the  army  of 
Cyrus  passed  in,  under  the 
walls,  at  midnight ;  and  their 
approach  was  not  suspected 
untilthedifferent  detachments 
met  at  the  palace  gate ;  and 
all  who  were  not  slain  sub¬ 
mitted  to  the  conqueror.  (See 
Belshazzar.) 

This  was  the  end  of  the 
glory  of  Babylon.  From  that 
time  its  grandeur  decayed. 
About  twenty  years  after  the 
victory  of  Cyrus,  the  city  at¬ 
tempted  to  throw  off  the  yoke, 
but  it  was  again  entirely  sub¬ 
dued.  Forty  years  afterwards 
Xerxes  plundered  the  city  of 
much  of  its  remaining  wealth, 


BAC 

and  laid  the  temple  of  Belus 
in  ruins.  Then  it  suffered  a 
steady  decline  until  about  the 
end  of  the  fourth  century.  We 
are  credibly  informed  that  its 
walls  were  used  by  the  Per¬ 
sian  princes  as  an  enclosure 
for  wild  beasts,  preserved  for 
tho  chase.  And  now,  so  utterly 
is  the  city  destroyed,  that  the 
precise  spot  on  which  it  stood 
is  a  matter  of  conjecture. 
(See  Elisama,  ch.  ii.  v.  vi. 
Life  of  Daniel,  ch.  xiii.  xiv. 
Evening  Recreations,  vol. 
ii.  pp.  63—74,  all  published  by 
the  Am.  S.  S.  Union. 

Babylon  the  Great.  (Rev. 
xvii*  5.)  As  Babylon  of  old 
was  the  chief  of  all  idolatrous 
cities,  she  is  taken  as  a  fit 
emblem  of  the  enormous  guilt 
and  extensive  influence  of 
idolatrous  and  papal  Rome, 
each  in  its  turn  being  the  mo¬ 
ther  of  harlots  and  of  the  abo¬ 
minations  of  the  earth ;  the 
former  corruptingthe  heathen 
world  with  her  fornications, 
and  the  latter  the  Christian. 

It  should  be  observed  that 
the  term  Babylon  is  used  to 
denote,  (1.)  Only  the  city.  (Isa. 
xiii.  19;  xxi. 9;  xlviii.20.)  (2.) 
The  inhabitants  of  the  city 
in  distinction  from  the  Chal¬ 
deans  or  inhabitants  of  the 
province.  (Ezek.  xxiii.  15. 17.) 
(3.)  The  province  of  Babylon 
and  the  Babylonian  empire. 
(2Kings  xxiv.  1 ;  xxv.  27.  Ps. 
cxxxvii.  1.  (4.)  After  the  em¬ 
pire  came  under  the  dominion 
of  Persia,  the  Persian  kings 
are  called  kings  of  Babylon. 
(Ezra  v.  13.  Neh.  xiii.  6.) 

BABYLONIANS.  (See  As¬ 
syria.) 

BACA.  (Ps.  lxxxiv.  6.)  This 
is  probably  the  general  name 
of  any  dreary  or  desolate  way ; 
and  of  course  the  allusion  ip 
the  cited  passage  is  to  Ihe  joy 
of  the  worshippers  on  their 
way  up  to  Jerusalem,  which 
shall  make  the  wilderness  ap- 


BAK 

pear  to  rejoice  and  'blossom, 
and  fill  a  thirsty  land  with 
springs  of  water. 

BADGERS’  SKINS.  (Ex. 
xxv.  5.)  The  animal  which 
we  know  as  the  badger  was 
unknown  in  Arabia,  nor  would 
its  skin  be  suitable  for  the 
purposes  mentioned  iD  the  sa¬ 
cred  writings.  The  prevailing 
opinion  is,  that  skins  of  a  deep 
blue  colour  are  meant,  without 
designating  the  animal  from 
which  they  were  taken. 

BAHURIM.  (2  Sam.  iii.  16; 
xvi.5;  xvii.  18.)  A  place  in 
the  tribe  of  Benjamin,  east  of 
Jerusalem,  which  has  many 
interesting  connexions  with 
the  life  of  David,  to  which  the 
passages  cited  refer.  (See 
Ahimaaz.) 

BAGS.  (2Kingsxii.  10.  Luke 
xii.  33.)  These  were  made  of 
various  sizes,  each  to  contain 
a  precise  amount  of  money. 
We  read  that  the  workmen 
on  the  temple  were  paid  in 
bags,  which  were  probably  de¬ 
livered  to  them  sealed.  At 
this  day  in  eastern  nations 
money  passes  in  bags  from 
hand  to  ha'nd  under  the  seal 
of  a  banker  or  other  public 
officer,  and  without  counting, 
as  it  is  paid  by  one  to  another. 
If  the  seal  is  genuine  and  un¬ 
broken,  the  exact  value  of 
each  bag  is  known  at  sight. 

BAK1?.  (Gen.  xix.  3.)  The 
business  of  baking  in  early 
times  was  principally,  if  not 
exclusively,  the  work  of  wo¬ 
men.  (Lev.  xxvi.  2G.  1  Sam. 
viii.  13.  2 Sam.  xiii.  8.  Jer.vii. 
18.)  In  Rome,  as  Pliny  tells 
us,  there  was  no  such  thing  as 
a  public  baker  for  five  hun¬ 
dred  and  eighty  years.  It 
Seems  probable  from  Jer. 
xxxvii.  21,  and  Hosea  vii.  4— 
7,  that  I'Ublic  takers  were 
known  in  those  days,  and  in¬ 
habited  a  particular  section  of 
the  city  of  Jerusalem. 

Cakes  were  thin  bread,  not 
unlike  modern  sea-biscuit, 


BAL 

baked  upon  the  hearth,  and 
sometimes  covered  with  hot 
embers  or  ashes.  Other  me¬ 
thods  were  employed.  (Lev. 
ii.  4, 5.  7.)  Parched  corn  is 
familiar  to  most  children  in 
America,  and  this  simplest 
way  of  preparing  grain  for 
food  is  common  in  the  rudest 
state  of  society.  Perhaps, 
however,  the  parching  was 
only  preparatory  to  bruising 
or  grinding.  Ancient  histori¬ 
ans  say  that  the  people  of  for¬ 
mer  days,  being  without  mills, 
parched  their  grain.  This  is 
the  parched  corn  mentioned 
aspart  of  the  present  to  David, 
(2  Sam.  xvii.  28,)  and  was  also 
the  food  which  Boaz  gave  to 
Ruth.  (Ruth  ii.  14.  See  Bread 
Oven.) 

BALAAM  (Num.  xxii.  5) 
was  the  son  of  Beor  or  Bosor, 
and  a  native  pf  Pethor,  a  vil¬ 
lage  of  Mesopotamia.  Whe 
ther  he  was  a  prophet  di 
vinely  inspired,  or  only  a 
pretender,  does  not  appear; 
that  he  was  an  unrighteous 
man  is  not  conclusive  evi¬ 
dence  that  he  was  not  a  pro¬ 
phet  of  God  employed  for  a 
particular  purpose.  (1  Sam.  x. 
10.  1  Kings  xiii.  18—20'  Matt, 
vii.  22.  John  xi.  51.)  • 

The  history  of  Balaam  is 
given  us  in  Num.  xxii.  xxiii. 
xxiv.  and  xxxi.  He  lived  when 
the  children  of  Israel  were 
journeying  from  Egypt  to  the 
romised  land.  Their  num- 
era  were  very  large,  and  the 
kings  of  the  country  through 
which  they  passed,  and  wn# 
did  not  know  of  their  miracu¬ 
lous  supply  of  food,  were  fear¬ 
ful  that  a  famine  would  be 
occasioned  by  their  depreda¬ 
tions,  or  that  they  would  at¬ 
tempt  to  conquer  all  before 
them.  Among  these  was  Ba 
iak,  king  of  Moab. 

He  knew  that  he  could  not 
contend  with  such  a  formida¬ 
ble  host,  and  supposing  that 
the  God  of  the  Israelites  was 
S3 


BAL 

tike  the  gods  of  the  heathen, 
ready  to  bless  and  to  curse 
according  to  the  caprice  or 
interest  of  their  votaries,  he 
sent  for  Balaam,  who  had  the 
reputation  of  a  famous  diviner 
or  idol  priest,  to  come  and 
curse  the  armies  of  Israel. 

God  signified  to  Balaam  that 
the  Israelites  were  blessed, 
and  should  not  be  cursed. 
This  was  done  in  such  a  way 
as  to  deter  Balaam  from  going. 
Balak  sent  again  and  offered 
a  large  reward,  and  because 
Balaam  was  not  again  posi¬ 
tively  forbidden  by  God  to  go, 
he  accepted  the  tempting  offer, 
and  returned  with  the  messen¬ 
gers  to  Moab.  (2  Pet.  ii.  15.) 

On  his  way, however,  he  was 
informed,  by  a  most  extraordi¬ 
nary  and  significant  miracle, 
that  his  course  was  wicked 
and  perverse,  and  he  was  ef- 
fectuallyrestrainedfrom  doing 
what  Balak  had  sent  for  him 
to  do.  So  far  from  it,  he  was 
led  to  pronounce  a  prophetic 
blessing  on  the  Israelites,  in 
language  which  for  eloquence 
and  force  is  not  surpassed  in 
the  whole  scope  of  Hebrew 
poetry. 

Balaam,  finding  himself  thus 
restrained  from  cursing  Isra¬ 
el,  suggested  to  Balak  a  much 
more"  certain  method  of  de¬ 
stroying  them.  This  was  by 
tempting  them  to  mingle  in 
the  sinful  pursuits  and  indul¬ 
gences  of  the  Moabites.  (Rev. 
li.  14.)  This  stratagem  was 
successful.  The  Israelites 
were  so  far  ensnared  as  to 
cause  the  destruction  of  twen¬ 
ty-four  thousand  of  their  men. 
(Num.  xxv.  1 — 9  ) 

Balaam  himself  fell  shortly 
after  in  an  engagement  which 
took  place  between  the  Israel¬ 
ites  and  the  Midianites. 

The  miracle  by  which  the 
dumb  ass  was  enabled  to  speak 
with  a  man’s  voice  has  been 
the  frequent  subject  of  cavil 
and  ridicule  with  unthinking 
8* 


BAL 

men ;  but  when  we  consider 
that  the  power  of  God  alone 
gave  to  anyofhis  creatures  the 
faculty  of  speech,  and  might 
as  easily  have  given  it  to  the 
brute  as  to  the  human  race, 
we  need  not  wonder  that  he 
Should  in  a  single  case,  and  for 
a  specific  purpose,  confer  that 

Bower  on  a  dumb  animal. 

ertainly  we  must  admit  that 
the  miracle  was  most  signifi¬ 
cant  and  appropriate  to  tile 
occasion,  for  as  God  was  about 
to  restrain  the  tongue  of  Ba¬ 
laam,  and  make  him  say  what 
it  was  not  in  his  heart  to 
say  of  Israel,  it  was  well  to 
show  him  how  entirely  the 
power  of  thought  and  speech 
was  within  divine  control. 
And  indeed,  as  Bishop  Newton 
has  well  observed,  the  ass 
being  merely  passive,  the 
restraint  of  Balaam’s  tongue 
was  a  greater  miracle  than 
the  freedom  of  the  tongue  of 
the  ass.  (See  Ass.) 

B ALAI) AN.  (See  Hezeki- 
ah.) 

BALAK  (Num.  xxii.  2)  was 
a  king  of  the  Moabites.  The 
chief  incidents  of  his  history, 
so  far  as  we  have  them,  are 
found  under  the  article  Ba¬ 
laam.  > 

BALANCES.  (Lev.  xix.  36.) 
In  the  early  periods  of  the 
world,  gold  and  silver  were 
paid  by  weight ;  so  that  per¬ 
sons  employed  in  traffic  of 


BAL 

any  kind,  carried  with  them 
a  pair  of  scales  or  balances, 
and  different  weights,  (gene¬ 
rally  stones  of  different  sizes,) 
in  a  pouch  or  bag.  Fraudu¬ 
lent  men  would  carry  two 
sorts  of  weights,  the  lighter  to 
sell  with  and  the  other  to  buy 
with.  This  explains  the  allu¬ 
sion,  Mic.  vi.  11.  The  fore¬ 
going  cut  of  a  balance  is  copied 
from  one  of  the  most  ancient 
of  Egyptian  monuments,  ami 
is  probably  the  same  with 
those  used  by  the  Israelites. 

BALDNESS,  (Isa.  iii.  24,) 
when  voluntary,  was  a  token 
of  mourning  and  great  dis¬ 
tress.  (Ezek.  vii.  18.)  A  chief 
reason  why  involuntary  bald¬ 
ness  was  regarded  as  disgrace¬ 
ful,  was,  that  it  gave  occasion 
to  the  suspicion  of  leprosy,  a 
disease  which  usually  destroy¬ 
ed  the  hair.  Hence  baldness 
is  declared  by  the  law  not  to 
be  conclusive  evidence  of  un¬ 
cleanness.  (Lev.  xiii.  40.)  And 
hence  too  the  expression  used 
towards  Elisha  by  some  child¬ 
ren  in  Bethel,  “  Go  up,  thou 
bald-head,”  indicated  great 
contempt  for  him  as  a  prophet 
of  the  Lord,  and  was  signally 
punished.  (2  Kings  il.  23.) 

BALM.  (Gen.  xxxvii.  25.)  A 
resinous  substance  obtained 
from  the  balsam  tree.  It  is  a 
native  of  Abyssinia,  but  flou¬ 
rishes  upon  or  near  the  moun¬ 
tains  of  Gilead,  and  is  hence 
called  the  balm  of  Gilead. 

It  was  once  an  important 
article  of  merchandise  among 
the  eastern  nations,  (Ezek. 
xxvii.  17,)  and  was  celebrated 
for  its  healing  properties.  No¬ 
thing  can  exceed  the  elo¬ 
quence  and  tenderness  of  the 
language  employed  by  the  pro¬ 
phet  Jeremiah  to  express  his 
grief  and  disappointment  that 
the  chosen  people  of  God  {the 
daughter  of  Zion)  should  re¬ 
main  spiritually  wounded  and 
diseased,  when  there  was  a 
healing  balm  of  unfailing  vir- 


BAN 

tue,  and  a  •  hysician  of  divina 
skill  to  administer  it;  and 
both  within  their  reach.  (Jer. 
viii.  22;  xlvi.  11,  and  li.  8.) 

BAMAH.  (Ezek.  xx.  29.) 
The  general  name  of  any  high 
place. 

BANT).  (Acts  xxi.  31.)  A 
band  of  Roman  soldiers  con¬ 
sisted  of  the  tenth  part  of  a 
legion ;  of  course,  it  varied 
according  to  the  size  of  the 
legion,  from  four  hundred  to 
seven  hundred  soldiers.  The 
word  is  often  used  figuratively 
by  the  sacred  writers  ;  as  in 
Hos.  xi.  4,  where  it  denotes 
persuasive  arguments  or  in¬ 
fluences;  and  in  Ps.  lxxiii.  4 
where  it  signifies  apprehen 
sion  and  terror  at  the  pros 
peel  of  death. 

BANNERS,  (Isa.  xiii  2,)  oi 
STANDARD,  (Ka.  xlix.  22,)  oi 
ENSIGN,  (Isa.  v.  26,)  are  pro¬ 
bably  used  indiscriminately 
by  the  sacred  writers.  A  stand¬ 
ard  pertained  to  each  of  the  four 
grand  divisions  of  the  army 
of  Israel,  (Num.  i.  52,)  distin¬ 
guished  from  each  other  by 
colours,  and  perhaps  by  some 
embroidered  figure.  Another 
standard  for  subdivisions  was 
probably  nothing  more  than  a 
common  spear  richly  burnish¬ 
ed  or  ornamented.  TheEgyp- 
tian  princes  used  a  standard 
like  this,  surmounted  with  a 
ball  of  gold.  There  was  an¬ 
other  standard  in  use  among 
the  Jews,  which  is  called  a 
bearon.  (Isa.  xxx.  17  )  It  was 
stationary;  erected  on  lofty 
mountains,  and  used  as  a  ral- 
lyingtoken.  (Comp.  Isa.  xviii. 
3 ;  lxii.  10—12.  Jer.  iv.  5, 6. 21 ; 
vi.  1.  17;  li.  12.  27. 

It  was  customary  to  give  a 
defeated  party  a  banner,  as  a 
token  of  protection ;  and  it 
was  regarded  as  the  surest 
pledge  of  fidelity.  (Ps.  xx.  5; 
lx.  4.  Sol.  Song  ii.  4.)  Some 
writers  have  supposed  that  lbs 
ancient  Jewish  ensign  was  a 


BAP, 

long  pole,  on  the  top  of  which 
was  a  grate  not  unlike  a  chaf¬ 
ing  dish,  made  of  iron  bars 
and  supplied  with  fire,  the 
Size,  height,  and  shape  of 
which  denoted  the  party  or 
company  to  whom  it  belonged. 
This  seems  rather  to  describe 
the  night-torches  of  Eastern 
encampments.  The  shape. 
&c.  of  the  Koman  standards 
are  seen  under  the  article 
Abominable. 

God’s  lifting  or  setting  up  a 
banner  is  a  most  expressive 
figure,  and  imports  his  pecu¬ 
liar  presence,  protection,  and 
aid  in  leading  and  directing 
his  people  in  the  execution  oT 
his  righteous  will,  and  giving 
them  comfort  and  peace  in  his 
service.  (Sol.  Song  ii.  4.) 

BANQUET.  (See  Feast.) 

BAPTISM.  (Matt.iii.  7.)  An 
ordinance  or  religious  rite, 
which  was  in  use  before  our 
Saviour’s  ministry  commenc¬ 
ed,  (see  John’s  Baptism  ;)  but 
which  he  recognised  and  made 
obligatory  upon  his  disciples 
as  a  Christian  ordinance.  In 
the  due  administration  of  this 
rite,  the  washing  of  water  be¬ 
comes  the  sign  or  emblem  of 
inward  purification  from  sin 
and  uncleanness,  while  the 
subject  of  the  rite  is  intro¬ 
duced  Into  a  peculiar  relation 
to  Christ  and  his  church. 

Baptized  for  the  dead. 
(1  Cor.  xv.  29.)  Various  inter¬ 
pretations  have  been  put  upon 
this  phrase.  The  most  simple 
and  natural  explanation  is 
perhaps  the  most  likely  to  be 
correct.  We  shall  therefore  in¬ 
terpret  this  by  other  passages 
of  similar  import.  Paul,  who 
wrote  this  epistle,  speaks,  in 
his  letter  to  the  Romans,  of 
some  who  are  buried  with 
Christ  in  baptism  unto  death  ; 
wherein  also  they  are  risen 
with  him  unto  newness  of  life. 
(Rom.  vi.  4.)  And  again  in  his 
letter  to  the  Colossians  he 
speaks  of  those  who  were  bu- 


BAP 

ried  with  Christ  in  baptism, 
and  were  risen  with  him 
through  the  faith  of  the  ope¬ 
ration  of  God,  who  hath  raised 
him  from  the  dead.  (Col.  ii. 
12.)  From  these  expressions 
we  may  infer  that  the  apostle 
regarded  baptism  as  the  sym¬ 
bol  of  a  present  resurrection 
from  the  death  of  trespasses 
and  sins,  to  a  life  of  holiness  ; 
and  also  as  a  symbol  of  a  par¬ 
ticipation  in  the  future  and 
final  resurrection.  But,  if 
there  is  no  such  thing  as  a 
resurrection  from  the  dead, 
then  the  ordinance,  in  this 
view,  is  vain  and  useless. 
The  substance  of  the  argu¬ 
ment  is,  that  if  the  dead  rise 
not,  the  ordinance  of  baptism 
could  have  no  authority ,  be¬ 
cause  Christ,  in  whose  name  it 
was  administered,  could  not 
have  risen,  and  it  could  be  of 
no  use,  because  upon  the  sup¬ 
position  that  the  (lead  rise  not, 
those  to  whom  it  was  adminis¬ 
tered  would  never  live  beyond 
the  present  life.  This  inter 
pretation  is  confirmed  by  an 
examination  of  verses  30  and 
32  of  the  context. 

Baptize  with  fire.  (Matt, 
iii.  11.)  This  expression  has 
been  thought  to  denote  the  mi¬ 
raculous  effusion  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  of  which  we  have  an 
account  in  Acts  ii.  3,  4.  On 
that  occasion  the  descent  of 
the  Holy  Ghost  was  not  only 
attended  with  miraculous 
ifts,  but  with  the  visible  em- 
lem  of  fire;  thus  literally 
fulfilling  the  prophecy  of  John 
above  cited.  Others  think 
that  an  allusion  was  intend¬ 
ed,  on  the  one  hand,  to  the 
various  divine  internal  opera¬ 
tions  and  influences  which 
should  attend  the  dispensation 
of  the  gospel  by  Jesus  Christ ; 
and  on  the  other,  to  the  fiery 
visitations  which  should  come 
upon  those  who  embraced  the 
gospel  and  upon  those  whe 
rejected  it;  upon  the  former 


BAR 

for  their  purification,  and  up¬ 
on  the  latter  for  their  destruc¬ 
tion. 

BARABBAS.  (Matt,  xxvii. 
16.)  A  noted  criminal  at  Je¬ 
rusalem,  who  was  in  confine¬ 
ment  for  sedition  and  murder 
when  Christ  was  condemned. 
It  was  the  custom  of  the  Ro¬ 
mans  to  release  some  one  pri¬ 
soner  at  the  time  of  the  Jewish 
passover.  The  Jews  were 
permitted  to  name  any  one 
whose  release  they  might  par¬ 
ticularly  desire.  The  policy  of 
this  provision  was  obviously 
to  conciliate  the  favour  of  the 
Jews  towards  the  Roman  go¬ 
vernment. 

Pilate  seems  to  have  been 
anxious  to  avail  himself  of 
the  Roman  custom  for  the  de¬ 
liverance  of  Christ,  but  the 
Jews  chose  rather  to  show 
favour  to  a  robber  and  a  mur¬ 
derer,  and  to  put  their  long 
promised  Messiah  to  a  violent 
and  ignominious  death. 

The  custom  is  said  to  have 
prevailed  among  the  Vene¬ 
tians  as  lately  as  .the  close 
of  the  eighteenth  century,  to 
release  a  prisoner  at  the  an¬ 
nual  commemoration  of  our 
Saviour’s  resurrection. 

BARACHIAS.  (Matt,  xxiii. 
35.)  There  is  some  uncertain¬ 
ty  as  to  the  individual  to  whom 
reference  is  made  in  this 
verse.  It  might  have  been 
the  Zecharias  of  whose  death 
we  have  an  account  in  2 
Citron,  xxiv.  20, 21 ;  for  though 
he  is  there  called  the  son 
of  Jehoiada,  it  was  common 
among  the  Jews  for  the. same 
individual  to  have  two  names. 
It  is  probable,  however,  that 
the  prophet  Zechariah,  who  is 
expressly  called  the  son  of 
Barachiah,  (Zech.  i.  1,)  was 
assassinated,  and  that  the  fact 
was  known  by  tradition.  The 
Jews  evidently  understood  the 
allusion,  or  they  would  have 
denied  the  charge. 


BAR 

BARAK  (Judg.  iv.  6)  was  the 
son  of  Abinoam,  and  was  dis¬ 
tinguished  for  his  share  in  the 
conquest  of  Sisera  and  the  de¬ 
liverance  of  Israel  from  long 
and  severe  oppression.  A 
history  of  the  transaction,  and 
a  copy  of  their  sublime  tri¬ 
umphal  song,  are  given  in 
Judg.  iv.  and  v.  (See  Debo¬ 
rah.) 

BARBARIAN.  (1  Cor.  xiv. 
II.)  This  term  is  used  to  de¬ 
note  a  stranger  or  foreigner, 
who  does  not  speak  the  lan¬ 
guage  of  the  country  in  which 
he  sojourns ;  of  course  in  its 
scriptural  use  it  does  not  im¬ 
port  any  rudeness,  or  savage¬ 
ness  of  nature  or  manners. 
(Acts  xxviii.  2.  4,  and  Rom.  i. 
14.) 

BARJESUS  (Acts  xm.  6) 
was  a  sorcerer  who  resided 
with  Sergius  Paulus,  at  Pa¬ 
phos,  on  the  isle  of  Cyprus, 
when  Paul  and  Barnabas  were 
there.  Sefgius  Paulus  was  an 
officer  of  high  rank  under  the 
Roman  government,  and  was 
anxious  to  receive  religious 
instruction  from  the  two  mis¬ 
sionaries.  But  Barjesus,  see¬ 
ing  that  his  occupation  and 
influence  would  cease  wher¬ 
ever  the  light  of  the  gospel 
should  come,  opposed  himself 
to  Paul  and  Barnabas,  and 
tried  to  dissuade  Paulus  from 
giving  heed  to  their  preach¬ 
ing.  Paul  gave  him  a  most  se¬ 
vere  reproof,  immediately  af¬ 
ter  which  the  wicked  man  was 
struck  with  blin.dness,  as  a 
rebuke  from  God.  (See  Seb^ 
gius  Paulus.) 

BAR-JONA.  (See Petek.) 

BARLEY.  (Ex.  ix.  31.)  A 
well  known  species  of  grain 
used  for  bread,  (Judg.  vii.  13. 
John  vi.  9.  13,)  and  also  as 
food  for  horses  and  dromeda- 
ries.  (1  Kings  iv.  28.) 

BARNABAS.  (Acts  iv.  36.) 
A  Levite  of  the  island  of  Cy¬ 
prus,  and  an  early  convert  to 
92 


0 

BAR 

the  Christian  faith.  His  ori- 
inal  name  was  Joses,  but  as 
e  had  remarkable  powers 
of  speaking  or  exhorting  the 
people,  and  of  administering 
consolation  to  the  afflicted,  he 
was  surnamed  Barnabas,  a 
Syriac  term,  signifying  the 
son  of  consolation  ana  ex¬ 
hortation. 

Barnabas  was  one  of  those 
who  gave  up  all  his  worldly 
substance,  and  all  his  strength 
and  influence  to  the  support 
and  spread  of  the  gospel.  He 
was  a  faithful  and  devoted 
missionary,  a  distinguished 
preacher,  the  frequent  com¬ 
panion  of  Paul',  (Acts  ix.  xiii. 

xiv.  xv.)  and  a  large  sharer 
in  the  labours  and  sufferings 
which  attended  the  early  pro¬ 
pagation  of  Christianity. 

BARSABAS.  (Acts  i.  23,  and 

xv.  22.)  He  was  one  of  the 
candidates  for  the  vacancy  in 
the  apostleship,  occasioned 
by  the  apostasy  of  Judas  ;  and 
was  also  appointed  to  accom¬ 
pany  Paul  and  Barnabas  from 
Jerusalem  to  Antioch,  on  an 
important  embassy.  He  is 
called  one  of  “  thechief  among 
the  brethren.” 

BARTHOLOMEW  (Matt, 
x.  3)  is  supposed  to  be  the 
same  person  who  is  elsewhere 
called  Nathanael.  This  opi¬ 
nion  is  formed  in  part  upon 
the  fact  that  Bartholomew  is 
not  mentioned  in  John’s  list 
of  the  names  of  the  disciples; 
nor  is  Nathanael  mentioned 
by  the  other  evangelists.  Be¬ 
sides  this,  Philip  and  Natha¬ 
nael  are  associated  together 
by  John,  and  in  the  parallel 

fiassages  of  the  other  evange- 
ists  Philip  and  Bartholomew 
are  associated.  These  circum¬ 
stances,  though  not  conclu¬ 
sive  evidence,  make  it  proba¬ 
ble  that  they  were  one  and  the 
same  person. 

B  ARTIMEUS.  (Mark  x.  46.) 

A  son  of  Timeus,  who  was 
instantly  cured  of  blindness 


BAR 

by  our  Saviour  in  the  vicinity 
of  Jericho. 

BARUCH,  (Jer.  xxxvi.  4,) 
the  secretary  of  the  prophet 
Jeremiah,  was  of  a  distinguish¬ 
ed  Jewish  family.  (CominNeh. 
xi.  5,  and  Jer.  xxxvi.  4.)  His 
personal  friendship  for  Jere¬ 
miah  was  strong  and  constant. 
When  God  commanded  the 
prophet  to  commit  to  writing 
the  prophecies  that  he  had 
uttered,  he  employed  Baruch 
in  this  service, .wno  wrote  the 
words  as  Jeremiah  dictated 
them.  Baruch  was  afterwards 
required  to  read  these  prophe¬ 
cies  to  the  Jewish  princes  or 
chiefs,  who  were  assembled 
in  the  temple. 

The  princes  were  surprised 
and  offended,  and  forthwith 
communicated  to  the  king  the 
substance  of  what  Baruch  had 
read,  having  before  taken  the 
writing  from  Baruch  and  de¬ 
posited  it  in  one  of  the  offices 
of  the  temple. 

Jehoiakim,  the  king,  order¬ 
ed  the  offensive  writing  to  be 
read  in  his  presence,  and  he 
became  so  much  exasperated, 
that  before  the  reading  of  it 
was  half  finished,  lie  seized  the 
paper  and  cut  it  in  pieces  and 
threw  it  into  the  fire ;  at  the 
same  time  orders  were  given 
to  arrest  both  the  prophet  and 
his  secretary,  but  they  had 
concealed  themselves. 

The  prophecies  were  again 
dictated  by  Jeremiah  and 
written  out  by  Baruch,  and 
afterwards  Baruch  was  em¬ 
ployed  to  carry  to  Babylon  a 
long  letter  from  Jeremiah,  pre¬ 
dicting  the  judgments  which 
should  come  upon  that  mighty 
city. 

After  he  returned  from  that 
mission  Jerusalem  was  be¬ 
sieged,  and  Jeremiah  and  Ba¬ 
ruch  both  thrown  into  prison 
After  the  city  surrendered 
they  were  released,  and  per¬ 
mitted  to  accompany  each 
other  wherever  they  chose  to 


BAS 

o.  There  ia  some  reason  to 
elieve  that  Baruch  survived 
the  prophet  a  few  years,  but 
when  and  where  he  died  is 
unknown.  (See  Jeremiah. 
Also  Life  of  Jeremiah,  by 
the  Am.  S.S.  Union,  chap,  vii.) 

BARZILLAI  (2  Sam.  xix.  31) 
was  a  Gileadite,  and  a  fast 
friend  of  David  when  he  was 
in  exile  on  account  of  Absa¬ 
lom’s  revolt. 

The  rebellion  had  been  sup¬ 
pressed,  and  David  was  on  his 
way  back  to  Jerusalem.  Bar- 
zillai  accompanied  the  king 
across  the  Jordan,  and  was 
about  to  return  to  his  own 
land,  but  David,  in  gratitude 
for  the  old  man’s  kindness, 
invited  him  to  go  up  to  Jeru¬ 
salem,  and  spend  the  residue 
of  his  days  at  the  court.  This 
Barzillai  declined  on  account 
of  his  great  age  and  infirmi¬ 
ties,  blit  his  son  went  up  with 
ihe  king  in  his  stead  The 
dialogue  on  this  occasion  is 
»ne  of  the  most  touching  pas- 
(ages  to  be  found  on  the  page 
of 'history. 

David,  in  his  final  charge  to 
Solomon,  enjoined  it  upon  him 
jn  show  kindness  to  Barzil- 
lai’s  family,  and  even  to  make 
them  members  of  the  royal 
Household.  (1  Kings  ii.  7.) 

BASHAN.  (Num.  xxi.  33.) 
A  hilly  district  lying  east  of 
>he  Jordan,  and  between  the 
mountains  of  Hermon  on  the 
sorth,  and  those  of  Gilead  on 
die  south.  The  more  modern 
eame  is  Batanea.  The  an¬ 
cient  name  of  the  whole  pro¬ 
vince  was  probably  derived 
irom  the  hill  of  Bashan,  a 
nigh  mountain  which  was  si¬ 
tuated  near  its  centre.  (Ps. 
lxviii.  15.)  This  district  was 
formerly  remarkable  for  its 
stately  oaks,  (Isa.  ii.  13,)  rich 
pasturage,  (Mic.  vii.  14,)  and 
fine  cattle.  (Ps.  xxii.  12.) 

In  the  time  of  Moses  it  was 
governed  by  a  monarch  named 
Og,  who  allied  himself  to  Si- 


BAT 

hon,  the  king  of  the  Amorites, 
to  make  war  on  Israel,  and 
was  defeated  and  overthrown 
at  Edrei.  (Num.  xxi.  33—35.) 

Modern  travellers  describe 
the  country  as  abounding  with 
magnificent  scepery,  resem¬ 
bling  that  of  many  parts  of 
Europe.  Its  hills  are  still 
clothed  with  forests ;  its  deep 
valleys  are  traversed  by  re- 
freshmgstreams ;  itsmeadows 
are  verdant  and  fertile,  and 
its  pastures  offer  an  abundance 
to  the  herds  and  flocks  that 
wander  through  them,  and 
give  life  and  animation  to  the 
scene. 

BASON.  (See  Laver.) 

BAT.  (Lev.  xi.  19.)  An  un¬ 
clean  beast,  whose  resting 
places  are  caves,  old  ruins, 
and  filthy  and  desolate  places. 
Hence  the  allusion,  Isa.  ii.  20. 
It  has  no  resemblance  to  a 
bird  except  that  it  can  fly,  and 
the  organs  it  uses  for  this  pur¬ 
pose  are  altogether  different 
from  those  of  a  bird.  (For  a 
minute  description  and  cut, 
see  Natural  History  of  the 
Bible,  and  Youth’s  Friend, 
vol.  vi.  both  by  the  Am.  S.  S. 
Union.) 

BATH.  (See  Measures.) 

BATH-SHEBA,  (2  Sam.  xi. 
3)  was  the  wife  of  Uriah,  an 
officer  in  David’s  army.  Her 
beauty  proved  a  snare  to  Da¬ 
vid,  for  he  not  only  committed 
adultery  with  her,  but  hs 
treacherously  procured  the 
death  of  her  injured  hus¬ 
band. 

BATTERING-RAM.  (Ezek. 
iv.  2,  and  xxi.  22.)  This  was  a 
long  beam  of  strong  wood, 
usually  oak.  One  end  was 
shaped  like  a  ram’s  head,  and 
when  driven  repeatedly  and 
with  great  force  against  the 
wall  of  a  city  or  fortification, 
either  pierced  it  or  battered  it 
down.  (See  War.  See  also  note 
at  the  close  of  Destruction 
of  Jerusalem,  by  the  Am.  S. 
S.  Union.) 


94 


BEA 

BATTLE-AXE.  (See  Ar¬ 
mour.) 

BATTLEMENT.  (Deut. 
xxii.  8.)  A  wall,  parapet,  or 
other  structure  around  the  flat 
roofs  of  eastern  houses,  de¬ 
signed  as  a  partition  from  an 
adjoining  building,  or  to  pre- 
rent  persons  from  falling  off. 
It  is  sometimes  used  in  a  more 
extensi  re  sense  to  denote  the 
fortifications  of  a  city.  CJer.  v. 
10.)  A  traveller  says  that  at 
Aleppo,  where  the  houses  join 
each  other,  the  battlements 
are  so  low  that  he  could  walk 
over  the  tops  of  a  dozen  houses 
without  interruption. 

BAY  TREE.  (Ps.xxxvii.35.) 
Perhaps  the  cedar ;  perhaps 
any  native  tree  that  is  suffer¬ 
ed  to  grow  wild,  or  without 
transplanting;  but  more  pro¬ 
bably  the  laurel,  front  which 
triumphal  crowns  were  made 
for  the  victors  and  heroes  of 
ancient  days.  It  was  of  the 
family  of  evergreens,  and  was 
well  used  as  an  emblem  of  the 
undecaying  strength  and  un¬ 
changing  prosperity  which 
seems  sometimes  to  be  the 
portion  of  the  wicked  in  this 
transient  world.  The  laurel 
of  our  southern  States  would 
well  illustrate  the  idea  of  the 
psalmist.  • 

BDELLIUM.  (Gen.  ii.  12.) 
Supposed  by  the  Jews  to  be 
the  pearl  or  some  other  pre¬ 
cious  stone.  There  is  a  gum 
produced  in  the  East  Indies 
which  has  the  same  name, 
and  is  thought  by  many  to  be 
the  article  referred  to  in  the 
cited  passage.  It  resembles 
myrrh  in  colour,  and  is  of  a 
bitter  taste.  (Num.  xi.  7.) 

BEACON.  (Isa.  xxx.  17.)  A 
mark  or  signal,  erected  in 
some  conspicuous  place  for  di¬ 
rection,  or  for  security  against 
danger.  Thus  the  Jews,  when 
reduced  in  number  and  dis¬ 
tressed  in  circumstances  by 
reason  of  God’s  severe  judg¬ 
ments  upon  them,  were  a  bea- 


BEA 

con  to  all  oilier  people  and 
nations  to  avoid  the  like  sin. 
(See  Banners.) 

BEANS.  (Ezek.  i'v.  9.)  A 
well  known  garden  vegetable, 
which  was  anciently  often 
mixed  with  other  vegetable 
substances  in  making  bread. 

BEAR.  (Prov.  xvii.12.)  The 
brown  bear,  now  confined  to 
the  milder  climates  of  Eu¬ 
rope,  is  probably  the  species 
of  this  animal  which  is  men¬ 
tioned  in  the  Bible.  The  at¬ 
tachment  of  the  female  to  her 
young  is  proverbial,  for  no¬ 
thing  enrages  her  so  much 
as  to  see  her  whelps  hurt  or 
taken  from  her.  Hence  the 
allusion,  2  Sam.  xvii.  8.  Hos. 
xi  i  i .  8,  and  also  the  passage  first 
above  cited.  (See  Youth’s 
Friend,  by  Am.  S.  S.  Union, 
vol.  ii.) 

BEARD.  (Lev.  xiii,  29.) 
Among  the  Jews  much  atten¬ 
tion  was  paid  to  the  beard. 
To  show  any  contempt  to¬ 
wards  it  by  plucking  it  or 
touching  it,  except  from  re¬ 
spect  or  courtesy,  was  es¬ 
teemed  a  gross  insult,  while 
to  kiss  it,  respectfully  and 
affectionately,  was  regarded 
as  a  signal  mark  of  friend¬ 
ship.  Tearing  out  the  beard ; 
cutting  it  entirely  off,  or  neg¬ 
lecting  to  trim  and  dress  it, 
were  all  expressions  of  deep 
mourning.  (Ezra  ix.  3.  Isa. 
xv.  2.  Jer.  xli.  5,  and  xlviii. 
37.) 

The  Arabians  at  this  day 
cherish  great  respect  for  the 
beard.  They  solemnly  swear 
by  it;  and  their  most  sig¬ 
nificant  and  comprehensive 
phrase  to  express  their  good 
wishes  for  a  friend  is,  “  May 
God  preserve  your  blessed 
beard.”  A  Turk  was  asked 
why  he  did  not  cut  off  his 
beard  as  Europeans  do.  “  Cut 
off  my  beard !”  he  replied 
with  deep  emotion,  “  God 
forbid  1”  And  we  are  told  of 
an  Arab  who  was  wounded  in 
95 


BEA 

the  jaw,  and  chose  to  hazard 
his  life  rather  than  to  have 
his  beard  cut  off,  that  the 
surgeon  might  examine  the 
wound.  Hence  the  keenness 
of  the  insult  offered  to  David’s 
ambassadors.  (2  Sam.  x.  4,  5.) 
And  hence  too,  the  force  of 
that  passage  where  the  pro¬ 
phet  is  made  to  stand  in  the 
place  of  Jerusalem,  and  to  re¬ 
present,  in  his  own  person,  the 
severe  judgments  that  were  to 
be  indicted  on  her.  (Ezek.  v. 

1 — 5.) 

.  The  Egyptians  were  accus¬ 
tomed  to  leave  a  small  tuft  of 
beard  on  the  extremity  of  the 
chin.  The  Jewish  law  (Lev. 
xix.  27J  forbad  an  imitation  of 
this  heathen  fashion. 

BEAST.  (Gen.  ii.  19.)  This 
word  is  generally  used  to  dis¬ 
tinguish  all  animals  from  man, 
as  in  Ps.  xxxvi.  G.  Sometimes 
quadrupeds  only  are  denoted 
by  it,  as  Lev.  xi.  2 ;  and  in 
Gen.  i.  24,25,  it  is  supposed  to 
refer  to  creatures  that  roam 
at  large.  Beasts  were  created 
on  the  sixth  day,  and  were 
named  by  Adam.  There  is  no 
doubt  that  every  species  of 
animal  now  existing  upon  the 
earth  had  its  origin  on  that 
day.  The  apostle  describes 
some  of  his  opposers  as  wild 
beasts,  so  furious  and  brutal 
was  their  treatment  of  him. 
(1  Cor.  xv.  32.)  A  similar  use 
is  made  of  the  word  in  Ps. 
xxii.  12.  16.  Eccl.  iii.  18.  Isa. 
xi.  6—8.  and  in  2  Pet.  ii.  12; 
and  J  ude  10,  to  denote  a  class 
of  wicked  men. 

Under  the  ancient  dispen¬ 
sation  the  beast3  were  some¬ 
times  made  to  participate  ex¬ 
ternally  in  the  observance  of 
religious  ceremonies,  (Jonah 
iii.  7,  8,)  and  suffered)  with 
men,  the  judgment  of  God. 
(Ex.  ix.  6,  and  xiii.  15.  Ps. 
cxxxv.  8.  Jer.  vii- 20,  and  xxi. 
6.  Ezek.  xxxii.  13;  xxxviii. 


BED 

20.  Hos.  iv.  3.  Sea  Clean 
and  Unclean.) 

BEATEN  WORK.  (Ex.xxv. 
18.)  Not  cast,  but  wrought. 
BEATEN  OIL.  (See  Olive.) 
BED.  (Gen.  xlvii.  31.)  The 
floors  of  the  better  sort  ol 
eastern  houses  were  of  tile  or 
plaster,  and  were  covered 
with  mats  or  carpets  ;  and  as 
shoes  were  not  worn  on  them, 
and  t.he.feet  were  washed,  and 
no  filthy  habits  of  modern 
times  prevailed,  their  floors 
seldom  required  sweeping  or 
scrubbing.  (Matt.  xii.  44. 
Luke  xy.  8.)  Thick,  coarse 
mattresses  were  thrown  down 
at  night  to  sleep  upon.  The 
poorer  people  used  skins  for 
the  same  purpose.  Such  beds 
were  easily  moved,  (Matt,  ix 
6  ;)  and  on  two  or  three  sides 
of  the  room  was  a  bench, 
generally  a  foot  high  and 
three  feet  broad,  covered  with 
a  stuffed  cushion.  This  bench 
or  couch,  was  used  both  for  ly¬ 
ing  and  sitting  upon;  but  atone 
end  of  the  room  it  was  more 
qlevated,  and  this  was  the 
usual  place  oi  sleeping.  (2 
Kings  l  4 ;  xx.  2.  Ps.  cxxxii. 
3.  Amos  iii.  12.)  It  was  some¬ 
times  unattached  to  the  build¬ 
ing  and  moveable, like  a  settee 
or  sofa,  and  was  made  of  wood, 
ivory,  (Amos  vi.  4 ,)  or  other 
materials.  (Deut.  iii.  11.)  This 
knowledge  of  the  construction 
of  eastern  beds  relieves  of 
difficulty  such  passages  as 
Ex.  viii.  3.  2  Sam.  iv.  5—7. 
Ps.  vi.  6.  Mark  iv.  21. 

Probably  some  part  of  the 
day-clothing  served  for  bed. 
clothes.  (Ex.  xxii.  26, 27.  Deut. 
xxi  v.  12,  13.) 

.  That  bedsteads  were  known 
to  the  Jews  is  not  improbable, 
inasmuch  as  they  were  in  use 
in  Egypt,  as  we  learn  from 
figures  on  their  monuments, 
of  which  the  following  is  a 
cut. 


96 


BEE.  (Deut.  i.  44.)  The  ho¬ 
ney-bee  is  probably  the  only 
species  alluded  to  in  theBible. 
They  must  have  been  very 
numerous  in  Canaan,  as  ho¬ 
ney  was  a  common  article  of 
food  (1  Kings  xiv.  3.  Ps.  lxxxi. 

16.  Sol.  Song  v.  1.  Isa.  vii.  15) 
and  commerce.  (Ezek.  xxvii. 

17. ) 

The  disposition  of  bees  to 
take  vengeance  on  any  one 
who  disturbs  their  hive  is  al¬ 
luded  to  in  Ps.  cxviii.  12. 

The  figurative  expressions 
in  Isa.  vii.  18,  compared  with 
Zech.  x.  8,  may  allude  either 
to  a  practice  of  calling  bees 
from  their  hives  by  a  hissing 
sound,  or  to  the  known  habit, 
in  one  species  of  the  insect, 
of  going  forth  to  labour  at  the 
short  buzzing  sound  which 
a  queen-bee  makes  with  her 
wings,  while  she  is  perched 
on  the  top  of  her  cell. 

Wild  bees  often  laid  up 
their  honey  in  hollow  trees  or 
the  clefts  of  rocks.  (Ps.  lxxxi. 
16.)  There  was  a  kind  of  wild 
honey  deposited  by  other  in¬ 
sects  on  the  leaves  of  trees  so 
abundantly  as  often  to  fall  in 
drops  upon  the  ground.  This 
is  tne  substance  mentioned  in 
1  Sam.  xiv.  25.  27,  and  per¬ 
haps  the  same  is  intended  in 
Matt.  tii.  4.  (See  Youth’s 
Friend,  by  the  American  S.  S. 
Union,  vol.  iv. 


BEELZEBUB,  or  BA  AT- 
ZEBUB,  (Matt.  x.  25,)  was  an 
idol  god  of  the  Ekronites,  and 
was  probably  worshipped  as 
the  patron  deity  of  medicine. 
(2  Kings  i.  3.)  The  word  sig¬ 
nifies  “  the  god  of  flies?’ 
There  is  reason  to  believe 
that  whatever  his  peculiar  at¬ 
tributes  were,  he  was  one  of 
the  chief  gods  of  the  heathens, 
and  hence  the  prince  or  chief 
of  devils  is  called  Beelzebub, 
(Matt.  xii.  24.  Luke  xi.  15,) 
a  term  which  would  be  easily 
understood  by  the  Jews,  who 
were  taught  to  regard  all  idols 
as  devils.  (Deut.  xxxii.  17. 
2  Chron.  xi.  15.  Ps.  cvi.  37. 
1  Cor.  x.  20.) 

BEER.  (Judg.  ix.  21.)  A 
lace  between  Jerusalem  and 
hechem,  to  which  Jotham  fled 
from  Abimelech  his  brother. 

Beer-elim,  or  Beer.  (Hum. 
xxi.  16.  Isa.  xv.  8.)  A  station 
of  the  Israelites  in  Moab, 
where  God  caused  water  to 
spring  up  out  of  the  sand  for 
their  refreshment. 

BEER-LAHAI-ROI.  (Gen. 
xvi.  14.)  A  place  in  the  south¬ 
ern  border  of  Canaan,  near  the 
desert  of  Shur,  which  receiv¬ 
ed  its  name  in  consequence 
of  the  appearance  of  an  angel 
to  Hagar,  when  she  was  in 
exile.  The  name  of  the  place 
signifies  “  the  well  of  him  that 
liveth  and  seeth  me-” 

97 


BEG 

BEEROTH.  (Josh.  ix.  17. 
2  Sara.  iv.  2,  3.)  A  city  of  Ben¬ 
jamin,  situated  at  the  foot  of 
the  hill  on  which  Gibeon  was 
built,  a  few  miles  north-east 
of  Jerusalem. 

A  place  of  the  same  name 
was  also  a  station  of  the  Isra¬ 
elites,  (Deut  x.  6,)  and  is  call¬ 
ed  Bene-jaakan.  (Num.  xxxiii. 
31.) 

BEER-SHEBA.  (Gen.  xxi. 
31.)  This  was  at  first  the 
name  of  a  well  near  which 
Abraham  lorn;  resided,  (Gen. 
xxi.  33,)  and  Isaac  after  him. 
(Gen.  xxvi.  32,  33.)  It  after¬ 
wards  became  a  town  of  con¬ 
siderable  note.  It  was  situated 
about  twenty  miles  south  of 
Hebron,  at  the  southern  ex¬ 
tremity  of  the  land  of  Canaan, 
as  Dan  was  at  the  northern 
extremity.  Hence  the  expres¬ 
sion  (Judg.  xx.  1)  from  Dan 
to  Beer-sheba,  denoted  the 
whole  length  of  the  land,  as 
also  did  the  expression  from 
Beer-sheba  to  mount  Ephraim 
(2  Chron.  xix.  4)  represent  the 
whole  length  of  the  kingdom 
of  Judah.  The  town  was  with¬ 
in  the  territory  of  Judah,  and 
fell  finally  into  Simeon’s 
hands.  (Josh.  xv.  28,  and  xix. 
2.)  At  Beer-sheba  resided  the 
sons  of  Samuel,  (1  Sam.  viii. 
2;)  and  in  later  times  the 
place  was  given  to  idolatry. 
(Amos  v.  5 ;  viii.  14.) 

BEETLE.  (Lev.  xi.  22.)  An 
animal  entirely  different  from 
the  insect  known  to  us  by  that 
name.  From  the  connexion 
it  is  supposed  to  have  been  of 
the  locust  family. 

BEEVES,  (Lev.  xxii.  19,)  as 
used  in  the  Bible,  is  synony¬ 
mous  with  the  term  cattle,  in 
its  modern  use.  As  they  di¬ 
vide  the  hoof  and  also  chew 
the  cud,  they  were  reckoned 
among  clean  animals. 

BEGGAR,  BEGGING.  (1 
Sam.  ii.  8.  Mark  x.  46.)  The 
poor  among  the  Hebrews  were 
much  favoured.  They  were 


BEL 

allowed  to  glean  in  the  fields 
and  to  gather  whatever  the 
land  produced  in  the  year  in 
which  it  was  not  tilled.  (Lev. 
xix.  10;  xxv<  5,  6.  Deut.  xxiv. 
19.)  They  were  also  invited  to 
feasts.  (Deut.  xii.  12;  xiv.  29, 
and  xxvi.  12.)  The  Israelite 
could  not  be  an  absolute  pau- 

er.  His  land  was  inaliena- 

le,  except  for  a  certain  term, 
when  it  reverted  to  him  or  his 
posterity.  And  if  this  re 
source  was  insufficient,  ha 
could  pledge  the  services  of 
himself  and  family  for  a  valu¬ 
able  sum.  Those  who  were 
indigent  through  bodilyinfirm- 
ities,  were  usually  taken  care 
of  by  their  kindred.  A  beggar 
was  sometimes  seen  however 
and  was  regarded  and  abhor 
red  as  a  vagabond.  (Ps.  cix. 
10.)  In  later  times  they  were 
accustomed  to  have  a  fixed 
place  at  the  corners  of  the 
streets,  (Mark  x.  46,)  or  at  the 
gates  of  the  temple,  (Acts  Hi. 
2,)  or  of  private  houses.  (Luke 
xvi.  20.) 

BEHEMOTH.  (Job  xl.  15.) 
The  same  word  which  is  here 
translated  behemoth,  is  else¬ 
where  translated  beast,  (Job 
xxxv.  11.  Ps.lxxiii.22,)  or  cat¬ 
tle.  (Ps.  1.  10.)  The  animal 
described  as  the  behemoth  in 
the  passage  first  above  cited, 
was  of  prodigious  size  and 
strength,  and  corresponds  bet¬ 
ter  with  th^  hippopotamus,  or 
river  horse  of  Egypt,  than 
with  any  other  animal  now 
known.  For  a  particular  de¬ 
scription  and  cut  of  this  ani¬ 
mal,  see  Natural  Historv 
of  the  Bible,  p.  39,  and 
Youth’s  Friend,  vols.  i.  and 
iii.,  all  by  the  Am.  S.  S.  Union. 

BEK  AH.  (See  Measures.) 

BEL.  (See  Baal.) 

BELIAL.  (Deut  xiii.  13.) 
This  word,  in  the  original, 
signifies  worthlessness,  and  is 
applied  by  the  sacred  writers 
to  such  lewd,  profligate,  and 
vile  persons  as  seem  to  regard 
98 


BEL 

neither  God  nor  man.  (Judg. 
xix.  22,  and  1  Sam.  ii.  12.) 
Hence  the  question  of  the 
apostle  (2  Cor.  vi.  15)  to  the 
citizens  of  Corinth,  which  was 
remarkable  for  its  lewdness 
and  profligacy,  has  great  force: 

What  concord  hath  Christ 
with  Belial,”  the  prince  of  li¬ 
centiousness  and  corruption  1 

Milton  represents  Belial  as 
one.  of  the  fallen  spirits  : 

Belial  came  last,  than  whom  a  spirit 
more  lewd 

Fell  not  from  heaven,  or  more  gross  to 
love 

Vice  for  itself. 

BELIEVE.  (See  Faith.) 

BELL.  (Zech.  xiv.  20.)  Bells 
were  attached  to  the  bottom 
of  the  high-priest’s  robe,  that 
he  might  be  heard  when  he 
went  into  or  came  out  of  the 
holy  place.  (Ex.  xxviii.  33. 35.) 
Many  of  the  eastern  kings 
and  nobles  wear  bells  in  the 
same  manner  at  this  day,  not 
only  for  ornament,  but  to  give 
notice  of  their  approach.  Bells 
were  hung  upon  the  bridles 
or  around  the  necks  of  war- 
horses  :  hence  a  horse  not 
trained  to  war  was  called,  by 
the  Greeks,  a.  horse  who  had 
never  heard  the  sound  of 
bells.  We  are  told  that  bells 
were  used  on  the  horses  at 
the  funeral  of  Alexander  the 
Great.  ThC  Arabian  ladies 
In  the  royal  presence  have  lit¬ 
tle  gold  bells  fastened  to  their 
le»s, necks, and  elbows, which, 
when  they  dance,  make  an 
agreeable  sound.  A  custom 
of  this  kind  probably  prevail¬ 
ed  in  the  time  of  Isaiah,  to 
which  he  alludes.  (Isa.  iii.  18.) 

BELSHAZZAR  (Dan.  v.  1) 
was  the  son  or  grandson  of 
Nebuchadnezzar,  (Dan.  v.  IS,) 
Rnd  the  last  king  of  Babylon. 
During  the  siege  of  the  city  of 
Babylon  he  gave  a  sumptu¬ 
ous  entertainment  to  his  cour¬ 
tiers,  and  impiously  made  use 
of  the  temple  furniture  (of 
which  Nebuchadnezzar  had 


BEN 

plundered  the  temple  at  Jeru¬ 
salem)  as  drinking  vessels. 
In  the  midst  of  the  festivities, 
however, a  miraculous  appear¬ 
ance  was  seen  upon  the  wall 
of  the  banqueting  room,  which 
filled  the  king  and  his  guests 
with  amazement  and  horror ; 
and  when  explained  by  Da¬ 
niel,  it  was  found  to  be  a 
warning  to  the  king  of  his 
own  death,  and  of  the  over¬ 
throw  and  destruction  of  his 
kingdom,  which  took  place  ia 
the  course  of  the  succeeding 
night.  (See  the  particulars 
of  this  event,  and  a  cut  repre¬ 
senting  the  impious  feast, in  the 
Life  of  Daniel,  by  the  Am. 
S.  S.  Union,  chap,  xiv.) 

BELTESHAZZAR.  (Dan.  i. 
7.)  The  name  given  to  the 
prophet  Daniel  at  the  court 
of  Nebuchadnezzar. 

BENAIAH  (2  Sam.  xxiii.  20) 
was  the  son  of  Jehoiada,  and 
distinguished  for  his  enter¬ 
prise  and  bravery  on  several 
occasions.  (2  Sam.  xxiii.  20 — 
23.)  He  was  an  adherent  of 
Solomon  against  the  preten¬ 
sions  of  Adonijah,  (1  Kings  i. 
36,)  and  after  putting  Joab  to 
death  succeeded  to  the  com¬ 
mand  of  the  army.  (1  Kings 
ii.  29—35.) 

BENHADAD.  1.(1  Kings  xv. 
18.)  King  of  Syria,  in  the  time 
of  Asa  king  of  Judah,  with 
whom  he  formed  an  alliance 
against  Baasha  king  of  IsraeL 
(See  Asa,  Baasha.)  Perhaps 
he  was  the  same  with  Hadad 
the  Edomite,  who  rebelled 
against  Solomon.  (1  Kings  xi. 
25.) 

2.  (1  Kings  xx.  1.)  King  of 
Syria,  and  a  son  of  the  prece¬ 
ding.  He  was  a  proud,  boast¬ 
ing,  and  licentious  man,  and 
seemed  to  be  hardened  against 
all  rebukes.  (1  Kings  xx.  10 
—12.  16.  See  Ahab.)  He 
declared  war  against  Jeho- 
ram  king  of  Israel,  but  the 
prophet  Elisha  disclosed  Ben- 
hadad’s  plans  so  accurately 
99 


BEN 

that  Jehoram  was  able  to  de¬ 
teat  them.  (2  Kings  vi.  8—33. 
See  Elisha.) 

In  the  siege  of  Samaria, 
which  took  place  some  years 
afterwards,  that  city  was  re¬ 
duced  to  the  greatest  extremi¬ 
ty.  The  Syrian  army,  under 
Benhadad,  was  lying  around 
the  walls,  when,  in  the  course 
of  the  night,  they  were  led  to 
conceive  that  they  heard  the 
noise  of  an  immense  army  in 
motion.  Supposing  that  the 
city  had  been  succoured  by 
supplies  of  men  and  pro¬ 
visions  from  abroad,  and  ter¬ 
rified  with  the  fancied  tumult 
of  their  approach,  the  Syrians 
just  at  daybreak  fled  for  their 
lives,  leaving  their  camp,  with 
all  their  horses,  asses,  provi¬ 
sions,  utensils,  &c.  just  as 
they  were,  and  their  garments 
and  vessels  scattered  all  along 
the  road  by  which  they  had 
fled.  The  citizens  of  Samaria 
were  thus  unexpectedly  re¬ 
lieved,  and  supplied  with  an 
abundance  of  food. 

The  next  year  Benhadad, 
being  sick,  sent  Hazael  to  in¬ 
quire  of  the  prophet  Elisha 
whether  he  would  recover.; 
and  he  received  for  answer, 
that  the  king  might  certainly 
recover  and  yet  would  surely 
die.  Hazael  also  was  informed 
by  the  prophet,  that  he  would 
be  elevated  to  the  throne  of 
Syria,  and  would  be  guilty  of 
enormous  wickedness.  The 
very  next  day  Hazael,  with 
his  own  hand,  murdered  Ben¬ 
hadad,  and  became  king  of 
Syria.  (2  Kings  viii.  15.  See 
Hazael.) 

3.  (2  Kings  xiii.  3.)  Another 
person  of  the  same  name,  and 
son  of  Hazael.  He  suffered 
several  defeats  from  the  hand 
of  Jehoash,  king  of  Israel, 
and  was  compelled  to  relin¬ 
quish  all  the  land  of  Israel 
which  his  father  Hazael  had 
obtained  in  conquest.  (2  Kings 
Jciii.  25.) 


BEE 

BENJAMIN  (Gen.  xxxv. 
18)  was  the  youngest  son  ol 
Jacob  and  Eachel.  His  mother 
died  immediately  after  his 
birth,  which  took  place  near 
Bethlehem,  when  the  family 
were  on  their  journey  from 
Padan-arain  to  Canaan.  With 
her  dying  breath  she  called 
him  Benoni,  (the  son  of  my 
sorrow,)  but  his  father  gave 
him  the  name  of  Benjamin, 
(the  son  of  my  right  hand.) 

The  tribe  of  Benjamin  had 
their  portion  of  the  promised 
land  adjoining  Judah,  and 
when  ten  of  the  tribes  revolt¬ 
ed,  Benjamin  continued  stea¬ 
dy  in  its  attachment  to  Judah, 
and  formed  a  part  of  that 
kingdom.  (1  Kings  xii.  17.  23.) 
The  prophetic  history  of  the 
tribe  is  told  in  Gen.  xlix.  27, 
and  Deut.  xxxiii.  12. 

Paul  was  a  descendant  of 
this  tribe.  (Phil.  iii.  5.  See 
Jacob  and  his  Sons,  by  the 
Am.  S.  S.  Union,  pp.  87—98.) 

BEREA,  (Acts  xvii.  10,)  now 
Veria.  A  city  of  Macedonia, 
about  twenty  miles  west  of 
Thessalonica,  near  mount 
Pindus.  The  Bereans  were 
honourably  distinguished  for 
their  diligence  in  searching 
the  Scriptures,  under  the 
preaching  of  Paul.  For  this 
and  other  causes  it  was  a 
lace  of  much  interest  in  the 
ays  of  the  apostles.  (Acts 
xvii.  10.  15,  and  xx.  4.)  It 
now  contains  about  20,000.  in¬ 
habitants,  (chiefly  Turks  and 
Greeks,)  and  produces  rice, 
fruit,  and  marble,  and  has 
manufactures  of  cotton. 

BERITH  (Comp.  Judg.  viii. 
33,  and  ix.  46.  See  Baal.) 

BERNICE,  (Acts  xxv.  13. 
23,)  or  BERENICE,  as  the 
name  is  sometimes  spelled, 
was  the  daughter  of  Agripp? 
sumamed  the  Great,  and  sit 
ter  to  the  younger  Agrippa, 
king  of  the  Jews.  She  was  a 
woman  of  licentious  charac. 
ter,  and  was  present,  in  great 


HET 

pomp,  at  the  hearing  of  Paul 
beiore  Festus  at  Cesarea. 

BERODACH  -  BALADAN, 
called  also  Merodach-Bala- 
dan.  (Isa.  xxxix.  1.  See  Heze- 
kiah.) 

BERYL.  (Ex.  xxviii.  20.)  A 
precious  stone,  found  chiefly 
in  Brazil  and  Ceylon,  the  pre¬ 
vailing  colour  of  which  is 
green.  (Sol.  Song  v.  14.  Ezek. 
1.  10,  and  x.  9.  Rev.  xxi.  20.) 

BESOM.  (Isa.  xiv.  23.)  An 
instrument  used  for  sweeping. 

BESOR,  or  BEZOR.  (1  Sam. 
xxx.  9, 10.  21,)  signifying  cold, 
was  the  name  of  a  brook  over 
which  David  passed  in  pur¬ 
suit  of  the  Amalekites  who 
had  pillaged  and  burnt  Zik- 
lag.  It  falls  into  the  Mediter¬ 
ranean  below  Gaza.  The  sup¬ 
posed  channel  of  it  was  cross¬ 
ed  in  1823  byMessrs.Fiske  and 
King,  American  missionaries, 
about  five  miles  below  Gaza. 

BETHABAjJA.  (John  i.  28.) 
The  name  of  a  town  on  the 
east  bank  of  Jordan,  where 
there  was  a  ford  across  the 
river;  whence  the  name, {house 
of  passage .)  At  this  place 
John  baptized ;  and  here,  too, 
it  is  supposed  the  Israelites 
crossed  the  Jordan,  under  the 
conduct  of  Joshua.  It  lay  about 
thirty  miles  north-east  of  Jeru¬ 
salem,  and  is  probably  the 
same  with  Beth-barah.  (Judg. 
vii.  24.) 

BETHANY.  (Mark  xi.  1.) 
A  village  on  the  south-east 
side  of  the  mount  of  Olives, 
about  two  miles  from  Jerusa¬ 
lem.  It  was  the  residence  of 
Lazarus  and  his  sisters.  (John 
xi.  1.)  Christ  often  resorted 
thither,  especially  during  the 
last  few  days  of  his  ministry, 
and  it  was  the  scene  of  some 
of  the  most  interesting  events 
of  his  life.  (Matt.  xxi.  17 ;  xxvi. 
6.  Mark  xi.  11,12;  xiv.3.  John 
xi.  1 — 46,  and  xii.  1 — 3.)  Betha¬ 
ny  was  visited  in  1823  by 
Messrs.  Fiske  and  King,  Ame¬ 
rican  missionaries,  ana  is  de- 


BET 

scribed  as  a  small  Mussul¬ 
man  village,  on  the  declivity 
of  a  hill,  and  all  around  un¬ 
even  and  rocky.  Travellers 
are  shown  the  pretended 
place  of  Lazarus’  grave,  and 
the  ruins  of  the  house  where 
he  and  his  sisters  lived.  (See 
Omar,  p.  143,  and  Selumiel, 
pp.  160.  168,  both  by  the  Am. 
S;  S.  Union.) 

BETHARBEL.  (Hos.  x.  14.) 
This  is  supposed  to  denote  no 
particular  place,  but,  accord¬ 
ing  to  the  original  significa¬ 
tion  of  the  word,  to  import 
such  fruitful  countries  as  had 
been  conquered  and  spoiled  by 
some  well  known  chieftain. 

BETHAVEN.  (Josh.  vii.  2.) 
A  place  belonging  to  the  tribe 
of  Benjamin,  and  lying  east 
of  Bethel.  (1  Sam.  xiil.  5.  See 
Bethel.) 

The  wilderness  op  Betb- 
aven  (Josh,  xviii.  12)  formed 
part  of  the  northern  boundary 
of  the  tribe  of  Benjamin. 

BETH-BAAL-MEON.  (See 
Baai.-meon.) 

BETHBARAH.  (See  Betb- 
abaraJ 

BETHEL.  (Gen.  xxviii.  19.) 
When  Jacob  was  journeying 
towards  Mesopotamia  to  avoid 
the  fury  of  his  brother  Esau, 
he  lodged  at  a  place  near  the 
city  ofLuz,  anu  was  favoured 
with  a  remarkable  vision  of 
the  Almighty.  For  this  cause 
he  named  the  place  and  the 
adjoining  city,  Bethel,  ( house 
of  God.)  It  was  situated  east  of 
a  line  running  from  Shechem 
to  Jerusalem,  and  at  about 
an  equal  distance  from  each. 

Bethel  was  the  residence 
of  one  of  the  Canaanite  kings, 
and  the  Ephraimites,  to  whom 
it  was  assigned  in  the  division 
of  the  land,  were  unable  to 
gain  possession  of  it  until 
they  were  aided  by  the  trea¬ 
chery  of  one  of  the  inhabit¬ 
ants.  (Judg.  i.  22-26.) 

The  tabernacle  was  station¬ 
ed  a  long  time  in  this  place, 
101 


BET 

and  Jeroboam  placed  one  of 
his  golden  calves  here,  (1 
Kings  xii.  28.  33,)  from  which 
circumstance,  probably,  Amos 
was  induced  to  call  it  Beth- 
aven,  (the  house  of  idolatry.') 
And  hence  also  the  phrase 
u  coming  to  Bethel ”  was  pro¬ 
verbially  expressive  of  idola¬ 
trous  worship  in  general. 
(Amos  iv.  4,  and  v.  5.  Hos,  x. 
5. 8.)  Part  of  the  prophecy  ot 
Amos  was  directed  specially 
against  this  city,  (iii.  14,)  and 
was  fulfilled  in  the  time  of 
Josiah.  (2  Kings  xxiii.  15;)  and 
the  prophet  himself  was  di¬ 
rected  to  flee  from  the  place. 
At  that  time  Bethel  was  proba¬ 
bly  the  residence  of  the  king 
of  Israel.  (Amos  vii.  10 — 13.) 

BETHER,  (Sol.  Song  ii.  17,) 
or  mountains  of  perfume,  as 
it  is  found  in  an  ancient  trans¬ 
lation.  It  is  not  certain  that 
this  name  is  applied  to  any 

articular  place.  It  may  pgr- 

aps  denote  those  tracts  of 
uneven  country  which  were 
the  favourite  resort  of  the  hart 
and  roe.  (Sol.  Song  iv.  6.  8, 
and  viii.  14.) 

BETHESDA,  (John  v.  2,) 
(house  of  mercy.)  The  He¬ 
brew  name  of  a  pool  or  reser¬ 
voir  of  water  in  the  city  of 
Jerusalem.  There  were  two 
pools  of  this  kind,  one  of 
which  was  called  the  Upper 
Pool  and  the  other  the  Pool  of 
Siloam.  (Comp.  2  Kings  xviii. 
17.  Neh.  iii.  15.  John  ix.  7.) 
The  pool  of  Bethesda  had  re¬ 
markable  .medicinal  proper¬ 
ties,  which  made  it  a  common 
resort  for  invalids,  for  whose 
accommodation  porches  or 
small  apartments  Were  pro¬ 
vided.  The  opinion  has  been 
expressed  that  these  proper¬ 
ties  were  natural,  or  that 
they  were  communicated  by 
something  thrown  into  the 
water.  It  is  to  be  observed 
however,  (1.)  That  their  heal¬ 
ing  virtue  extended  to  what¬ 
ever  disease  a  man  might 


BET 

have,  however  various  and 
even  opposite  their  character. 
(2.)  Only  the  one  who  first 
stepped  in  was  cured.  (3.)  If 
the  agency  by  which  the  heal¬ 
ing  influence  was  imparted 
was  natural,  and  within  the 
ower  of  man,  there  seems  to 
e  no  good  reason  why  it 
should  not  have  been  con¬ 
stantly  employed.  The  better 
opinion  seems  to  be,  that  the 
healing  virtue  was  miracu¬ 
lous;  that  the  angel  was  a 
messenger  from  God ;  and  that 
the  troubling  of  the  waters 
was  an  unusual  motion  to  give 
notice  to  the.  invalids  of  the 
arrival  of  the  favoured  mo¬ 
ment.  (See  Selumiel,  by  the 
Am.  S.  S.  Union, pp.  104.  111.) 

Travellers  tell  us  of  a  place 
now  seen  in  Jerusalem,  which 
is  supposed  to  have  been  once 
the  pool  of  Bethesda.  It  is 
one  hundred  and  twenty  feet 
long,  forty  broad,  and  eight 
deep;  and  at  one  end  there 
are  evidently  the  remains  of 
three  or  more  arches  which 
may  be  the  ruins  of  the  porch¬ 
es.  (For  a  beautiful  sketch  of 
Bethesda,  a3  given  by  Rosen- 
mueller,  and  a  description  of 
its  appearance,  see  Views  op 
Palestine,  by  the  Am.  S.  S. 
Union,  p.  5.) 

BETH-HORON.  (Josh.  x. 
10.)  Two  villages  lying  on 
the  border  of  Ephraim  and 
Beniamin,  about  twelve  miles 
north-west  of  Jerusalem,  were 
calledUpper  andNetherBeth- 
horon.  It  is  plain  that  one 
of  them  was  on  an  eminence, 
and  the  other  in  a  valley. 
(Comp.  Josh.  x.  10  and  11.) 

Beth-horon  was  fortified  by 
Solomon.  (1  Kings  ix.  17.)  Mo 
dern  travellers  have  found  an 
Arabvillage  twelve  miles  from 
Jerusalem,  on  the  way  from 
Jaffa,  (Joppa,)  which  it  is  sup. 
posed  might  have  been  the 
site  pf  Upper  Beth-horon. 

BETH-JESHIMOTR.(Josh. 
xiii.  20.)  A  city  of  the  tribe 
102 


BET 

of  Reuben  on  the  eastern  shore 
of  the  Dead  Sea.  It  was  for¬ 
merly  in  possession  of  the  Mo¬ 
abites,  and  after  remaining  in 
the  tribe  of  Reuben  until  the 
Assyrian  captivity,  it  fell  back 
into  the  hands  of  the  Moab¬ 
ites.  (Ezek..xxv.  9.) 

BETHLEHEM,  (Gen.  xxxv. 
19,)  called  also  Bethlehem 
Ephratah,  (Mic.  v.  2,)  was  so 
inconsiderable  a  place  as  to 
be  omitted  in  the  general  list? 
of  the  cities  of  Judah.  (Josh, 
xv.  Neh.  xi.)  It  was  the  birtli- 
lace  of  David,  (Luke  ii.  4. 
1,)  and  was  still  more  sacred 
and  celebrated  as  the  birth¬ 
place  of  the  Redeemer.  (Matt, 
ti.  1.  Luke  ii.  4—6,) 

It  is  situated  upon  an  emi¬ 
nence  overlooking  Tekoah, 
nine  miles  south;  and  is  about 
six  miles  south-west  from 
Jerusalem.  The  place  has 
been  often  visited  by  mo¬ 
dern  travellers.  Mr.  Fisk, 
an  American  missionary,  was 
there  in  1623,  and  speaks  of 
its  appearance  as  like  a  pile 
of  rocks,  with  here  and  there 
a  patch  of  verdure  ;  and  Mr. 
Whiting,  another  American 
missionary,  was  there  in  1834. 

Four  or  five  miles  from  Je¬ 
rusalem  is  the  (so  called)  tomb 
of  Rachel,  and  about  two  miles 
beyond  that,  is  Bethlehem. 
(Gen.  xlviii.  7.)  At  this  tomb 
Mr.  W.  turned  off,  taking  the 
road  to  Hebron,  that  he  might 
visit  the  pools  of  Solomon, 
which  lie  in  a  narrow,  sloping 
valley,  three  miles  south-west 
of  Bethlehem. 

The  village  of  Bethlehem  in 
1784  was  supposed  to  contain 
six  hundred  men  capable  of 
bearing  arms ;  but  the  ravages 
of  war  and  oppression  have  re¬ 
duced  it  to  a  verv  miserable 
state.  When  Mr.  Whiting  was 
there,  it  had  just  suffered  se¬ 
verely  from  some  tyrannical 
measures  of  the  government ; 
and  he  passed  over  the  ruins 
Of  houses  and  fields  that  had 
jtast,  then  been  demolished, 


BET 

f  and  parks  of  olive  and  fig- 
trees  which  had  been  cut  down 
by  order  of  the  pasha,  to  pu¬ 
nish  their  proprietors  for  an  al¬ 
leged  rebellion  and  flight.  (See 
Life  of  David,  ch.  i.,  Omar, 
p.  16,  and  Selumiel,  p.  160, 
all  by  the  Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

BETH-MAACHAH.  (2  Sam. 
xx.  14, 15.)  Same  with  Abel- 
beih-maachah. 

BETH-MEON.  (See  Baal- 
Meon.) 

BETH-NIMRAH.  (See  Nih- 
rim.) 

BETH-PEOR.  (Deut.  iv.  46.) 
A  city  of  Moab,  famous  for  the 
worship  of  Baal.  (See  Baal.) 
“  The  valley  over  against ,T 
Beth-peor,  in  the  land  of  Mo¬ 
ab,  is  distinguished  as  the 
place  where  Moses  repeated 
the  law  to  the  people  of  Israel. 
It  was  also  his  burial-place, 
and  was  not  far  from  mount 
Nebo. 

BETHPHAGE.  (Matt.  xxi. 
1.)  A  small  village  on  the 
south-east  of  mount  Olivet,  ad¬ 
joining  Bethany  on  the  west. 
(Comp.  Luke  xix.  28 — 40,  with 
Matt.  xxi.  1—11.  See  Selu¬ 
miel,  by  the  Am.  S.  S.  Union, 

p.  160.) 

BETH-REHOB.  (See  Re¬ 
hob.) 

BETHSAIDA.  (Matt.  xi. 21.) 
There  were  at  least  two  towns 
of  this  name  in  Judea.  One 
was  situated  on  the  east  bank 
of  the  river  Jordan,  near  the 
place  where  it  falls  into  the 
sea  of  Tiberias.  Near  this  vil¬ 
lage  was  the  desert  or  wilder¬ 
ness  of  Bethsaida.  (Matt.  xiv. 
15—21.  Luke  ix.  10.)  The  other 
town  was  called  Bethsaida  of 
Galilee,  and  was  situated  on 
the  west  of  Jordan,  near  the 
sea  of  Tiberias.  This  was  the 
birthplace  of  Andrew,  Peter, 
and  Philip.  (Mark  xiv.  70. 
John  i.  44.) 

BETH-SHAN.  (1  Sam.  xxxi. 

10. )  Same  with  Beth-shean. 

BETH-SHEAN.  (Josh.xvii. 

11. )  A  town  on  the  west  of  Jor¬ 
dan,  twenty-live  miles  south 

103 


BET 

of  the  sea  of  Tiberias,  and 
for  a  long  time  known  by  the 
name  of“Scythopolis.  It  was 
situated  on  the  borders  of 
Galilee  and  Samaria,  upon 
the  edge  of  the  great  plain  of 
Jordan.  It  is  now  a  ruin  call¬ 
ed  Bysan,  containing  seventy 
or  eighty  houses,  the  inhabit¬ 
ants  of  which  are,  to  the  last 
degree,  poor  and  miserable, 
owing  to  the  depredations 
they  constantly  suffer  from 
the  Bedouins.  In  the  time  of 
Saul  it  was  probably  a  posses¬ 
sion  of  the  Philistines,  as  they 
exposed  his  body  on  its  walls 
after  his  defeat  in  the  battle 
of  Gilboa.  (1  Sam.  xxxi.  10.) 
It  was  afterwards  attached  to 
Judah.  (1  Kings  iv.  12.) 

BETH-SHE1V1ESH.  (Josh, 
xv.  10.)  Atleastthree  different 
places  are  mentioned  in  the 
Bible  under  this  name. 

1.  One  of  them  belonging  to 
the  tribe  of  Naphtali.  “(Josh, 
xix.  38.  Judg.  i.  33.) 

2.  Another  was  in  Egypt, 
(Jer.  xliii.  13,)  supposed  to  be 
the  Heliopolis  of  the  Greeks, 
and  is  called  On.  (Gen.  xli. 
43.  50.)  It  is  about  five  miles 
from  the  modern  Cairo. 

3.  And  the  third  was  a  city 
of  Judah,  (2  Kings  xiv.  11,) 
situated  on  the  borders  of 
Dan,  thirty  miles  south-west 
of  Jerusalem,  and  sometimes 
called  Irshemesh.  This  last 
place  was  distinguished  by 
the  circumstance  that  the  ark 
was  sent  thither  by  the  Phi¬ 
listines,  and  a  vast  number  of 
men,  who  looked  into  it  from 
vain  curiosity,  were  swept  off 
by  a  pestilence.  (1  Sam.  vi. 
12 — 20.)  It  was  also  remark¬ 
able  for  the  battle  that  was 
fought  there  between  Israel 
and  Judah,  in  which  the  lat¬ 
ter  were  defeated,  and  the 
king  taken  prisoner.  (2  Kings 
xiv.  11—13.) 

BETROTH-  (Deut.  xxviii. 
30.)  A  man  and  woman  were 
betrothed  or  espoused,  each  to 


BEZ 

the  other,  when  they  were  en¬ 
gaged  to  be  married.  It  is  giv¬ 
ing  one’s  troth  («.  e.  faith  or 
promise)  to  marry  at  a  future 
time. 

Among  the  Jews  this  rela¬ 
tion  was  usually  determined 
by  the  parents  or  brothers, 
without  consulting  the  parties 
untilthey  cametobe  betrothed. 
The  engagement  took  place 
very  early ;  though  it  was  not 
consummated,  by  actual  mar¬ 
riage,  until  the  spouse  was  at 
least  twelve  years  of  age. 

The  betrothing  was  per¬ 
formed  a  twelvemonth  or 
more  before  the  marriage ; 
either  in  writing  or  by  a  piece 
of  silver  given  to  the  espoused 
before  witnesses.  During  this 
interval,  however,  from  the 
time  of  espousals  to  the  mar¬ 
riage,  the  woman  was  consi¬ 
dered  as  the  lawful  wife  of  the 
man  to  whom  she  was  be¬ 
trothed  ;  nor  could  the  en¬ 
gagement  be  ended  by  the 
man  without  a  bill  of  divorce ; 
nor  could  she  be  unfaithful 
without  being  considered  an 
adulteress.  (For  a  full  account 
of  the  whole  ceremony  of 
marriage,  and  of  the  spiritual 
relation  which  the  term  de¬ 
notes,  see  Biblical  Anticiui- 
ties,  vol.  i.  chap.  vi.  §  1,  and 
Omar,  p.  146,  both  by  the  Am. 
S.  S.  Union.  See  also  article 
Marriage.) 

BEULAH.  (Isa.  Ixii,  4.) 
A  word  signifying  married, 
which  the  prophet  applies  to 
the  Jewish  church,  to  import 
the  intimacy  of  its  relation  to 
God. 

BEZALEEL.  (Ex.  xxxi.  2.) 
A  famous  artificer,  who  re¬ 
ceived  wisdom  and  instruction 
directly  from  God,  to  qualify 
him  for  the  work  of  building 
the  tabernacle  and  preparing 
its  various  furniture. 

BEZEK.  (Judg.  i.  4.)  A  city 
in  the  tribe  of  Judah,  where 
the  Canaanites  suffered  a  se- 
vere  slaughter,  and  their  king 


BIN 

was  taken  prisoner.  (See 
Adoni-bezek.)  It  was  at  Be- 
zek  that  Saul  mustered  his 
army  before  the  attack  on  Ja- 
tesh-gilead. 

Ancient  geographers  speak 
of  two  towns  by  the  name  of 
Bezek,  situated  near  each 
other,  about  seventeen  miles 
from  Sichem,  on  the  way  to 
Beth-shan. 

BiER.  (Luke  vii.  14.)  The 
b  ed  or  frame  on  which  the  dead 
body  is  conveyed  to  the  grave. 
Probably  they  were  made  (as 
coffins  are  in  modern  times) 
more  or  less  expensive  in 
shape  and  ornament,  accord¬ 
ing  to  the  circumstances  and 
ranlcofthe  deceased.  (2Chron. 
xvi.  14.  See  Burial.) 

BILDAD.  (Job  ii.  11.)  One  of 
Job’s  three  friends  who  visit¬ 
ed  him  in  his  affliction,  and 
whose  arguments,  in  justifica¬ 
tion  of  God’s  dealings,  occupy 
chap.  viii.  xviii.  and  xxv.  of 
the  book  of  Job.  (See  Job.) 
The  name  Shuhite  is  proba¬ 
bly  derived  from  Shuah,  son 
of  Abraham  and  Keturah, 
whose  descendant  he  is  sup¬ 
posed  to  have  been. 

BILHAH.  (Gen.  xxix.  29.) 
The  handmaid  of  Rachel,  and 
the  mother  of  Dan  and  Naph- 
tali.  (Gen.  xxxv.  25.) 

BILL.  (Luke  xvi.  6, 7.)  Any 
written  paper  containing  a 
Btalementof  particularsclaim- 
ed  or  promised ;  as  a  bill  of 
services,  bill  of  expenses,  bill 
of  fare,  &c.  Bill  (or  writing) 
of  divorcement,  (Deut.  xxiv. 

1 — 4.  Matt.  v.  31,)  was  a  writ¬ 
ing  given  by  the  husband  to 
the  wife,  in  virtue  of  which,  by 
the  Jewish  law,  the  marriage 
relation  was  dissolved. 

BIND.  (Matt.  xvi.  19.)  Bind 
and  loose,  as  used  in  this  and 
parallel  passages,  are  syno¬ 
nymous  with  command  and 
forbid.  The  expression,  to 
bind  the  laio  upon  one’s  hand , 
&c.  is  figurative,  and  implies 
&u  intimate  acquaintance  with 


BIR 

it,  and  a  constant  rej  rd  to  its 
precepts.  The  Jews  i  i  n.rued 
it  literally,  and  hence  the  cus¬ 
tom  of  wearing  phylacteries. 
(See  Phylacteries.)  Rolls  or 
volumes  of  writing  were  tied 
up.  Hence  the  expression, 
Isa.  viii.  1G. 

BIRDS.  (Lev.  xiv.  4.)  Birds, 
as  well  as  beasts,  were  di¬ 
vided  into  clean  and  unclean, 
but  not  by  external  marks,  as 
in  the  case  of  quadrupeds. 
Those  which  were  forbidden 
are  named,  and  were  probably 
well  known  by  those  names 
to  the  Jews,  though  not  now 
known  to  us  by  those  names. 
In  general,  the  ravenous  kinds 
feeding  on  flesh  were  forbid¬ 
den. 

There  was  a  humane  law  in 
the  Jewislrcode  which  forbade 
the  taking  a  mother-bird, 
though  her  young  might  be 
taken.  The  common  mode 
of  taking  birds  was  with  a 
snare.  (Ps.  cxxiv.  7.  Prov. 
vii.  23.  Amos  iii.  5.)  A  speck¬ 
led  bird  (Jer.  xii.  9)  proba¬ 
bly  means  any  strange  bird, 
which,  as  is  well  known,  other 
birds  are  accustomed  to  attack 
and  pursue. 

BIRTHRIGHT.  (Gen.  xxv.’ 
31.)  The  first-born  son  among 
the  Jews  enjoyed  special  pri¬ 
vileges  above  his  brethren, 
and  these  privileges  were 
hence  called  his  birthright,  or 
his  right  by  birth.  Among 
these  privileges  were,  conse¬ 
cration  t,o  the  Lord,  (Ex.  xxii. 
29 ;)  great  dignity,  (Gen.  xlix. 

3 ;)  a  double  portion  of  his 
father’s  estate,  (Deut.  xxi.17;) 
and  (in  the  royal  families) 
succession  to  the  kingdom. 
(2  Chron.  xxi.  3.)  The  eldest 
son  seems  to  have  been  re¬ 
garded, in  the  father’s  absence, 
as  in  some  respects  his  re¬ 
presentative. 

The  paternal  blessing  was 
also  in  a  peculiar  sense  the 
right  of  the  first-born,  though 
the  right  itself  and  all  the 
105 


BIT  1 

blessings  of  it  might  be  for-  ' 
feited  or  transferred,  as  in  the 
case  of  Jacob  and  Esau.  (Gen. 
xxv.  33.)  Reuben  and  Joseph. 

(1  Chron.  v.  1.)  But  whoever 
enjoyed  it  was  regarded  as  in¬ 
vested  with  great  dignity  and 
superiority.  Hence  the  phrase 
is  used  figuratively  to  denote 
the  chief  or  highest,  or  lowest, 
(Job  xviii.  13.  Isa.  xiv.  30,)  and 
to  confer  such  a  rank  on  one  is 
to  constitute  him  the  first-born. 
(Ps.  lxxxix.  27.  Col.  i.  15.) 

Hence  the  peculiar  force 
and  appropriateness  of  the 
titles  given  to  the  Divine  Re¬ 
deemer.  (Rom.  viii.  29.  Col.  i. 
IS.  Heb.  i.  2.  4.  6;  xii.  23. 
See  Biblical  ANTiauiTiES,by 
the  Am.  S.  S.  Union,  vol.  i. 
chap.  vi.  §  ii.) 

BISHOP.  (1  Tim.  iii.2.)  The 
word  in  its  original  means 
overseer,  as  Joseph  was  in 
Fotiphars  house,  (Gen.  xxxix. 
4,)  or  as  the  three  thousand 
six  hundred  men  were  in  So¬ 
lomon’s  .temple,  (2  Chron.  ii. 
18,)  or  as  Uzri  was  of  the  Le- 
vites.  (Neh.  xi.  22.)  In  the 
New  Testament,  however,  the 
term  is  used  to  denote  an  of¬ 
ficer  or  officers  of  the  church, 
but  their  precise  rank  or  juris¬ 
diction  is  a  matter  of  contro¬ 
versy.  Paul  describes  the 
qualifications  for  the  office 
particularly  in  his  letter  to 
Timothy.  (1  Tim.  iii.  2—7.) 
Christ  is  figuratively  called 
the  shepherd,  and  bishop  of 
souls.  (1  Pet.  ii.  25.) 

BISHOPRIC.  (Acts  i.  20.) 
The  jurisdiction,  charge,  or 
office  of  a  bishop. 

BITS.  (See  Harness.) 
BITTER,  (Jer.  ii.  19,)  and 
BITTERNESS,  (Prov.xi  v.  10,) 
are  words  used  figuratively  to 
denote  the  severity  of  sorrow 
cr  suffering. 

BITTER  HERBS.  (Ex.  xii. 
8.)  The  Jews  were  command¬ 
ed  to  eat  the  passover  with  a 
salad  of  bitter  heibs;  and 
their  modern  historians  sup- 


BE  A 

pose  that  hoarhcund,  wild  ret- 
tuce,  tansy,  &c.  were  used,  as 
they  still  are  by  the  Jews  in 
some  countries.  The  use  of 
them  on  that  occasion  was 
intended  to  call  to  their  re¬ 
membrance  the  severe  and 
cruel  bondage  from  which  God 
delivered  them  when  they 
were  brought  out  of  Egypt. 

BITHRON.  (2  Sam.  ii.  29.) 
This  is  not  probably  the  name 
of  any  particular  place,  but  a 
general  term  denoting  a  range 
of  hills  and  vales. 

BITHYNIA.  (Acts  xvi.  7.)  A 
province  of  Asia  Minor.  It  is 
bounded  on  the  east  by  Paph- 
lagonia,  north  by  the  Black 
Sea,  and  south  by  Phrygia  and 
Galatia.  It  is  directly  oppo¬ 
site  to  Constantinople.  The 
gospel  was  introduced  into 
this  province  at  an  early  pe¬ 
riod.  (Comp.  Acts  ii.  9,  and 
1  Pet.  i.  1.)  There  is  a  re¬ 
markable  testimony  in  eccle¬ 
siastical  history,  to  the  purity 
and  firmness  of  the  Christians 
of  Bithynia,  at  the  close  of 
the  first  and  the  beginning  of 
the  second  century. 

BITTERN.  (Isa.  xxxiv,  11.) 
Some  bird  of  solitary  habits 
that  frequents  ruins  and  other 
desolate  places.  The  bird, 
known  in  modern  days  by 
this  name,  inhabits  fens  and 
marshes,  and  has  a  deep 
hoarse  cry,  which  is  often 
heard,  in  the  twilight,  from 
its  lonely  haunts.  The  lan¬ 
guage  of  prophecy  (Isa.  xiv. 
23,  and  xxxiv.  11.  Zbph.  ii. 
14)  imports  the  utmost  soli¬ 
tude  and  desolation. 

BLACK,  BLACKNESS,  (Job  • 
xxx.  30.  Joel  ii.  6,)  are  words 
used  figuratively,  to  denote 
shame,  terror,  perplexity,  dcs- 
air,  mourning,  &c.  We  often 
ndthem  employedat  tliisday, 
in  eastern  writings,  to  express 
shame  and  confusion. 

BLAINS.  (Ex.  ix.  9.)  Burn¬ 
ing  pustules  or  ulcers,  which 
10S 


BL  A 

broke  out  upon  the  Egyptians 
and  all  their  beasts,  and  con¬ 
stituted  the  sixth  plague.  The 
ashes  from  the  furnaces 
(brick-kilns,  perhaps)  were 
taken  by  Moses,  a  handful  at 
a  time,  and  scattered  to  the 
winds;  and  wherever  it  fell, 
on  man  or  beast,  it  caused 
this  dreadful  disease  to  ap¬ 
pear.  Perhaps  reference  is 
made  to  this  plague  in  Deut. 
xxviii.  27. 

BLASPHEMY.  (Col.  iii.  8.) 
The  word  in  its  original  use 
denotes  all  manner  of  detrac¬ 
tion  or  calumny,  such  as  is 
expressed  by  the  terms  rail, 
revile,  speak  evil,  &c. ;  but  in 
the  restricted  sense  of  the 
Scriptures,  and  of  common 
use,  it  denotes  reproachful, 
irreverent,,  or  insulting  lan¬ 
guage  concerning  God  or  any 
of  his  names  or  attributes. 
(Lev.  xxiv.  10 — 16.)  Whoever 
thinks  of  the  character  of 
God  as  infinitely  holy,  just, 
and  good,  will  not  be  surpris¬ 
ed  that  this  offence  is  regard¬ 
ed  as  very  heinous,  and  is  so 
fearfully  punished.  There  is 
no  reason  to  suppose  that  the 
sin  of  profane  swearing,  so 
common  at  this  day,  is  less 
odious  and  offensive  to  God 
than  it  was  in  the  time  of 
Moses. 

Blasphemy  against  the 
Holy  Ghost,  (Matt.  xii.  32,) 
such  as  the  Pharisees  wer.e 
guilty  of  when  they  ascribed' 
the  miracle  of  curing  the 
blind  and  dmnb  man  (who 
was  also  possessed  with  a  de¬ 
vil)  to  the  agency  of  Beelzebub 
»»r  Satan,  is  declared  to  be  un¬ 
pardonable. 

Many  persons  are  appre¬ 
hensive  that  they  have  fallen 
into  this  sin,  and  hence  give 
themselves  up  to  despair ;  but 
it  is  probable,  that  however 
dangerous  and  fatal  may  be 
our  offences  against  the  Holy 
Spirit  in  rejecting  his  gra¬ 
cious  influences  and  refusing 


BLE 

to  yield  to  his  persuasions, 
(Heb.  vi.  4—8,  and  x.  26—31.) 
the  fear  is  sometimes  ground¬ 
less.  How  near  the  ridicule 
and  contempt  of  religion  and 
its  ordinances,  the  sporting 
with  the  work  of  the  Holy 
Spirit  on  men’s  hearts,  and 
the  unbelief  in  and  opposition 
to  the  Scripture,  which  is  all 
given  by  this  divine  Agent, 
may  approach  to  the  fearful 
extremity  of  guilt  which  the 
unpardonable  sin  must  in¬ 
volve,  the  judgment  of  the 
great  day  will  reveal. 

BLEMISH.  (Ex.  xii.  5.) 
Whatever  renders  a  person 
or  thing  imperfect.  The 
priests  under  the  Jewish  law 
were  required  to  be  free  from 
personal  blemishes,  and  the 
defects  which  were  accounted 
blemishes  are  particularly  de¬ 
scribed.  (Lev.  xxi.  18 — 20.  and 
xxii.  20—24.)  So  also  of  ani¬ 
mals.  (Deut.  xv.21.)  The  word 
is  figuratively  used,  (2  Pet.  ii 
13,  and  (spots)  Jude  12.) 

BLESS,  BLESSED,  BLESS 
ING.  (Gen.  xii.  2;  xxii.  17 
18.)  These  words  are  of  fre¬ 
quent  occurrence  in  the  sa¬ 
cred  writings,  and  their  par¬ 
ticular  force  may  generally 
be  determined  by  the  con¬ 
nexion. 

Men  are  said  to  bless  God 
when  they  ascribe  to  him  the 
praise  and  glory  which  are 
due  to  him.  (Ps.  cxlv.)  God 
blesses  men  in  bestowing  up¬ 
on  them  continually  mercies, 
spiritual  and  temporal.  (Job 
xlii.  12.  Ps.  xlv.  2.)  And  men 
are  said  to  bless  their  fellow 
creatures  when,  as  in  ancient 
times,  in  the  spirit  of  prophe¬ 
cy  they  predicted  blessings  to 
come  upon  them.  This  was 
the  kind  of  blessing  which 
the  patriarchs  pronounced 
(Gen.  xlix.)  So  Moses  blessed 
Israel.  (Deut.  xxxiii.) 

The  form  of  blessing  pre. 
scribed  by  the  Jewish  ritual 
(Num.  vi  23—27)  is  admirably 
'  107 


BLO 


BOA 


Bimple  and  sublime.  It  was 
pronounced  standing,  with  a 
loud  voice,  and  with  {lie  hands 
raised  towards  heaven.  (Luke 
xxiv.  50.)  National  blessings 
and,cursings  were  sometimes 
pronounced.  (Deut.  xxvii:  and 
xxviii.  Isa.  xix.  25.) 

The  cup  of  blessing,'  (1 
Cor.  x.  16,)  and  cup  of  sal¬ 
vation,  (Fs.  cxvi.  13,)  are  ex¬ 
pressions  derived,  as  we  sup¬ 
pose,  from  a  custom  preva¬ 
lent  among  the  Jews  at  their 
feasts. 

The  master  of  the  feast  took 
a  cup  of  wine  in  his  hand, 
and  solemnly  blessed  God  for 
it,  and  for  all  the  mercies 
which  were  then  acknowledg¬ 
ed.  It  was  then  passed  to  all 
the  guests,  each  of  whom 
drank  of  it  in  his  turn.  The 
aptness  and  force  of  the  fig¬ 
ures  employed  in  the  above 
passages  are  thus  made  obvi¬ 
ous. 

Blessing,  valley  of.  (See 

V  ALLEY.) 

BLOOD  (Ex.  xxix.  12)  is  the 
fluid  of  life  in  the  animal 
body.  Its  use  was  expressly 
prohibited  to  Noah  when  eve¬ 
ry  thing  else  was  freely  given 
him.  (Gen.  ix.  4.)  By  the 
Jewish  law  also,  it  was  ex¬ 
pressly  and  solemnly  forbid¬ 
den.  (Lev.  xvii.  10,  &c.) 

The  reason  of  this  interdic¬ 
tion  is, probably, because  blood 
was  sacredly  appropriated. 
(Lev.  xvii.  11.)  The  Jewish 
ritual  abounds  with  the  use 
of  blood,  (Heb.  ix.  22,)  and  the 
manner  of  employing  it  is 
stated  with  minuteness  in 
Heb.  ix.  and  x.,  where  also  its 
use  and  effects  are  shown  in 
striking  contrast  with  the 
blood  shed  upon  the  cross. 
(See  also  Acts  xx.  28.  Bom.  v. 
9.  Eph.  i.  7.  Col.  i.  14.  Heb. 
vii.  27.  1  John  i.  7.) 

The  prohibition  of  eating 
blood  or  animals  that  are 
Strangled,  has  been  always 
rigidly  observed  by  the  Jews. 


In  the  Christian  church,  th« 
custom  of  refraining  from 
things  strangled,  and  from 
blood,  continued  for  a  long 
time.  In  the  council  of  the 
apostles  held  at  Jerusalem. 
(Acts  xv.)  it  was  declared 
that  converts  from  paganism 
should  not  be  subject  to  the 
legal  ceremonies,  but  that 
they  should  refrain  from  idol¬ 
atry,  from  fornication,  from 
eating  blood,  and  from  such 
animals  as  were  strangle^, 
and  their  blood  thereby  re¬ 
tained  in  their  bodies ;  which 
decree  was  observed  for  many 
ages  by  the  church. 

It  is  oDserved  that  the  no¬ 
tion,  that  the  blood  of  the  vic¬ 
tims  was  peculiarly  sacred  to 
the  gods,  is  impressed  on  all 
ancient  pagan  mythology.  (See 
Chbist.) 

Avenger  of  blood.  (See 
Avenge.) 

BLUE.  (See  Colours.) 

BOANERGES.  (Mark  iii. 
17.)  The  name  given  by  Christ 
to  James  and  Jolrn.  Some  have 
supposed  that  this  name  indi¬ 
cated  the  power  which  those 
apostles  should  exert  in  the 
introduction  of  the  gospel  dis¬ 
pensation.  It  seems  trifling 
to  suppose  that  it  refers  to  the 
mode  or  tone  of  their  preach- 
ing. 

BOAR.  (Ts.  lxxx.  13.)  This 
is  the  original  stock  of  the 
common  hog;  and,  in  a  wild 
state,  is  a  very  furious  and 
formidable  animal.  Modern 
travellers  tell  us  that  they  are 
found  in  great  numbers  on  the 
banks  of  the  Jordan,  and 
among  the  reeds  of  the  sea  of 
Tiberias.  The  allusion  of  the 
psalmist,  in  the  above  pas¬ 
sage,  may  be  to  the  coming 
forth  of  the  animal  from  the 
shady  marsh  or  woods;  or  it 
may  be  to  his  well  known  ha¬ 
bit  of  turning  up  the  earth  in 
search  of  roots  for  food,  and 
in  this  way  destroying  culti¬ 
vated  ground.  (For  a  parlicu- 
108 


BOO 

lar  description  and  cut,  see 
Natural  History  of  thb 
Bible,  by  the  Am,  S.  S.  Union, 
art.  Boar.) 

BOAZ,  or  BOOZ,  (Ruth  ii. 
1,)  was  a  descendant  of  Judah ; 
and  through  him  is  traced  the 
regular  succession  of  Jewish 
kings.  (Matt.  i.  5.)  Boaz  was 
a  man  of  wealth,  and  of  great 
respectability  ;  and,  from  his 
conduct  towards  his  poor  kins¬ 
woman,  Ruth,  we  suppose  him 
to  have  been  a  man  of  strict 
integrity,  and  of  an  estimable 
character.  (See  Affectionate 
Daughter-in-law,  or  Life  of 
Ruth,  by  the  Am.  S.  S.  Union, 
cli.  iii.  iv.  and  v.) 

BOLLED.  (Ex.  ix.  31.)  The 
expression,  flax  was  boiled, 
means  that  it  was  podded,  or 
nearly  in  a  state  to  be  gather¬ 
ed,  and  of  course  the  loss  of 
it  was  much  more  severe  than 
it  would  have  been  at  an  ear¬ 
lier  stage  of  its  growth. 

BOND,  BONDAGE,  BOND- 
MAN, BONDWOMAN, BOND¬ 
MAID.  (See  Servant.) 

BONNETS.  (See  Clothes, 
Mitre.) 

BOOK.  (Ex.  xvii.  14.)  What 
we  call  books  were  unknown 
to  the  ancient  Jews,  at  least 
in  their  present  convenient 
form.  Letters  were  engraved 
on  stone,  brick,  metal,  (as 
lead  and  copper,)  or  wood, 
and  also  on  cloth  and  skins, 
and  at  a  later  period  on  parch¬ 
ment.  (2  Tim.  iv.  13.)  Tablets 
of  lead  and  brass  or  copper,  of 
great  antiquity,  have  been  dis¬ 
covered  in  modern  times. 

The  earnest  mode  of  pre¬ 
serving  inscriptions  was  by 
engraving  on  a  rock.  Such 
inscriptions  often  occur  to  the 
eastern  traveller. 

The  writing  table  mentioned 
Luke  i.  63,  was  probably  a 
tablet  covered  with  wax,  or 
olherwise  prepared  to  be  writ¬ 
ten  upon.  (Deut.  xxvii.  2,  3.) 
Such  tablets  were  used  in  Eng¬ 
land  as  lately  as  the  year  1300. 


BOO 

Leaves  and  the  bark  of  trees 
were  also  used,  and  were  often 
prepared  with  much  skill. 
The  people  of  Ceylon  write 
with' a  bodkin  on  broad  and 
thick  leaves,  cut  into  narrow 
slips  ;  and  these  leaves,  being 
fastened  together, make  books,, 
which  they  call  Ollas.  The 
missionaries  often  prepared 
tracts  in  this  form,  before  pa¬ 
per  and  printing  were  intro¬ 
duced  upon  the  island.  In 
Sumatra,  and  among  the  Indi¬ 
ans  of  North  America,  bark  is 
still  used  for  making  letleis 
and  pictures. 

Leather,  and  linen  or  cotton 
cloth,  were  also  used.  These 
were  prepared  in  the  form  of 
long  rolls,  twelve  or  fourteen 
inches  wide,  and  fastened  at 
each  end  to  sticks,  (like  the- 
rullers  to  which  maps  are  at¬ 
tached,)  and  which  were  roll¬ 
ed  together  till  they  met  mill 
way.  Sometimes  these  leaves 
were  connected  in  the  form 
of  modern  books,  and  opened 
in  the  same  way.  In  this  case 
the  sheets  were  fastened  to 
rods,  and  these  rods  passed 
through  rings,  and  thus  form¬ 
ed  the  back  of  the  book. 

The  writing  was  generally 
in  capital  letters,  and  without 
punctuation  or  division  of 
words;  and  when  used,  the 
reader  unrolled  the  MS.  as 
far  as  the  place  whicli  he 
wished  to  find,  and  kept  be¬ 
fore  him  just  so  much  as  he 


109 


BOO 

The  pages  resemcied  the 
■following  in  their  general  ap¬ 
pearance.  though  they  were 


INTHE1SEGI 

NNINGWAST 

HEWORDAN 

DTHEWORD 

*  WASWITHG 

•  GDANDTHE 


WORDWASG 

ODTHESAME 

WASINTHEB 

EGINNINGW 

ITHGODALL 

THINGSWER 


BOO 


of  course  wider  and  longer 
than  these,  and  were  read 
from  right  to  left : 


EMADEBYHI 

MAND^VITHO 

UTHIMWASN 

OTANYTH1N 

GMADETHA 

TWASMADE 


INHIMWASLI 

FEANDTHEL1 

FE.WASTH-EU 

GHTOFMENA 

NDTHELIGFT 

shinEthins 

John  i.  1 — 5. 


These  columns  could  be  di¬ 
vided  from  one  another,  and 
need  separately,  as  we  may 
eat  the  columns  of  a  newspa¬ 
per  which  is  printed  on  one 
side  only,  and  arrange  the  ex¬ 
tracts  as  we  like.  Sometimes 
the  reading  was  what  is  called 
furrow-wise.  The  first  line 
was  from  right  to  left,  and  the 
second  from  left  to  right,  and 
so  on,  alternately,  like  plough¬ 
ing  a  field.  The  roll  or  book 


of  curses,  which  Ezekiel  saw, 
was  thirty  feet  long  and  twen¬ 
ty  wide.  The  writing  was 
usually  on  one  side,  but  no» 
always.  (Ezek.  ii.  10.) 

When  the  roll  was  dona 
with,  it  was  carefully  deposit 
ed  in  a  case.  The  following 
cut  shows  the  end  of  the  roll 
in  its  place ;  and  also  the 
inkstand  or  bottle,  with  the 
cover  thrown  off,  and  the  reed 
pen  or  style : 


Another  form  of  the.  scroll, 
and  also  a  collection  of  sheets 
in  the  shape  of  a  modern  book, 


secured,  as  above  described- 
with  rings  and  rods,  are  re¬ 
presented  as  follows : 


BOO 

A  very  good  idea  may  be 
formed  of  an  ancient  roll  by 
Supposing  a  common  newspa¬ 
per  to  have  rods  or  rollers  at 
the  right  and  left  sides.  The 
reader  lakes  hold  of  the  rods, 
and  unrolls  the  sheet  until  he 
comes  to  the  desired  column. 
Thus  in  Luke  iv.  17,  the 
phrase  “  opened  the  book,” 
would  properly  read  “  unroll¬ 
ed  the  scroll,”  and  in  ver.  20, 
for  “closed  the  book,”  read 
“  rolled  up  the  volume,”  or 
“  scroll.”  This  shows  the 
force  of  the  figure,  (Isa.  xxxiv. 
4,)  where  the  heavens  are  re¬ 
presented  as  rolled  together, 
as  suddenly  as  the  opposite 
ends  of  an  unrolled  scroll  fly 
to  meet  each  other,  when  the 
hand  of  the  reader  is  with¬ 
drawn  from  it. 

A  kind  of  paper  was  made 
from  the  stalk  of  an  Egyptian 
vegetable  called  papyrus,  or 

B  reed,  which  is  still 
in  various  parts  of  In¬ 
dia.  (See  Bulrush.)  The  stalk 
was  slit,  with  a  needle,  into 
plates  or  layers  as  broad 
and  thin  as  possible.  Some 
of  them  were  ten  or  fifteen 
inches  broad.  These  strips 
were  laid,  side  by  side,  upon  a 
flat  horizontal  surface,  and 
then  immersed  in  the  water 
of  the  Nile ;  which  not  only 
served  as  a  kind  of  sizing,  but 
also  caused  the  edges  of  the 
strips  to  adhere  together  as  if 
glued.  The  sheets,  thus  form¬ 
ed,  were  dried  in  the  sun,  and 
then  covered  with  a  fine  wash, 
which  made  them  smooth  and 
flexible.  They  were  finally 
beaten  with  hammers,  and 
polished.  Twenty  or  more  of  • 
these  sheets  were  s>metimes 
connected  in  one  roll. 

The  pen  or  style*  was  made 
cf  some  hard  substance,  per¬ 
haps  not  unlike  the  instru- 


*  Hence  the  word  style,  signifying 
one’s  maimer  of  writing— eaty  itvU, 
IkfatU  style,  Ac. 


BOO 

ments  used  by  glaziers  to  cut 
glass.  (Jer.  xvii“  1.)  Upon  ta¬ 
blets  of  wax  an  instrument 
was  used,  one  end  qf  which 
was  pointed,  to  mark  the  let¬ 
ters,  and  the  other  broad  and 
flat,  to  make  erasures.  Pens 
or  styles  of  copper  are  now 
used  by  the  Ceylonese.  On 
soft  substances,  like  linen  or 
papyrus,  the  marks  were 
painted  with  a  fine  hair  pen¬ 
cil,  as  is  practised  among  the 
Chinese  to  this  day. 

Most  of  the  eastern  nations 
now  use  the  reed-pen,  which 
is  split  with  an  instrument 
used  as  we  use  the  penknife. 
(Jer.  xxxvi.  23.)  The  pith  is 
removed, and  the  bark  or  rind, 
being  split  like  a  quill,  retains 
and  properly  sheds  the  ink. 
It  is  not  hard  or  stiff  enough 
to  be  used  long  without  mend¬ 
ing.  We  have  half  a  dozen 
of  them  from  India  now  on  our 
table.  (See  Pen.) 

Ink  was  prepared  from  a 
variety  of  substances.  (Sea 
Ink.)  And  those  who  were 
skilful  in  writing  wore  an 
inkhorn  fastened  to  the  gir¬ 
dle,  (Ezek.  ix.  2,)  which  is  the 
present  mode  among  the  Per¬ 
sians  and  the  Moors  of  Bar¬ 
bary.  (See  Inkhorn.) 

As  tables  were  unknown, 
the  paper,  or  other,  substance 
written  upon,  was  laid  upon 
the  knees,  or  held  firmly  with 
the  left  hand. 

A  sealed  book  was  a  roll 
fastened  together  by  a  band 
or  string,  and  a  seal  affixed  to 
the  knot.  (Isa.  xxix.  11.) 

Book  op  the  generation 
(Gen.  v.  1.  Malt.  i.  1)  signifies 
the  genealogical  history  or 
records  of  a  family  or  nation. 

Book  of  the  living,  (Ps. 
lxix.  28,)  and  the  kindred 
phrase,  book  of  life,  (Rev. 
xxi.  27,)  are  supposed  to  allude 
to  the  genealogical  lists  or  re¬ 
gisters  kept  by  the  Jews,  from 
which  the  names  of  the  dead 
were  erased.  (Isa.  iv.  3.)  The 
1U 


BOS 

aptness  and  force  of  the  figu¬ 
rative  use  of  the  terms  is  suf¬ 
ficiently  obvious. 

Book  op  judgment.  (Dan. 
vii.  10.)  The  allusion  here  is 
probably  either  to  the  prac¬ 
tice  of  opening  books  of  ac¬ 
count  to  settle  with  servants 
or  labourers,  or  to  the  custom 
of  the  Persian  kings  to  have 
a  book  in  which  a  daily  record 
is  made  of  special  services 
performed  by  any  of  their 
subjects,  and  of  the  rewards 
which  were  given  to  the  indi¬ 
viduals.  (Esth.  vi.  1 — 3.) 

Book  of  the  wars  op  the 
Lord,  (Niirn.  xxi.  14,)  Book 
of  Jasher  or  the  righteous, 
(Josh.  x.  13,  and  2  Sam.  i.  18,) 
and  Book  of  the  Chroni¬ 
cles  (or  annals)  of  the  kings 
of  Judah  and  Israel,  (1  Kings 
xiv.  19.  29,)  are  the  names  of 
ancient  writings  known  to 
the  Jews,  but  not  preserved  in 
the  sacred  canon. 

The  remark  of  the  wise 
man,  (Eccl.  xii.  12,)  on  the 
subject  of  making  books,  is 
supposed  to  amount  to  this  : — 
“  That  the  propensity  of  some 
men  to  collect  and  amass 
books  for  libraries  is  insatia¬ 
ble  ;  that  it  is  a  business  to 
which  there  is  no  end;  the 
designation  of  one  leading  to 
that'of  another,  and  that  again 
of  another,  and  soon  intermin¬ 
ably  ;  and  that  the  much  study 
connected  with  this  endless 
labour  and  ‘  weariness  of  the 
flesh’  may  render  its  votary  a 
fit  subject  of  the  admonition, 
that  1  the  conclusion  of  the 
whole  matter,’  or  the  great 
end  of  life, 1  is  to  fear  God  and 
keep  his  commandments.’  ” 
(See  Writing.) 

BOOTH.  (See  Garden.) 

BOBBER.  (See  Clothes.) 

BORROW.  (Ex.  xii.  35.) 
The  meaning  of  the  word 
here  translated  borrow  is 
ask,  and  does  not  imply  any 
promise  to  return. 

BOSOM.  (John  xiii.  23.) 


BOT 

The  dress  of  the  Jews  was 
such  as  allowed  them  to  carry 
within  a  fold  in  the  bosom  of 
the  robe  what  could  not  be  car¬ 
ried  in  the  hand.  Hence  the 
expressions  Isa.  xl.  11,  and 
Luke  vi.  .38.  It  was  also  used 
to  denote  a  place  of  rest  and 
security.  Hence  the  term 
Abraham’s  bosom  is  figura¬ 
tively  spoken  of  as  the  abode 
of  Lazarus.  (Luke  xvi.  23.) 
No  name  awakened  such  as¬ 
sociations  in  the  mind  of  a  Jew 
as  that  of  Abraham.  (Luke 
xiii.  28.  John  viii.  33.  39.  57. 
Acts  xiii.  26.)  The  use  of  this 
term  (John  i.  18)  imports  also 
the  peculiar,  mysterious,  and 
perfect  unity  of  the  Father  and 
Son. 

BOSSES.  (Job  xv.  26.)  The 
prominent  or  projecting  parts 
of  the  buckler,  and  of  course 
the  thickest  and  strongest. 

BOTTLE.  (Gen.  xxi.  14.) 
Ancient  bottles  were  made  of 
the  skins  of  animals,  which 
were  properly  dressed  for  the 
purpose.  The  openings  of  the 
skin  were  closed,  except  at 
the  neck,  through  which  the 
liquor  was  to  be  received  and 
discharged,  and  which  was 
fastened  by  a  string  like  a  bag 

The  following  is  copied  from 


BOW 

a  fragment  of  the  Antiquities 
of  Herculaneum,  and  repre¬ 
sents  a  young  woman  pouring 
wine  from  a  bottle  into  a  cup. 

They  were  of  course  of  dif- 
icrent  sizes,  as  the  skins  of 
kids,  goats,  or  oxen  might  be 
used.  Bruce  describes  par¬ 
ticularly  a  bottle  which  he 
saw  in  Arabia,  made  in  this 
manner,  of  an  ox-skin,  which 
would  hold  sixty  gallons,  and 
two  of  which  were  a  load  for 
a  camel. 

Our  missionaries  in  eastern 
countries  frequently  speak  of 
the  goat-skins  and  leathern 
bottles  in  which  they  carry  wa¬ 
ter  in  their  journeys,  where 
the  travelling  is  rough, and  the 
vessels  likely  to  strike  against 
each  other,  they  are  made  of 
the  safest  materials  that  can 
be  found.  The  skins  or  bottles 
used  for  new  wine  were  of 
the  freshest  and  most  flexible 
kind,  in  order  that  they  might 
the  better  endure  the  process 
of  fermentation.  (Matt.  ix.  17.) 

The  effect  of  smoke  on  a 
skin-bottle  would  be  to  black¬ 
en  and  shrivel  it.  (Ps.cxix.83.) 

BOW.  (See  Armour.) 

Bow.  A  posture.  (Gen. 
xxxvii.  10.)  To  bow  down 
one’s  self  is  expressive  of 
great  reverence  and  humility. 
(Gen.  xxiv.  26.  48.  1  Kings  i. 
63,  and  ii.  19.)  It  was  a  com¬ 
mon  mode  of  salutation  in  the 
east  to  kneel  upon  one  knee, 
and  bow  the  head  until  it 
touched  the  ground.  (See 
Prayer.) 

It  is  still  the  custom  in  many 
eastern  nations  for  subjects  to 
kneel  before  the  throne  of  the 
king,  and  bow  their  heads 
slowly,  till  they  touch  the 
earth.  Sir  William  Jones, 
in  his  history  of  Nadir  Shah, 
says,  that  as  Nadir  approach¬ 
ed,  the  people  bowed  their 
heads  with  shame,  and  touch¬ 
ed  the  earth  with  the  forehead 
of  humiliation. 

BOWELS.  (1  Kings  iii.  26.) 

10* 


BRA 

This  term  is  used  by  the  sa¬ 
cred  writers  evidently  in  a 
figurative  sense,  for  affections 
or  emotions  of  the  heart.  (Col. 
iii.  12.  1  John  iii.  17.) 

BOX  TREE.  (Isa.  xli.  19.) 
An  evergreen,  whose  perfect 
proportions,  beauty  of  foliage, 
and  utility  might  illustrate 
the  prosperity  and  grace 
which  God  would  bestow  oa 
Zion.  (Isa.  lx.  13.) 

BOZRAH,  (Gen.  xxxvi.  33,) 
called  by  the  Greeks  and  Ro¬ 
mans  Bostra,  was  situated 
about  twenty-four  miles  south¬ 
east  of  Edrei.  It  is  often  men¬ 
tioned  in  the  Scriptures  as 
the  chief  city  of  Edom.  (Isa. 
xxxiv.6,andlxiii.l.  Jer.xlviii. 
24,  and  xlix.  13.  22.  Amos  i. 
12.)  It  is  called  by  Jeremiah 
a  city  of  the  Moabites,  and  it 
was  probably  taken  from  Am¬ 
mon  by  the  Edomites,  and 
again  from  the  Edomites  by 
the  Mo^>ites.  As  it  was  situ¬ 
ated  upfln  the  confines  of  seve¬ 
ral  countries  who  were  often 
at  war  with  each  other,  these 
changes  were  likely  to  hap¬ 
pen.  It  is  now  the  largest 
city  in  that  district,  and  has 
been  celebrated  as  a  strong¬ 
hold  of  the  Nestorians. 

The  prophecies  respecting 
this  place,  some  of  which  are 
cited  above,  are  among  the 
most  wonderful  and  sublime 
on  record. 

BRACELET.  (Gen.  xxlv. 
30.)  An  ornament  (chain  or 
clasp)  worn  on  the  arm. 
Among  eastern  princesses  it. 
is  a  badge  of  royalty,  and  was 
probably  regarded  as  such  in 
the  time  of  David.  (2  Sam.  i. 
10.)  The  royal  bracelet  was 
of  much  richer  materials,  and 
was  worn  above  the  elbow ; 
the  common  bracelet  was 
worn  on  the  wrist.  (Ezek. 
xvi.  11.) 

BRANCH.  (Ps.  civ.  12.) 
This  word  is  often  figuratively 
used  by  the  sacred  writers. 
(Ps.  Ixxx.  15.  John  xv.  5,  6,) 
113 


BKE 

and  is  also  one  of  the  titles 
of  the  Messiah.  (Isa.  xi.  1, 
comp.  with  Isa.  liii.  2.  Zech. 
ini.  8,  and  vi.  12.)  The  family 
of  Jesse  is  represented  under 
the  figure  of  the  stock  of  a 
tree,  firmly  rooted ;  and  the 
coming  of  Christ  from  the 
seed  of  David  is  represented 
as  the  shooting  forth  of  a 
branch,  which  is  here  called, 
by  way  of  distinction  and 
eminence, 1  THE  BRANCH;’ 
for  it  may  well  be  said 
that  Christ,  even  in  his  com¬ 
mon  nature,  far  surpassed 
all  the  house  of  David,  in 
the  dignity,  power,  and  glory 
both  of  his  person  and  office. 

BRASS.  (Gen.  iv.  22.)  The 
composition  which  we  call 
brass  waB  invented  as  late  as 
the  thirteenth  century.  That 
which  is  called  brass  in  the 
sacred  writings  was  probably 
what  we  call  copper.  It  was 
used  for  a  variety  of  purposes 
about  the  temple,  and  also  for 
fetters,  (Judg.  xvi.  21.  2  Kings 
xxv.  7,)  armour,  (1  Sam.  xvii. 
6,6,)  and  musical  instruments. 
(1  Chron.  xv.  19.  1  Cor.  xiii.  1.) 
The  words  brass,  brazen,  Ac. 
occurring  under  the  words 
Ahmour,  Altar,  Book,  &c. 
are  used  in  conformity  with 
the  common  English  transla¬ 
tion  of  the  Bible,  and  not  with 
technical  accuracy. 

BRAZEN  SEA.  (See  La¬ 
ver.) 

BRAZEN  SERPENT.  (See 

V  O  D  Dir  V  “P  \ 

BREAD.  (Gen.  xiv.  18.)  The 
bread  of  the  Jews  was  gene¬ 
rally  made  of  wheat.  Barley 
and  other  grains  were  some¬ 
times  used.  (Judg.  vii.  13.) 

The  materials  were  prena  red 
as  in  modern  days.  (See  Mill, 
Sieve.)  The  process  of  knead¬ 
ing  itwas  performed  in  knead- 
ing-trouahs,  (Gen.  xviii.  6.  Ex. 
xii.  34.  j)er.  vii.  18,)  or  wooden 
bowls,  such  as  the  Arabians  use 
at  this  day  for  a  like  purpose. 

It  has  been  supposed  by 


BRE 

some  that  the  kneading  was 
done  upon  a  circular  piece  of 
leather,  such  as  is  now  used  in 
Persia,  and  which  would  be 
more  properly  called  a  knead- 
ing-bag,  as  it  draws  up  like 
a  knapsack,  in  the  manner 


represented  in  the  above  eut> 
Either  of  the  utensils  would 
be  easily  transported.  Very 
simple  leaven  was  used  in 
the  dough.  The  loaves  were 
shaped  like  a  plate,  and  when 
leavened,  were  ordinarily  of 
the  thickness  of  one’s  little 
finger.  (See  Table.) 

The  unleavened  bread  was 
very  thin,  and  was  broken, 
not  cut.  (Lam.  iv.  4.  Matt, 
xiv.  19;  xv.  36;  xxvi.  26.) 
It  has  been  said  that  the  thick¬ 
ness  or  thinness  of  the  loaves 
was  regulated  by  the  time 
they  were  to  be  kept;  that 
which  was  to  be  kept  longest 
being  made  thick, that  it  might 
retain  its  moisture.  This  is 
contrary  to  modern  philoso¬ 
phy  on  this  subject,  as  we  ses 
in  the  manufacture  of  ship- 
bread.  (For  the  manner  of 
baking,  see  Ovens,  Cake.) 

The.  term  bread  is  often  used 
for  food  or  provisions  in  gene¬ 
ral.  • 

Breao  corn  (Isa.  xxviil. 
28)  is  used  for  wheat,  barley, 
or  any  other  grain  from  which 
bread  was  made. 

The  figurative  expressions, 
breast  of  s<»Tou>s,(Ps.exxvii.2,) 
and  bread  of  tears,  (Ps.  Ixxx. 

114 


BEE 

6,)  may  denote  that  the  suffer¬ 
ing  -of  sorrow  and  the  shed¬ 
ding  of  tears  had  become  as 
nmch  a  part  of  the  portion 
of  every  day  as  one’s  daily 
bread.  So  the  bread  of  wick¬ 
edness, (Prov.  iv.17,)  and  bread 
of  deceit,  (Prov.  xx.  17,)  de¬ 
note  not  only  a  living  or 
estate  obtained  by  fraud  and 
sin,  but  that  to  do  wickedly  is 
as  much  the  portion  of  a 
wicked  man’s  life  as  to  eat 
his  daily  bread. 

Shew-breao  (Ex.  xxv.  30) 
was  unleavened  bread  pre¬ 
pared  anew  every  Sabbath, 
and  presented  hot  on  the 
golden  table,  in  twelve  loaves 
of  a  square  or  oblong  shape, 
according  to  the  number  of 
the  tribes  of  Israel.  Salt  and 
incense  were  presented  at  the 
same  time.  It  is  supposed 
that  the  loaves  were  placed 
either  in  two  piles  or  in  two 
rows,  with  six  loaves  in  each, 
and  it  was  called  skew-bread, 
or  bread  of  the  face,  or  the 
bread  of  setting  before,  be¬ 
cause  it  stood  continually  be¬ 
fore'  the  Lord. 

The  old  loave3  were  re¬ 
moved  every  Sabbath,  (Lev. 
xxiv.  8,)  and  as  a  general 
rule,  were  to  be  eaten  by  the 
priests  alone,  and  by  them 
ouly  in  the  court  of  the  sanc¬ 
tuary.  (1  Sam.  xxi.  1 — 6.  Matt, 
xii.  3,  &c.) 

The  figure  below  represents 
the  commonly  received  im¬ 
pression  respecting  the  shape 


BRI 

and  appearance  of  the  tabls 
of  shew-bread.  The  dotted 
lines  represent  the  front  row 
of  loaves ;  the  residue  being 
concealed  by  these. 

BREAKFAST.  (See  Meals.) 

BREASTPLATE.  1.  (Ex. 
xxviii.  15.)  A  part  of  the  offi. 
cial  dress  of  the  Jewish  high- 
priest,  the  general  appearance 
of  which  is  supposed  to  be 
given  in  the  cut  upon  the  ad¬ 
joining  page.  It  was  a  piece 
of  embroidered  work,  about 
ten  inches  square,  and  made 
double  with  a  front  and 
lining,  so  as  to  answer  for  a 
pouch  or  bag.  It  was  adorned 
with  twelve  precious  stones, 
as  represented  in  the  cut  on 
the  following  page. 

The  two  upper  corners  were 
fastened  to  the  ephod,  from 
which  it  was  not  to  be  loosed, 
(Ex.  xxviii.  28,)  and  the  two 
lower  corners  to  the  girdle. 
The  rings,  chains,  and  other 
fastenings  were  of  gold  or 
rich  lace.  It  was  called  the 
memorial,  (Ex.  xxviii.  12.  29,) 
inasmuch  as  it  reminded  the 
priest  of  his  representative 
character  in  relation  to  the 
twelve  tribes;  and  it  is  also 
called  the  breastplate  of  judg¬ 
ment,  (Ex.  xxviii.  15,)  perhaps 
because  it  was  worn  by  him 
who  was,  instrumentally.  the 
fountain  of  justice  and  judg- 
merit  to  the  Jewish  church. 
Others  think  it  is  because  tha 
Urim  and  Thummim  wera 
annexed  to  it.  (See  Urim  and 
Thummim.) 

2.  (Eph.  vi.  14.)  The  breast 
plate  was  also  that  article  of 
ancient  armour  which  pro 
tected  the  breast.  (See  Ar¬ 
mour.)  Its  figurative  use  in 
the  passage  above  cited,  and 
also  in  Isa.  lix.  17,  is  snlfi. 
ciently  obvious. 

BRICK  (Gen.  xi.  3)  was  a 
building  material  among  the 
Jews ;  but  the  size  of  theii 
bricks  was  much  larger  than 
ours.  Bricks  found  among  lh« 
115 


BR1 


BRI 


ruins  of  Babylon  are  a  foot 
square,  and  resemble  tile  ra¬ 
ther  than  brick.  They  were 
usually  hardened  by  the  heat 


of  the  sun,  although  kiln 
were  not  unknown.  (2  Sam. 
xii.  31.  Jer.  xliii.  9.  Nah.  iii. 
11.)  It  is  said  that  the  mate- 
116 


BttO 

rials  of  brick  and  mode  of 
manufacturing  them  have 
lately  been  discovered  in 
some  ancient  monument,  by 
an  Italian  traveller. 

BRIDE,  BRIDEGROOM, 
BRIDE-CHAMBER.  (See 
Marriage.) 

BRIDLE.  (See  Harness.) 

BR1GANDINE.  (Jer.  xlvi. 
4.)  Supposed  to  be  the  same 
with  the  habergeon  and  coat 
of  mail.  (See  Armour.) 

BRIMSTONE.  (Fs.  xi.  6.) 
A  well  known  mineral  sub¬ 
stance,  exceedingly  inflamma¬ 
ble,  and  when  burning  emits 
a  suffocating  smell.  We  are 
told  that  the  cities  of  the  plain 
were  destroyed  by  a  rain  (or 
storm)  of  fire  and  brimstone. 
There  is,  nothing  incredible 
in  this,  even  if  we  suppose 
natural  agencies  only  were 
employed  in  it.(  The  soil  in 
that  and  in  many  other  parts 
of  the  earth  is  such,  that  a 
violent  eruption  might  fill  the 
air  with  inflamed  substances, 
falling  down  in  streams  of 
liquid  fire  upon  those  devoted 
cities.  The  word  is  often 
figuratively  used.  (Job  xviii. 
15.  Isa.  xxxiv.  9.)  Whether 
the  word  is  used  literally  or 
not,  in  the  passages  which  de¬ 
scribe  the  future  sufferings  of 
the  wicked,  we  may  be  sure 
that  it  expresses  all  which  the 
human  mind  can  conceive  of 
excruciating  torment. 

BROTHER,  BRETHREN. 
(Gen.  iv.  2,  and  xlii.  13.)  A 
term  which  properly  denotes 
the  nearest  consanguinity, 
that  is,  male  children  of  the 
Same  parents,  as  in  the  texts 
above  cited ;  but  sometimes 
persons  of  more  remote  kin¬ 
dred,  or  of  the  same  nation, 
(Gen.  xiii.  8.  Esth.  x.  3.  Acts 
vii.  25. 37.  and  xiii.  26,1  or  even 
those  who  are  closely  united 
in  affection.  (2  Sam.  i.  26.)  In 
the  New  Testament  the  term 
•a  more  frequently  applied 
to  the  spiritual  relationship 


BUR 

which  the  true  followers  of 
Christ  sustain  to  him  and  to 
each  other.  (Malt.  xii.  50. 
R'™;  ip.  2  Thess.  ii.  13.) 

§UCKLER.  (See  Armour.) 

BUILDINGS.  (See  Dwell¬ 
ings.) 

BUL.  (See  Month.) 

BULLS  of  Bash  an.  (Ps. 
xxn.  12.)  Bulls  in  the  rich 
pastures  of  Bashan,  being 
well  fed,  were  strong  and 
ferocious ;  hence  they  are 
chosen  as  symbols  of  cruel 
and  persecuting  enemies.  (See 
Bashan.) 

BULRUSH.  (Isa.  xviii.  2.) 
A  species  of  reed,  which  is 
lound  on  the  marshes  of  the 
Nile.  It  grows  to  the  height 
of  twelve  or  fifteen  feet.  The 
stalks  were  pliable,  and  capa¬ 
ble  of  being  interwoven  very 
closely,  as  is  evident  from  its 
being  used  in  the  construction 
of  arks.  (Ex.  ii.  3.  5.)  It  was 
from  this  vegetable  that  the 
papyrus  was  derived,  which 
was  used  for  writing.  (See 
Book.)  It  was  made  of  the 
inside  bark,  which  was  cut 
into  strips,  and  the  edges  ce¬ 
mented  together  and  dried  in 
the  sun.  The  fact,  that  the  pa¬ 
pyrus  was  used  for  food  when 
prepared  in  one  way,  and  for 
writing  when  prepared  in  an¬ 
other  way,  explains  the  pas¬ 
sages  in  which  the  eating  of 
books,  &c.  is  mentioned,  yer. 
xv.  16.  Ezek.  iii.  1.  3.  Rev.  x. 

8 — 10.  For  the  appearance  of 
the  bulrush,  see  a  beautiful 
engraving,  illustrating  that 
article,  in  Natural  History 
of  the  Bible,  also  Youth’s 
Friend,  vol.  v.,  both  by  the 
Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

BULWARK.  (See  War.) 
BURDEN.  (Hab.  i.  1.)  This 
word,  when  used  in  connex¬ 
ion  with  some  city  or  nation, 
(as  the  burden  of  Moab,.  the 
burden  <f  Nineveh ,  Ac.)  ex¬ 
presses  the  disastrous  or  ca¬ 
lamitous  import  of  the  pro 
phecy. 


117 


BUR 

The  “  burden  of  the  desert 
$f  the  sea,"  (Babylon,)  the 
“  burden  of  the  valley  of  vi¬ 
sion,”  (Jerusalem,)  and  simi¬ 
lar  expressions,  are  explain¬ 
ed  by  their  subject  or  con¬ 
nexion. 

BURNING-BUSH.  (See 
Moses.) 

BURNT-OFFERING.  (See 
Sacrifice.) 

BURIAL,  BURY.  (Gen. 
Xxiii.  4.  Matt.  xxvi.  12.)  It 
was  customary  among  the 
jews  for  the  children  or  near 
kindred  to  close  the  eyes  of 
the  dying,  (Gen.  xlvi.  4,)  and 
a  loud  and  general  wailing 
followed  the  decease,  (John 
xi.  19.  31.  33,)  and  continued 
many  days  after  burial.  The 
body  of  the  deceased  was 
washed  and  laid  out.  (Acts 
ix.  37.)  It  was  wrapped  in  folds 
of  linen  cloth,  and  the  head 
bound  around  with  a  napkin. 
It  is  said  that  Lazarus  was 
bound,  hand  and  foot,  with 
grave  clothes,  (John  xi.  44;) 
and  it  is  supposed  by  many^ 
that  each  limb  had  its  sepa-" 
rate  wrapper,  as  it  was  cus¬ 
tomary  in  Egypt  to  wrap  even 
each  finger  in  a  separate  cloth 
or  band,  so  that  hundreds  of 
yards  of  cloth  are  often  un¬ 
wound  from  one  of  their 
mummies.  When  thus  bound 
around,  it  was  placed  on  a 
bier,  in  readiness  to  be  borne 
to  the  grave.  (See  Bier,  Em¬ 
balm.) 

The  climate,  and  the  un- 
cleauness  which  was  con¬ 
tracted,  under  the  law,  from 
contact  with  a  dead  body,  or 
even  coming  into  the  same 
apartment  with  it,  would  natu¬ 
rally  lead  to  the  custom  of 
early  interments.  In  Persia, 
we  are  told,  it  is  not  custom¬ 
ary  to  keep  the  dead  over  two 
or  three  hours ;  and  the  Eu¬ 
ropean  Jews  universally  bury 
their  dead  early.  There  were 
many  exceptions  in  this  re¬ 
spect,  however.  The  practice 


BUR 

of  embalming  was  not  general 
among  the  Jews,  though  spices, 
&c.  were  used  in  their  burials. 
(2  Chron.  xvi.  14.  John  xix- 
40.)  Jacob  and  Joseph  (whose 
bodies  were  embalmed)  both 
died  in  Egypt, where  the  art  of 
embalming  was  very  skilfully 
practised.  In  Jacob’s  case  We 
are  told,  that  Joseph  com¬ 
manded  his  servants,  the  phy¬ 
sicians,  to  embalm  his  father, 
and  then  he  was  placed  in  a 
coffin  in  Egypt.  And  thenca 
his  body  was  carried  to  Mach- 
pelah,  in  Canaan,  and  buried. 
(Gen.  1.  2.  7,  8.)  Coffins  were 
used  in  Egypt  and  Babylon; 
but  are  unknown  in  the  east, 
even  at  the  present  day,  ex¬ 
cept  when  a  body  is  to  be  con¬ 
veyed  to  a  distant  place.  (Sea 
Emba  lm.) 

All  civilized  nations  have 
been  agreed  in  attending  with 
some  solemnity  the  burial  of 
their  dead.  Among  the  Jews, 
the  bier  was  followed  to  tha 
grave  by  a  few  of  the  nearest 
relations.  (2  Sam.  iii.  31.  Luka 
vii.  14.)  Other  persons  attend, 
ed,  and  sometimes  mourners 
(or  rather  .wailers  by  profes¬ 
sion)  were  employed  to  attend 
the  body.  (Jer.  ix.  17.  Ezek. 
xxiv.  17.  Amos  v.  16.  Matt.  ix. 
23.)  This  is  the  custom  now 
in  many  eastern  nations. 

An  English  missionary  In 
the  East  Indies  speaks  of  hav¬ 
ing  seen  a  number  of  women 
and  girls  assembled  to  lament 
over  the  grave  of  a  lad  who 
had  been  killed  by  a  wild 
buffalo,  ten  days  before.  Tha 
mother  sat  on  the  earth  at  one 
end  of  the  grave,  and  leaning 
upon  it,  cried  out,  “  Oh,  my 
child !  oh,  my  child !”  Tha 
others  stood  around  her,  cry¬ 
ing  out  and  exhibiting  every 
sign  of  distress.  (Gen.  1. 3. 10 
Jer.  xxxi.  15.) 

Certain  places  were  appro¬ 
priated  by  the  Jews  to  the 
I  purpose  ot  burying  the  dead, 
1  and  they  were  both  public  and 
118 


BUR 

private.  (Gen.  xxiii.  4;  1. 13. 
Judg.  viii.  32;  xvi.  31.  2  Sam. 
ii.  32;  xxi.  14.  2  Kings  xxiii.  6. 
Jer.  xxvi.23.)  They  were  usu¬ 
ally  selected  in  gardens,  (2 
Kings  xxi.  18.26.  John  xix.41,) 
or  fields,  (Gen.  xxiii.  11,)  or 
saves  in  the  sides  of  the  moun¬ 
tains,  (2  Kings  xxiii.  16,  17,) 
or  in  rocks,  (Isa.  xxii.  16 ;) 
and  to  be  unburied  was  re¬ 
garded  as  exceedingly  dis¬ 
graceful.  (1  Sam.  xvii.  44 — 46. 


BUR 

2  Kings  ix.  10.  Ps.cxli.7.  Jer 
viii.  2,  and  xxii.  19.)  The 
grave  was  called  the  house  or 
home  of  the  dead.  (Job  xxx. 
23.  Eccl.  xii.  5.)  The  burial 
places  were  usually  in  retired 
situations, and  hencewere  the 
resort  of  demoniacs,  (Matt, 
viii.  28,)  and  were  usually 
without  the  city  walls,  but  not 
always.  (Josh.  xxiv.  30.  33. 
1  Sam.  xxv.  1 ;  xxviii.  3.  2 
Kings  xxi.  18.  2  Chron.  xvi. 


BUR 


BUR 


Interior  of  a  sepulchre  in  Judea,  with  the  relics  of  a  body. 


14;  xxiv.  16;  xxxiii.20.  Neh. 
iii.  16.)  Though  solitary,  they 
were  selected  with  reference 
to  shade,  prospect,  & c.  (Gen. 
xxiii.  17 ;  xxxv.8.  1  Sam.  xxxi. 
13.) 

The  cuts  on  this  and  the 
preceding  page  represent  the 
general  appearance  of  east¬ 
ern  tombs. 

The  desire  to  be  buried 
with  one’s  kindred  was  very 
strong,  (2  Sam.  xix.  37 ;)  and 
it  is  remarkable  that  the 
Jews,  as  a  people,  in  all  their 
dispersions  and  sufferings,  re¬ 
tain  an  ardent  desire  to  be 
buried  in  their  own  land. 


It  was  not  unusual  for  s 
single  family  to  have,  near 
their  dwelling  house,  a  small 
building,  without  door  or  win¬ 
dow,  built  of  stone  or  other 
durable  materials,  which  was 
called  the  sepulchral  house,  or 
family  mansion  for  the  dead. 
Dr.  Jowett  describes  them,  and 
says  they  are  not  uncommon 
in  eastern  nations  at  the  pre¬ 
sent  day. 

It  is  supposed  by  travellers 
that  the  tombs  of  Joseph  and 
Joshua,  and  some  others  which 
were  hewn  in  rocks,  and  the 
location  of  which  is  minutely 
described  in  the  Bible,  are 


BUT 

still  seen.  The  preceding  cut 
represents  the  ground  plan 
of  a  sepulchre  which  Maun- 
dreil  found  and  explored,  in 
Aradqs,  (Arpad,)  in  Syria. 

Through  an  old  and  dilapi¬ 
dated  entrance  he  gained  ad¬ 
mission,  by  seven  or  eight 
steps,  to  the  chamber  a,  eleven 
•  feet  long,  and  about  nine  wide. 
This  is  a  kind  of  ante-cham¬ 
ber.  On  the  right,  by  a  nar¬ 
row  passage,  he  entered  a 
chamber  b,  ten  feet  by  eight. 
This  contained  six  cells  for 
corpses,  two  opposite  to  the 
entrance,  four  at  the  left  hand, 
and  one  not  quite  finished  at 
the  right.  On  the  other  side 
of  the  ante-chamber  c  is  a 
similar  chamber,  with  eleven 
cells,  not  quite  so  large.  Two 
narrow  passages,  seven  feet 
long,  lead  to  the  apartment  d. 
The  cut  will  now  serve  to  ex¬ 
plain  itself  in  some  measure. 
The  average  height  of  the 
rooms  is  six  feet. 

The  sepulchres  of  the  Jews 
were  sometimes  expensively 
built,  and  adorned  or  garnish¬ 
ed;  and  were  whitened  at  short 
intervals,  so  as  to  make  them 
conspicuous,  that  they  might 
be  avoided  for  their  ceremo¬ 
nial  uncleanness.  Hence  the 
force  of  our  Lord’s  reproof. 
(Matt,  xxiii.  27.)  Sometimes 
titles  or  inscriptions  were 
placed  on  them.  (2  Kings 
xxiii.  17.)  To  build  a  sepul¬ 
chre  for  a  man  was  an  ex¬ 
pression  of  respect  and  ho¬ 
nour.  (Matt,  xxiii.  29.  Luke 
xi.  48.) 

That  sepulchres  were  not 
always  closed  may  be  inferred 
from  several  passages  of  the 
Bible.  (2  Kings  xiii.  21.  Ps.  v. 

9.  See  Aceldama.  See  also 
Omar,  pp.  167—173,  and  Sb- 
lumiel,  p.  188,  both  by  the 
Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

BUSHEL.  (See  Measures.) 
BUTLER.  (Gen.  xl.  1.  13.) 
An  honourable  officer  of  the 
king’s  household,  called  cup- 


BUT 

bearer,  (Neh.  i.  11.)  it  being 
his  duty  to  fill  and  bear  the 
cup  or  drinking  vessel  to  the 
king.  The  thief  butler  had 
the  charge  and  oversight  of 
the  rest.  (Gen.  xl.  2.) 

BUTTER.  (Gen.  xviii.  8.) 
As  this  word  is  used  in  the 
Scriptures,  it  probably  means 
sour  or  coagulated  milk, 
which,  when  mingled  with 
water,  is  still  regarded  as  a 
very  agreeable  and  refreshing 
beverage  by  eastern  nations. 
(Job  xx.  17.)  Their  butter, 
such  as  it  was,  might  haio 
been  sometimes  clarified  and 
preserved  in  jars,  as  at  the 
present  day  in  Asia,  and  when 
poured  out  resembles  rich  oil. 

The  figurative  expression  in 
Job  xxix.  6, 11 1  washed  my  steps 
with  butter,”  denotes  prima¬ 
rily  the  abundance  with  which 
the  patriarch  was  blessed ;  but 
it  is  also  supposed  by  some  to 
refer  to  the  great  quantities  of 
cream  which  his  herds  pro¬ 
duced,  and  which  were  trod¬ 
den  into  butter.  This  fanci¬ 
ful  interpretation  aside,  the 
passage  seems  to  be  self-ex¬ 
planatory  ;  the  figurative  allu¬ 
sion  to  butter  having  the  same 
force  and  effect  as  that  to  oil. 

The  place  of  butter,  as  a  ge¬ 
neral  article  of  food  in  the 
East,  was  supplied  in  some 
measure  by  the  vegetable  oil 
which  was  so  abundant. 

Butter  was  made  by  pour¬ 
ing  the  milk  into  a  goat-skin, 
and  then  shaking  or  treading 
it  to  and  fro,  in  a  uniform  di¬ 
rection,  until  the  separation 
of  the  butter  took  place.  The 
butter  mentioned  in  Judg.  v. 
23,  was  probably  cream,  or  a 
preparation  of  which  cream 
was  a  component  part.  Jt  is 
not  improbable  that  the  bottle 
of  milk  was  no  other  than  a 
skin  which  she  had  been 
using  as  a  churn,  and  that  the 
refreshment  was  butter-milk, 
presented  in  the  richest  ves¬ 
sel  that  was  at  hand.  Butter- 


BUT 

milk  is  still  esteemed  a  most 
refreshing  beverage  by  the 
Arabs. 

Butter  and  honey  were  used 
together,  and  were  esteemed 
among  the  richest  productions 


BYT 

of  the  land.  And  travellers  tell 
us  that  the  Arabs  use  cream  or 
new  butter  mixed  with  honey 
as  a  principal  delicacy. 
BYTHINIA.  (See  Bithy- 

NIA.) 


CAI 

AB.  (See  Measures.) 
CABINS,  (Jer.xxxvii.lG,) 
or  cells,  were  probably  niches 
or  apartments  within  the  dun¬ 
geon,  for  the  separate  confine¬ 
ment  of  prisoners.  The  idea 
conveyed  is,  that  the  prophet 
suffered  the  most  severe  and 
loathsome  imprisonment. 

CiESAR.  (See  Cesar.) 

CjESAREA.  (SeeCESAREA.) 

CjESAREA-PHILIPPI.  (See 
Cesarea-Philippi.) 

CAIAPHAS  (John  xi.  49.  51) 
was  the  high-priest  of  the 
Jews  at  the  time  of  our  Sa¬ 
viour’s  trial.  The  office  was 
formerly  held  for  life,  but  at 
this  lime  it  was  filled  and  va¬ 
cated  at  the  pleasure  of  the 
Roman  government. 

The  wonderful  miracle  of 
raising  Lazarus  from  the  dead 
convinced  many  of  the  Jews 
that  Christ  was  sent  from  God : 
and  the  Pharisees,  alarmed 
at  the  increase  of  his  follow¬ 
ers,  summoned  a  council,  and 
pretended  that  their  liberties 
were  in  danger  ;  that  the  Ro¬ 
mans  would"  become  jealous 
of  them,  and  that  their  de¬ 
struction  was  inevitable  if 
something  was  not  done  at 
once  to  check  his  progress. 
Caiaphas  was  a  member  of 
the  council,  and  expressed  his 
decided  opinion  in  favour  of 
putting  Jesus  to  death,  as  the 
only  way  of  saving  the  nation 
from  the  evils  which  his  suc¬ 
cess  would  bring  upon  them. 
His  language  was— “Ye  know 
nothing  at  all;  nor  consider 
that  it  is  expedient  for  us  that 
one  man  should  die  for  the 
people,  and  that  the  whole 
nation  perish  not." 


CAI 

This  counsel  was  wicked 
and  unjust  in  the  highest  de¬ 
gree  ;  but  as  there  was  no  of 
fence  charged,  it  seemed  the 
only  plausible  excuse  for 
utting  Christ  to  death.  The 
igh-priest’s  language  on  this 
occasionwas  prophetic, though 
he  did  not  intend  it  so.  He 
was  a  wicked  man,  but  the 
Spirit  of  God  made  use  of  him 
to  declare  the  divine  pur¬ 
poses,  and  as  he  was  high- 
priest,  all  his  declarations 
were  clothed  with  authority. 

The  evangelist,  in  giving  an 
account  of  this  extraordinary 
occurrence,  enlarges  on  the 
prophetic  language  of  the 
high-priest,  and  shows  the  ex¬ 
tent  and  blessedness  of  the 
dispensation  of  mercy  through 
Jesus  Christ.  Nothing  of  this, 
however,  was  in  the  mind  ot 
the  cruel  and  bigoted  high- 
priest. 

After  Christ  was  arrested, 
he  was  arraigned  before  Caia¬ 
phas,  and  an  effort  was  made 
to  produce  false  testimony 
sufficient  for  his  condemna¬ 
tion.  This  expedient  failed, 
.or  though  two  persons  ap¬ 
peared  to  testify,  they  did  not 
agree,  and  at  Iast-Caiapha3 
put  our  Saviour  himself  upon 
oath,  that  he  should  sav  whe¬ 
ther  he  was  indeed  Christ,  the 
Son  of  God,  or  nut. 

The  answer  was  of  course 
in  the  affirmative,  and  was  ac¬ 
companied  with  a  declaration 
of  his  divine  power  and  ma¬ 
jesty.  The  high-priest  pre¬ 
tended  to  be  greatly  grieved 
at  what  he  considered  the 
blasphemy  of  our  Saviour’* 
pretensions,  and  forth  *>h  ap 


CAT 

pealed  to  his  enraged  enemies 
to  say  if  this  was  not  enough. 
They  answered  at  once  that 
he  deserved  to  die,  and  then, 
in  the  very  presence  of  Caia- 
phas,  and  without  any  re¬ 
straint  from  him,  they  fell  up. 
oil  their  guiltless  victim  with 
insults  and  injuries. 

As  Caiaphas  had  no  power 
to  inflict  the  punishment  of 
death,  Christ  was  taken  from 
him  to  Pilate,  the  Roman  go¬ 
vernor,  (John  xviii.  28,)  that 
his  execution  might  be  duly 
ordered.  (See  Annas.) 

CAIN.  (Gen.  iv.  1.)  The  first- 
born  of  Adam  and  Eve,  and, 
of  course,  the  first-born  of  the 
human  race.  He  was  also  the 
first  murderer,  and  the  victim 
of  his  malice  was  his  own  bro¬ 
ther.  (See  Abel.)  He  was  in¬ 
stigated  to  this  violence  by 
envy ;  his  brother’s  offering 
having  been  accepted  by  God, 
while  his  own  was  refused. 
On  this  account  he  became 
dejected  and  angry,  and  the 
Lord  inquired  oi  him  why  he 
indulged  these  sinful  feelings. 
If  he  would  do  well,  as  Abel 
had  done,  he  would  be  equally 
accepted;  and  if  not,  the  sin 
must  be  upon  his  own  head. 
Certainly  lie  had  nb  cause  of 
anger  towards  Abel,  who  was 
still  ready  to  acknowledge 
nim  as  his  elder  brother,  and 
to  yield  to  him  all  the  privi¬ 
leges  of  birthright.  The  ex¬ 
postulation  was  of  no  avail. 
They  were  together  in  the 
field,  and  Cain  took  his  life. 

when  the  inquiry  was  put 
to  him,  where  his  brother  Abel 
was,  Cain  evaded  the  ques¬ 
tion,  saying,  “Am  I  my  bro¬ 
ther's  keeper  ?”  But  the  Lord, 
as  if  to  express  the  greatness 
of  his  crime,  (Gen.  iii.  13,)  re¬ 
plied,  “What  hast  thou 
done  1  The  voice  of  thy  bro¬ 
ther’s  blood  crieth  unto  me 
from  the  ground," where  it  was 
shed,  or  where  the  body  was 
buried;  and  the  dreadful  seu- 


CAK 

tence  was  immediately  passed 
upon  him  which  doomed  him 
to  fruitless  toil,  and  to  the  life 
of  a  fugitive  and  vacabond. 
Ihus  was  he  banished  from 
society,  (the  face  of  the  earth,) 
and  from  the  favour  of  God. 
The  miserable  man  seemed 
conscious  for  a  moment  of  the 
enormity  of  his  guilt.  He  ex- 
claimed,  “  My  punishment  is 
greater  than  I  can  bear,"  or 
(as  it  may  be  rendered)  my 
iniquity  is  greater  than  that  it 
may  be  forgiven;  and  he  was 
afraid  that  when  it  was  known 
what  an  abandoned  outlaw  he 
was,  he  would  be  killed  by 
any  one  that  should  find  him. 
To  prevent  this,  God  not  only 
threatened  an  extraordinary 
punishment  upon  any  one 
who  should  kill  him,  but,  as 
we  suppose,  he  distinguished 
him  from  all  other  men  by 
some  visible  mark  or  token, 
so  that  whoever  met  him 
should  know  at  once,  who  he 
was.  Several  commentators 
maintain  that  this  mark  or 
token  was  designed  to  assure 
Cain  himself  of  his  personal 
safety,  and  not  to  point  him 
out  to  others. 

The  unhappy  man  left  his 
home,  and  took  up  his  abode 
in  the  land  of  Nod,  a  country 
east  of  Eden,  where  his  family 
i  ncreased,  and  where  he  found¬ 
ed  a  city.  (See  Nod.) 

CAKE.  (1  Kings  xvii.  13; 
xix.  6.)  The  cake  was  made 
of  common  dough,  with  or 
without  leaven.  Sometimes  it 
was  kneaded  with  oil,  and 
sometimes  only  rubbed  over 
or  anointed  with  it.  (Ex. 
xxix.  2,)  and  baked  in  fiat 
pieces  of  the  thickness  of  a 
plate  upon  trfe  hot  sand  or 
bricks.  (Gen.  xviii.  6.)  Other 
utensils  were  used.  (Lev.  ii.  1. 

4,  5.  7.)  “  The  cake  not  turn¬ 
ed”  (Hos.  vii.  8)  is  a  figurative 
expression,  illustrating  the 
mixture  of  truth  and  idolatry, 
(Jews  and  Gentiles  among  the 
123 


CAL 

Ephraimites,)  by  dough  baked 
on  one  side  only,  and  there¬ 
fore  neither  dough  nor  bread. 

Among  the  Bedouins  the 
dough  is  flattened  into  thin 
cakes,  and  baked  immediate¬ 
ly,  either  on  the  coals  or  in  a 
shallow  earthen  vessel,  like  a 
frying-pan,  or  perhaps  only  a 
flat  iron  plate  laid  upon  a  few 
stones,  and  a  fire  kindled  un¬ 
derneath.  (Lev.  ii.  5.) 

In  Persia  convex  iron  plates 
are  often  used,  but  in  either 
way  the  bread  was  so  very 
thin  that  it  was  quickly  baked. 
The  Arabs  around  mount  Car¬ 
mel  bake  such  cakes  on  the 
outside  of  a  strong  earthen  or. 
stone  pitcher,  which  is  heated' 
by  coals  inside.  (See  Oven.) 

CALAMUS,  (Sol.  Song 
iv.  14.  Ezek.  xxvii.  19,)  or 
SWEET  CALAMUS,  (Ex.  xxx. 
23,)  or  SWEET  CANE,  (Isa. 
xliii.  24.  Jer.  vi.  20,)  were  all 
probably  the  same  plants.  It 
was  produced  in  Arabia  and 
India,  and,  of  an  inferior 
quality,  in  Egypt  and  Syria. 
It  was  one  of  the  ingredients 
of  the  sacred  ointment,  and 
an  article  of  Syrian  com¬ 
merce.  It  grows  about  two 
feet  in  height,  is  very  fragrant, 
and  resembles  common  cane. 

CALEB  (Num.  xiii.  6)  was 
the  son  of  Jephunneh,  of  the 
tribe  of  Judah.  When  the  Is¬ 
raelites,  on  their  passage  from 
Egypt  to  Canaan,  had  arrived 
at  the  wilderness  of  Paran, 
Moses  was  instructed  by  Je¬ 
hovah  to  send  twelve  men, 
one  from  each  of  the  tribes,  as 
explorers, to  visit  the  promised 
land,  and-  ascertain  its  situa¬ 
tion  and  fertility ;  the  number 
and  character,  as  well  as  the 
manners  and  customs  of  the 
population,  and  bring  them 
a  report.  Caleb  and  Joshua 
were  among  the  twelve ;  and 
after  making  the  tour,  which 
occupied  forty  days,  they  re¬ 
turned  to  the.  Israelites,  bring¬ 
ing  with  them,  as  they  were 


CAL 

directed  to  do,  some  ol  the 
richest  products  of  the  soil, 
which  were  both  the  evidence 
and  sample  of  its  fertility. 
They  all  agreed  that  the  land 
was  exceedingly  fruitful,  but 
ten  of  the  exploring  party  re¬ 
presented  the  inhabitants  as 
very  numerous  and  gigantic 
in  stature.  Caleb  saw  the  dis¬ 
couraging  effect  of  this  repre¬ 
sentation  on  the  people,  and 
proposed  to  them  to  go  up  at 
once  and  take  possession  of 
the  land,  assuring  them  of 
their  ability  to  do  it.  He  was 
confident  that  God  would  be 
faithful  to  his  promise,  how¬ 
ever  numerous  and  formidable 
might  be  their  opposers. 

The  ten  persisted  in  their 
discouraging  representations ; 
until  the  people,  filled  with 
fears  and  discontents,  were 
resolved  to  abandon  the  at¬ 
tempt,  and  they  and  their 
adherents  were  upon  the 
point  of  revolting  from  Moses 
and  Aaron,  and  putting  them¬ 
selves  under  a  new  leader,  to 
return  to  bondage  in  Egypt. 
At  this  crisis,  Caleb  and 
Joshua,  grieved  at  the  folly 
and  madness  of  the  people, 
repeated  the  assurance  that 
the  land  was  an  exceeding 
good  land,  and  in  beauty  and 
fertility  all  which  had  been 
promised ;  that  if  they  would 
follow  God’s  directions,  and 
go  forward  fearlessly  in  his 
strength,  they  would  easily 
subdue  the  inhabitants,  and 
obtain  complete  possession  of 
their  territory.  So  excited 
were  the  people,  however,  by 
the  representations  of  the  ten 
others  of  the  party,  that  they 
proposed  to  stone  Joshua  and 
Caleb.  This  conduct  was  so 
displeasing  to  God,  that  ho 
caused  every  Israelite  who 
was  over  twenty  years  of  age, 
except  Caleb  and  Joshua, "to 
die  in  the  wilderness  and  be¬ 
fore  they  came  to  the  promised 
land.  Forty-five  years  aftei- 
124 


CAL 

wards,  when  the  conquest 
was  completed  and  the  land 
apportioned  among  the  tribes, 
Caleb,  being  then  eighty-five 
years  of  age,  applied  to  Joshua 
for  his  share,  reminding  him 
of  the  promise  of  God,  by 
which  he  and  Joshua  were  ex¬ 
cepted  from  the  general  curse 
of  the_  people.  He  testified  to 
the  faithfulness  and  kindness 
of  God  in  preserving  his  life 
and  health  in  a  remarkable 
degree  until  that  time,  and 
proposed  to  take,  as  his  share 
of  the  land,  Kirjath.arba,  the 
stronghold  of  the  giants,  and 
the  centre  of  their  fortifica¬ 
tions.  His  request  was  grant¬ 
ed,  and  he  accordingly  at¬ 
tacked  and  subdued  Kirjath- 
arba,  and  thence  proceeded 
to  Kirjath-sepher,  another 
stronghold,  afterwards  called 
Debir.  Here  he  proposed  to 
give  his  daughter  Achsah  in 
marriage  to  the  man  who 
should  capture  the  city.  His 
nephew,  Othniel,  undertook 
the  enterprise  and  succeeded, 
and  received  the  promised 
reward.  Caleb’s  possessions 
were  called  by  his  nartle. 
(Hum.  xiii.  and  xiv.  Josh.  xiv. 
and  xv.  1  Sam.  xxx.  14.) 

There  are  twoother  persons 
of  the  same  name  mentioned. 

(1  Chron.  ii.  18.  50.) 

CALF.  (Gen.  xviii.  7.)  A 
fatted  calf  was  regarded  by 
the  Jews  as  the  choicest  ani¬ 
mal  food.  (1  Sam.  xxviii.  24. 
Amos  vi.4.  Luke  xv.  23.)  The 
allusion  in  Jer.  xxxiv.  18,  is  to 
an  ancient  custom  of  ratifying 
a  contract  or  covenant,  in  the 
observance  of  which  an  ani¬ 
mal  was  slain  and  divided, 
and  the  parties  passed  be¬ 
tween  the  parts,  signifying 
their  willingness  to  be  so  di¬ 
vided  themselves,  if  they  fail¬ 
ed  to  perform  their  covenant. 
(Gen.  xv.  9,  10.  17.) 

Calf,  molten  (Ex.  xxxii. 

4,)  was  an  idol  god  prepared 
by  Aaron,  in  compliance  with 
11# 


CAL 

the  request  of  the  children  of 
Israel,  who  had  become  impa¬ 
tient  of  the  absence  of  Moses, 
and  desired  some  visible  im¬ 
age  or  representation  of  the 
Deity.  (See  Aaeon.)  It  was 
‘  probably  made  of  wood,  and 
thickly  overlaid  with  gold. 

The  golden  calves  of  Jero¬ 
boam  (1  Kings  xii.  28)  were 
objects  of  worship  set  up  by 
that  king  in  the  land  of  Israel, 
to  prevent  the  ten  tribes  from 
resorting  to  Jerusalem  to  wor- 
ship,  and  so  more  effectually  to 
separate  them  from  the  house 
of  David.  One  of  the  idols 
was  in  Dan  and  the  other  in 
Bethel,  the  two  extremes  of 
his  kingdom.  It  is  supposed 
this  wicked  king  had  become 
acquainted  with  the  firms  and 
objects  of  idolatrous  worship 
while  he  dwelt  in  Egypt.  (1 
Kings  xi.  40.)  His  sin  is  al¬ 
most  always  mentioned  when¬ 
ever  his  name  is  used.  (See 
Jeroboam.) 

Calves  of  our  lips  (Hos. 
xiv.  2)  is  a  figurative  expres¬ 
sion,  signifying  the  fruits  of 
our  lips,  or  our  offerings  of 
praise  to  God.  Calves  ~wera 
used  in  sacrifices,  and  the  in¬ 
junction  of  the  prophet  re¬ 
quires  us  to  render  praises 
and  thanksgivings  to  God  as 
the  offering  of  our  lips,  in¬ 
stead  of  the  animal  sacrifice, 
(Heb.  xiii.  15.) 

CALNEH.  (Gen.  x.  10.  Amos 
VI.  2.)  One  of  the  cities  of 
Babylonia,  built  by  Nimrod, 
and  supposed  to  be  the  same 
with  Calno,  (Isa.  x.  9,)  Cim- 
neh,  (Ezek.  xxvii.  23,)  and  the 
Cie«iphon  of  more  modern 
times.  It  was  situated  on  the 
east  bank  of  lhe  Titrris,  oppo- 
site  to  Babylon,  and  was  a 
place  of  commercial  import¬ 
ance. 

CALVARY  (Luke  xxiil  33 
called  Golgotha,  John  xix. 

17)  was  the  name  given  to  a 
slight  elevation  north  of  the 
125 


CAM 

ancient  city  of  Jerusalem,  per¬ 
haps  half  a  mile  distant  from 
the  temple.  The  spot  is  with¬ 
in  the  walls  of  the  modern 
city.  It  was  called  Golgotha, 
or  the  place  of  a  skull ,  either 
from  its  shape,  or  from  the  cir¬ 
cumstance  that  it  was  the 
usual  place  of  executing  crimi¬ 
nals.  To  the  mind  of  the 
Christian  the  associations  of 
the  place  are  peculiarly  inte¬ 
resting  and  sacred,  for  it- was 
here  that  the  blood  of  Jesus 
was  shed  ;  that  blood  which 
cleanseth  from  all  sin.  (See 
Selumiel,  chap,  xi.,  and  Map 
op  Jerusalem,  both  by  the 
Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

CAMEL.  (Matt,  xxiii.  24.) 
A  well-known  and  highly  use¬ 
ful  animal  in  eastern  coun¬ 
tries,  and,  by  the  lawofMoses, 
unclean.  (Lev.  xi.  4.  Bent, 
xiv.  7.)  He  is  usually  six  or 
seven  feet  in  height,  and  is 
exceedingly  docile  and  pa¬ 
tient  of  labour.  His  feet  are 
constructed  with  a  tough  elas¬ 
tic  sole,  which  prevents  them 
from  sinking  in  the  sand.  He 
has  upon  the  back  one,  and 
sometimes  two,  humps  or  pro¬ 
tuberances,  which  yield  to 
pressure,  and  form  a  sort  of 
saddle,  on  which  his  burden 
is  laid.  (Isa.  xxx.  6.)  Within 
his  body  is  a  cavity,  divided 
into  little  apartments  or  cells, 
that  fill  when  the  animal 
drinks,  which  usually  occu¬ 
pies  him  a  quarter  of  an  hour, 
and  this  supply  serves  him 
fir  twenty  or  thirty  days, 
while  he  traverses  the  desert. 
His  food  is  coarBe,  as  leaves, 
twigs,  thistles,  &c.  &c.  These 
dualities  all  combine  to  adapt 
the  animal  to  the  countries  he 
inhabits, and  to  the  services  re¬ 
quired  of  him.  He  is  perhaps 
more  surefooted  than  the  ass, 
more  easily  supported,  and 
capable  of  an  incomparably 
greater  burden.  Hence  the 
people  of  the  east  call  the 
camel  the  tana-ship.  He  can 


CAM 

carry  a  burden  of  six  or  eight 
hundred  pounds,  at  the  rate  of 
thirty  miles  a  day;  and  on 
short  journeys,  ten  to  twelve 
hundred  pounds;  and  there  is 
one  species  of  the  camel  that 
will  travel  one  hundred  miles 
a  day.  Chains  and  other  trap¬ 
pings,  useful  or  ornamental, 
were  sometimes  fastened  to 
the  camel's  neck.  (Judg.  viii. 
21.  26.)  The  flesh  and  milk 
are  used  for  food,  and  the  hair 
which  is  short  and  softer  than 
that  of  the  ox  kind,  is  useful 
for  garments.  (Matt.  iii.  4. 
See  Camel’s  Hair.) 

The  ordinary  life  of  the  ca¬ 
mel  is  from  thirty  to  fifty 
years.  Camels  were  formerly 
among  the  chief  possessions 
of  the  wealthy.  (Gen.  xii.  16; 
xxx.  43;  xxxvii.  25.  Judg.  vi. 
5,  and  vii.  12.  1  Sam.  xxx.  17. 

1  Kings  x.  2.  1  Chron.  v.  21. 

2  Citron,  xiv.  15.  Job  i.  3,  and 
xlii.  12.  Isa.  xxx.  6.) 

The  expression  in  Matt, 
xix.  24,  is  figurative,  denoting 
something  '  beyond  human 
power.  The  same  form  of  ex- 

Rrgssion  is  used  among  the 
Ialays  and  by  the  rabbins  in 
respect  to  the  elephant.  Ano¬ 
ther  figurative  expression  oc¬ 
curs  (Matt,  xxiii.  24)  in  which 
the  inconsistency  of  the 
scribes  and  Pharisees  (who 
attended  to  the  most  unim¬ 
portant,  ceremonies  of  their 
religion,  white  they  were  un¬ 
just,  unmerciful,  and  faith¬ 
less)  is  compared  to  one  who 
should  very  carefully  strain 
out  (not  at )  a  gnat  or  other 
small  insect  from  the  liquor 
he  was  about  to  drink,  and 
yet  leave  in  the  vessel,  to  be 
swallowed,  an  animal  as  large 
as  a  camel.  (See  Drink.) 

Travellers  sometimes  throw 
over  the  camel,  upon  the  top 
of  his  burden,  a  pair  of  pan¬ 
niers.  in  which  they  ride,  one 
j  on  either  Bide.  A  covered  box, 
’  like  a  carriage  body,  is  some- 
1  times  hung  upon  the  animal 
126 


CAM 


CAM 


in  the  same  manner,  and  in 
these  females  may  ride  and 
be  sheltered  from  the  heat. 
(Gen.  xxiv.  64.)  It  is  easy  to 
see  how  Rachel  might  have 
concealed  her  father’s  idols. 
(Gen.  xxxi.  34.)  The  camel  is 
said  to  choose  ruinous  and 
desolate  places  for  his  habi¬ 
tations,  and  hence  the  force 
of  the  prophetic  language  re¬ 
specting  Rabbah,  (Ezek.  xxv. 
6 ;)  though  the  prophecy  would 
be  abundantly  verified  if  the 
place  should  merely  become 
a  stopping  place  for  caravans. 

The  cut  represents  a  large 
bound  hamper  or  pannier,  like 
a  roofed  cradle,  with  back, 
head,  and  sides  like  an  easy 
chair.  Folds  of  carpeting  or 
other  thick  stuff  are  spread 
upon  the  back  of  the  animal, 
for  the  hamper  to  rest  upon, 
and  the  conveniences  of  tra¬ 
velling  are  carried  in  the  bas¬ 
ket,  or  apartment  underneath 
the  traveller.  (See  Drome¬ 
dary.  See  also  Youth’s 
Friend,  vol.  ii.,  and  Natural 
History  op  the  Bible,  article 
Camel,  both  by  the  Am.  S.  S. 
Union.) 

Camel’s  Hair  (Matt.  iii.  4) 
was  made  into  cloth.  (2  Kings 
L8.  Zech.  xiii.4.)  Sometimes 
the  fabric  was  wrought  of  the 
finest  and  softest  part  of  the 
hair,  and  was  then  a  very 
rich  and  luxurious  article  of 


dress.  A  coarser  kind  was 
used  for  the  covering  of  tents, 
and  for  the  upper  garments 
of  shepherds  and  camel- 
drivers.  Travellers  tell  ue 
that  modern  dervises  wear 
cloth  of  this  kind,  and  also 
leathern  girdles.  We  know 
that  John  the  Baptist’s  rai¬ 
ment  was  of  this  kind,  for  it 
is  put  in  opposition  to  soft 
raiment.  (Matt.  xi.  8.  Luke 
vii.  25.) 

CAMELEON.  (SeeCHAMB- 

LEON.) 

CAMP.  (Ex.  xvi.  13.)  This 
term  is  frequently  used  in  re¬ 
ference  to  the  movements  of 
the  children  of  Israel,  and 
many  passages  of  the  Leviti- 
cal  law  relate  to  things  that 
are  to  be  done  within  or  with¬ 
out  the  camp. 

The  form  of  encamping  is 
particularly  prescribed  in 
Nura.  ii.  The  tabernacle, 
which  was  the  abode  of  the 
glorious  Leader  of  the  peo¬ 
ple,  occupied  the  centre,  and 
nearest  to  this  were  the 
tents  of  the  Levites,  who  were 
intrusted  with  the  principal 
care  of  it.  (Num.  hi.)  The 
whole  body  of  the  people,  em¬ 
bracing  upwards  of  600,000 
fighting  men,  besides  women 
and  children,  were  formed  in 
four  divisions,  three  tribes 
constituting  a  division,  so  that 
the  tabernacle  was  enclosed 
127 


CAM 


CAN 


in  a  hollow  square.  Each  of 
these  divisions  had  a  standard, 
as  well  as  each  tribe,  and  each 
of  the  large  family  associa¬ 
tions  of  which  the  tribes  were 
composed.  Each  tribe  had  its 
captain  or  commander  as¬ 
signed  by  God’s  direction. 

The  view  of  such  a  mass  of 
people  maintaining  the  most 
perfect  order  and  subordina¬ 
tion,  might  well  excite  the 
admiration  of  the  beholder. 
(Num.  xxiv.  2—5.) 

CAMFHIRE.  (Sol.  Song  i. 
14,  and  iv.  13.)  A  plant  of 
great  beauty  and  fragrance. 
It  grows  in  Egypt  and  other 


countries  of  the  east,  and  la 
called  alhenna.  This  cut  is 
from  a  drawing  taken  by  a 
French  traveller  in  Egypt. 
The  flowers  are  clustered  like 
the  lilac,  and  the  leaves,  when 
dried  and  pulverized,  maka 
an  orange  dye,  with  which  tha 
females  stain  their  hands  and 
feet.  What  we  call  camphor 
is  an  entirely  different  sub¬ 
stance.  (SeeYouTH’sFniEND, 
vol.  v.,by  the  Am.  S.S.  Union.) 

CANA  of  Galilee.  (John 
ii.  1.)  A  small  village  about 
fifteen  miles  north-west  of  Ti¬ 
berias,  and  six  miles  north- 
east  of  Nazareth.  It  is  now 

m 


CAN 

oalled  Kefer  Kenna;  is  under 
the  government  of  a  Turkish 
officer,  and  contains  perhaps 
three  hundred  inhabitants, 
chiefly  Catholics.  It  was  in 
this  place  that  our  Saviour  per¬ 
formed  the  miracle  of  chang¬ 
ing  water  into  wine,  and  the 
natives  pretend  to  show  the 
house  where  it  was  done,  and 
even  one  of  the  stone  water- 
pots.  Large  stone  pots  are 
found  there,  holding  from 
twenty  to  thirty  gallons. 
They  are  not  regarded  as  re¬ 
lics,  for  the  ancient  use  of 
them  seems  to  be  unknown  to 
tile  present  inhabitants. 

It  was  here  also  that  the 
nobleman  applied  to  Christ  to 
heal  his  son,  who  was  sick  in 
Capernaum,  and  at  the  point 
of  death;  and  by  his  divine 
will,  without  a  word  or  action, 
and  even  'at  a  distance  of 
thirty  miles  from  the  sick¬ 
bed,  the  disease  was  checked 
and  the  child  recovered. 

Nathaniel  was  a  native  of 
this  place.  (For  a  descrip¬ 
tion  of  the  village  in  modern 
times,  illustrated  from  a  draw¬ 
ing  taken  on  the  spot,  see 
Youth’s  Friend,  for  1833, 
p.  185,  by  the  Am.  S.S.Union.) 

Another  town  of  the  same 
name  (Kanah)  belonged  to 
the  tribe  of  Asher,  and  seems 
to  have  been  near  Sidon. 
(Josh.  xix.  28.) 

CANAAN.  (Gen.ix.25.)  Son 
of  Ham  and  grandson  of  Noah. 
Ham  having  been  guilty  of 
criminal  conduct  towards  his 
father,  a  prophetic  curse  was 
pronounced  by  Noah  on  so 
much  of  Ham’s  posterity  as 
should  descend  from  and 
through  Canaan.  The  curse 
was  inflicted  upon  the  Ca- 
naanites,  when  their  land  was 
subdued,  and  its  inhabitants 
(the  Hivites,  Jebusites,  &o.) 
were  cut  off  or  subjected  to 
heavy  tribute,  by  the  Israel¬ 
ites,  the  descendants  of  Shorn ; 
and  afterwards,  when  the 


CAN 

scattered  remnants  of  their 
tribes  were  conquered  and 
exterminated  at  Tyre,  Thebes, 
Carthage,  &c.,  by  the  Greeks 
and  Romans,  who  were  de¬ 
scended  from  Japheth. 

Canaan,  land  of.  (Gen.xii. 

5.)  The  country  inhabited  by 
the  posterity  of  Canaan,  (see 
preceding  article,)  who  were 
hence  called  Canaanites,  and  ^ 
which  was  given,  bv  God,  to 
the  children  of  Israel,  the 
posterity  of  Abraham,  as  their 
possession.  (Ex.  vi.  4.  Lev 
xxv.  38.)  The  original  boun¬ 
daries  are  supposed  to  have 
been  mount  Lebanon  on  the 
north,  the  wilderness  of  Ara¬ 
bia  (Shur,  Paran,  and  Zin)  on 
the  south,  and  the  river  Jor¬ 
dan  on  the  east.  On  the  west, 
their  possessions  extended  at 
some  points  to  the  margin 
of  the  Mediterranean.  Their 
boundaries  on  this  side  were 
partially  restricted  by  the 
Philistines,  who  held  the  low 
lands  and  strong  cities  along 
the  shore.  (Gen.  x.  19.)  Re¬ 
sides  the  possessions  of  the 
Israelites,  the  land  of  Canaan 
embraced  Phenicia  on  the 
north,  and  Philislia  on  the 
south-west.  (Zeph.  ii.  5.) 

The  country  was  entered  by 
the  Israelites  on  the  east  side, 
at  a  point  of  the  Jordan  op. 
posite  Jericho.  The  tribes  of 
Gad  and  Reuben  and  half  the 
tribe  of  Manasseh  had  select¬ 
ed  possessions  for  themselves 
on  the  east  of  Jordan,  from  the 
conquests  which  had  been 
made  on  their  march.  The 
natives  of  the  country  were, 
for  the  most  part,  subdued 
after  a  succession  of  severe 
struggles,  (Num.  xxxiii.  51— 

56,)  and  their  territory  was 
divided  among  the  tribes  and 
families  of  the  Israelites  ac¬ 
cording  to  their  numbers. 
This  apportionment  was  made 
by  what  would  be  .called,  in 
modern  phrase,  a  board  of 
commissioners,  consisting  of 
129 


# 


River  .Jordan 


131 


CAN 


CAN 


Eleazar  the  high-priest,  Jo¬ 
shua,  and  the  twelve  chiefs 
of  the  tribes ;  and  this  was 
done  in  such  a  way  that  each 
tribe  occupied  a  distinct  sec¬ 
tion,  and  each  family  a  dis¬ 
tinct  lot,  so  that  every  neigh¬ 
bourhood  was  made  up  of 
family  relations. 

The  accompanying  map 
shows  the  supposed  position, 
extent,  and  divisions  of  the 
land  of  promise,  so  far  as 
they  can  be  ascertained  from 
the  sacred  history.  The  length 
from  north  to  south  was  less 
than  one  hundred  and  eighty 
miles,  and  the  width  did  not 
exceed  seventy-five  miles. 

The.  expulsion  of  the  Ca- 
naamtes  is  an  act  perfectly 
defensible, and  consistent  with 
the  strictest  principles  of  jus¬ 
tice.  The  measure  of  their 
iniquities  was  full.  (Lev.  xviii. 
24,  &c.)  The  kind  of  judg¬ 
ment  visited  upon  them  was 
much  more  strikingly  illus¬ 
trative  Of  the  power  and  pre¬ 
sence  of  God,  than  a-  pesti¬ 
lence  or  earthquake  ;  and  the 
extermination  of  all  their  au¬ 
thority  and  influence  was  ne¬ 
cessary  to  prevent  the  Israel¬ 


ites  from  being  seduced  hit# 
their  abominable  practices. 

The  possessions  of  the  Isra¬ 
elites  were  extended  by  con 
quest  far  beyond  the  limits 
above  named,  and  in  the  lime 
of  David  and  Solomon  they 
stretched  to  the  Euphrates 
and  Orontes  on  the  one  hand, 
and  to  the  remotest  confines 
of  Edom  and  Moab  on  the 
other,  and  embraced  upwards 
of  20,000  square  miles.  (1 
Kings  iv.  21.  2  Chron.  viii.) 
The  population  varied  in  a 
like  proportion.  The  number 
of  the  Israelites  who  crossed 
the  Jordan  is  estimated  at 
2,000,000,  while  from  an  enrol¬ 
ment  made  for  David’s  army, 
it  is  presumed  by  some  that 
the  population  must  have  ex¬ 
ceeded  5,000,000.  (See  Selu- 
miel,  pp.  120,  121,  by  the  Arm 
S.  S.  Union.  See  also  article 
City.) 

The.  following  table  pre¬ 
sents  at  one  view  the  proprie¬ 
tors  of  the  country  before  and 
after  the  Jewish  conquest,  and 
the  general  divisions  or  pro¬ 
vinces  into  which  it  was  di¬ 
vided  in  the  time  of  our  Sa¬ 
viour. 


JLndtmt  Canaanitish 
Division. 
Sidonians, 

Unknown,  • 
Perizzites,  • 

Same,  •  »  » 
Hivites,  * 

Same,  -  ■  • 
Jebusites,  -  • 
Amorites,  Hittites, 
Philistines, 

Moabites, 
Ammonites,  Gilead, 
Kingdom  of  Bashan, 


Israelitish  Division. 


Roman  Division. 


Tribe  of  Asher.  (In  Lebanon.)  ) 

C  Naphtali.  (North-west  of  the  lake  of  >  Upper  Galilee 
£  Genessaret.)  S 

•  Zebulon.  (West  of  Genessaret.)  i 

.  f  Issachar.  (Valley  of  Esdraelon  and  >  Lower  Galileo. 
’  \  mount  Tabor.)  ) 

(  Half  tribe  of  Manasseh.  (Dor  and  f 
X  Cesarea.)  >  Samaria. 

■  Ephraim.  (Shechem  and  Samaria.)  ) 

•  Benjamin.  (Jericho  and  Jerusalem.)  'j 
Judah.  (Hebron  and  Judea  proper.)  I  T  . 

C  Simeon.  (South-west  of  Judah,  Dan,  [ Jttdea* 

‘  i  and  Joppa.)  J 

■  Reuben.  (Gilead  and  Heshbon.) 

Ammonites.  (Gilead.)  '  1^,.,  . 

C  Half  tribe  of  Manasseh.  (Golan  Ba- 

‘  X  ehan.)  J 


Although  the  extent  and 
boundaries  of  these  divisions 
Cannot  be  accurately  defined, 
the  bearings  of  the  chief 
towns  and  cities  from  each 


other,  and  from  Jerusalem, 
tl-e  capital  of  the  country,  are 
sins.Y.ctorily  ascertained. 

As  to  Jerusalem  itself,  there 
is  no  more  doubt  of  its  ancient 
132 


CAN 

location  than  there  is  of  Rome 
or  Carthage ;  and  there  is  not 
an  important  place  in  the 
whole  land  which  is  not  so 
connected  both  with  profane 
and  sacred  history,  as  to  fur¬ 
nish  an  unbroken  chain  of 
reference  to  it.  The  writings 
and  traditions  of  the  Jews, 
before  the  birth  of  Christ,  and 
the  writings  and  traditions 
both  of  his  friends  and  ene¬ 
mies  after  that  event,  would 
have  a  general  reference  to 
places  of  particular  interest 
in  the  history  of  the  nation 
and  in  that  of  individuals. 
And  even  the  elforts  of  pa- 
ans  to  desecrate  the  most 
allowed  spots,  have  served 
only  to  perpetuate  the  remem¬ 
brance  of  them. 

And  besides  all  this,  the 
land  of  promise  is  still  a  part 
of  our  earth.  The  hills  still 
stand  round  about  Jerusalem, 
as  they  stood  in  the  days  of 
David  and  of  Solomon.  The 
dew  falls  in  Hermon ;  the  ce¬ 
dars  grow  in  Lebanon,  and 
Kishon,  “  that  ancient  river,” 
(Judg.  v.  21,)  still  draws  its 
stream  from  Tabor,  as  in  the 
times  of  old.  “  The  sea  of  Gali¬ 
lee  still  presents  the  same 
natural  accompaniments ;  the 
fig  tree  springs  up  by  the  way- 
side;  the  sycamore  spreads 
Its  branches,  and  the  vines 
and  olives  still  climb  the  sides 
of  the  mountains.  The  deso¬ 
lation  which  covered  the  cities 
of  the  plain  is  not  less  strik¬ 
ing  at  the  present  hour,  than 
when  Moses,  with  an  inspired 
pen,  recorded  the  judgment 
of  God.  The  swellings  of 
Jordan  are  not  less  regular  in 
their  rise  than  when  the  He¬ 
brews  first  approached  its 
banks:  and  he  who  goes  down 
from  Jerusalem  to  Jericho, 
still  incurs  the  greatest  hazard 
of  falling  among  thieves. 
There  is,  in  fact,  in  the  scene¬ 
ry  and  manners  of  this  an¬ 
cient  land  a  perpetuity  that 


CAN 

accords  well  with  tfto  ever¬ 
lasting  import  of  its  historical 
records,  and  which  enables  us 
to  identify,  with  the  utmost 
readiness,  the  local  imagery 
of  every  great  transaction.” 

As  to  the  fertility  of  the 
country,  the  evidence  is  con¬ 
clusive.  Its  character  in  this 
respect,  as  given  by  Moses, 
(Deut.  viii.  7 — 9,)  is  fully  sup¬ 
ported  by  profane  writers,  as 
well  as  by  the  present  charac¬ 
ter  of  the  soil,  although  the 
miserable  condition  of  the  in¬ 
habitants  and  the  desolation 
of  war  have  prevented  any 
proper  cultivation  in  later 
ages. 

At  the  time  the  children  of 
Israel  took  possession  of  Ca 
naan,  it  was  governed  by  petty 
kings,  of  various  cities  or  pro¬ 
vinces.  Then  Joshua  became 
ruler  under  the  express  au¬ 
thority  and  direction  of  Jeho¬ 
vah.  After  Joshua,  for  a  few 
years,  the  government  was  ad¬ 
ministered  by  elders.  Then 
came  the  judges  for  about 
three  hundred  and  twenty 
years ;  and  then  the  kings  for 
upwards  of  five  hundred  years, 
or  until  the  conquest  of  the 
country  by  the  Babylonians. 

The  vast  resources  of  -the 
land  of  Canaan,  and  the  power 
of  its  kings,  maybe  estimated, 
in  some  measure,  not  only  from 
the  consideration  with  which 
it  was  regarded  by  Egypt, 
Tyre,  and  Assyria,  but  by  the 
strength  and  population  of  the 
kingdoms  into  which  the  ori¬ 
ginal  country,  as  it  was  under 
David,  was  subsequently  di¬ 
vided.  In  the  reign  of  Solo¬ 
mon,  Damascus  revolted  and 
shook  off  the  Jewish  yoke.  At 
his  death,  b.  c.  971,  ten  of  the 
tribes  renounced  their  alle¬ 
giance  to  the  throne  of  Judah, 
and  formed  the  kingdom  of  Is¬ 
rael,  having  Samaria  for  its 
capital ;  while  Judah  and  Ben¬ 
jamin  remained  together,  with 
Jerusalem  for  a  capital. 

133 


CAN 

In  die  year  b.  c.  721,  the 
former  kingdom,  having  exists 
ed  two  hundred  and  fifty  years, 
under  nineteen  wicked  kings, 
was  conquered  by  the  Assy¬ 
rians  under  Shalmaneser,  and 
carried  into  captivity.  The 
‘atter  existed  about  one  hun¬ 
dred  and  thirty  years  longer, 
and  was  than  subdued  and  laid 
waste  by  '  Nebuchadnezzar, 
and  the  temple  at  Jerusalem 
destroyed,  b.  c.  588.  (2  Kings 
Stxv.  2Chr.  xxxvi.  Jer.  xxxix. 
and  lii.) 

The  land  of  Canaan  remain¬ 
ed  under  subjection  to  the 
Chaldeans,  IVledes,  and  Per¬ 
sians,  until  B.  c.  323,  when  it 
fell  into  the  hands  of  the  kings 
of  Syria,  where  it  remained 
until  b.  c.  65,  when  it  became  a 
provinceof  the  Roman  empire. 

At  the  time  of  the  coming 
of  Christ,  Canaan  was  divided 
into  five  provinces;  Judea,  Sa¬ 
maria,  Galilee,  Perea, and  Idu¬ 
mea.  The  province  of  Judea 
consisted  of  the  tribes  of  Ju¬ 
dah,  Beniamin,  Dan,  and  Si¬ 
meon.  The  rest  of  the  Holy 
Land,  according  to  the  Roman 
division,  consisted  of  Samaria, 
Galilee,  Perea,  Decapolis, 
Gaulonitis,  Galaadilis,  Bata- 
nea,  and  Auranitis.  Samaria 
contained  in  it  the  tribes  of 
Ephraim,  Issachar,  and  the 
half  tribe  of  Manasseh.  Gali¬ 
lee,  the  tribes  of  Zebulon, 
Asher,  and  Naphtali.  Perea 
on  the  other  side  of  Jordan, 
consisted  of  the  tribes  of  Gaa 
and  Reuben.  Decapolis  was 
part  of  the  half  tribe  of  Ma- 
nasseh.  Gaulonitis  ^yas  north 
of  it.  Galaaditis  was  a  hilly 
country,  extending  from  mount 
Lebanon  through  the  half  tribe 
of  Manasseh,  and  the  tribes 
of  Gad  and  Reuben.  Further 
north,  in  the  half  tribe  of  Ma- 
nasseti,  was  Batanea,  and 
more  northward  still,  was  Au¬ 
ranitis,  or  Ittirea.  Beyond  this, 
bordering  on  the  territory  of 
Damascus,  was  Trachonitis. 


CAN 

On  the  death  of  Herod,  A t- 
chelaus,  his  eldest  son,  suc¬ 
ceeded  to  the  government  of 
Judea,  (Matt.  ii.  22,)  Samaria, 
and  Idumea,  with  the  title  of 
tetrarch ;  Galilee  being  as¬ 
signed  to  Herod  Antipas,  and 
Iturea,  (Luke  iii.  1,)  and  the 
adjacent  countries  beyond  Jor¬ 
dan,  to  the  third  brother,  Phi¬ 
lip.  But  in  less  than  ten  years, 
the  dominions  of  Archelaus 
became  annexed,  on  his  dis¬ 
grace,  to  the  Roman  province 
of  Syria,  and  Judea  was 
thenceforth  governed  by  Ro 
man  procurators.  Jerusalem, 
after  its  final  destruction  by 
Titus,  a.  n.  71,  remained  deso. 
late  and  almost  uninhabited, 
till  the  emperor  Hadrian  colo 
nised  it,  and  erected  temples 
to  Jupiter  and  Venus  on  iu 
site.  The  empress  Helena,  in 
the  fourth  century,  set  the  ex¬ 
ample  of  repairing  as  a  pil¬ 
grim  to  the  Holy  Land,  to  visit 
the  scenes  consecrated  by  the 
gospel  narrative ;  and  the 
country  became  enriched  by 
the  crowds  of  devotees  whe 
flocked  there.  In  the  be¬ 
ginning  of  the  seventh  cen¬ 
tury,  it  was  overrun  by  the 
Saracens,  who  held  it  till  Je¬ 
rusalem  was  taken  by  the  Cru-, 
saders  in  the  twelfth.  Then 
for  about  eighty  years,  the 
Holy  Land  drank  continually 
of  Christian  and  Saracen 
blood.  In  1187,  Judea  was  con¬ 
quered  by  Saladin  ;  on  the  de¬ 
cline  of  Whose  kingdom  it 
passed  through  various  revolu¬ 
tions,  and,  at  length,  in  1317, 
was  finally  swallowed  up  in 
the  Turkish  empire. 

“  Trodden  down 

By  all  in  turn,  Pagan,  and  Frank,  and 
Tartar, — 

So  runs  the  dread  anathema,— trodden 
down 

Beneath  the  oppressor ;  darkness  shroud¬ 
ing  thee 

From  every  blessed  influence  of  Heavem 
Thus  hast  thou  lain  for  ages,  iron-bouna 
As  with  a  curse.  Thus  art  thou  doomed 
to  lie, 

Yet  not  tor  ever.* 


134 


CAN 

in  the  modern  distribution 
»f  the  territory,  we  find  the 
pashalic  of  ^.cre,  or  Akita,  in¬ 
cludes  the  ancient  territory  of 
Asher,  Zebulon,  Issachar,  half 
Manasseh,  and  Naphtali.  The 
pashalic  of  Gaza,  now  united 
with  that  of  Acre,  embraces 
Dan,  Simeon,  Judah,  Benja¬ 
min,  and  Ephraim;  and  the 
ashaticof  Damascus  hasReu- 
en,  Gad,  and  the  other  half 
of  Manasseh.  The  population 
of  this  interesting  country  now 
consists  chiefly  of  Turks,  Sy¬ 
rians,  Arabs,  Jews,  and  Greeks. 
(See  Hebrews.  See  also  Eve¬ 
ning  Recreations,  vol.  ii.pp. 
74 — 106;  vol.  iii.  pp.  116—144; 
and  Biblical  AimauiTiEs, 
vol.  i.  ch.  ix.  §  1 — 4,  both  by 
Am.  S.  S.  Union,  for  a  full  and 
perspicuous  history  of  the  Isra- 
elitish  land  and  government.) 

The  general  outlines  of  the 
surface  of  the  country  may  be 
thus  laid  down.  The  Jordan, 
or  river  of  Dan,  which  rises 
under  the  lofty  peaks  of  mount 
Lebanon,  and  flows  in  a  direc¬ 
tion  almost  constantly  south¬ 
ward,  with  the  lake  of  Tibe¬ 
rias,  through  which  it  passes, 
and  the  Dead  Sea,  which  it 
forms  by  its  discharge,  divides 
Palestine  from  north  to  south. 

In  the  western  division,  be¬ 
tween  the  Mediterranean  and 
the  lake  of  Tiberias,  lie  the 
two  Galilees.  The  plain  of 
Esdraelon,  which  occupies  the 
greater  part  of  this  tract,  being 
two  days’  journey,  or  nearly 
fifty  miles,  in  length,  and 
twenty  in  breadth,  is  describ¬ 
ed  by  travellers  as  one  vast 
meadow,  covered  with  the 
richest  pasture.  This  plain  is 
enclosed  on  all  sides  by  the 
mountains,  and  not  a  house  or 
a  tree  is  to  be  discovered  in  it. 

It  is  completely  commanded 
by  Accho,  so  that  the  possessor 
of  that  port  is  the  lord  of  one 
of  the  richest  territories  in  the 
Holy  Land.  To  the  south  of 
Galilee  lies  the  district  of  an- 


CAN 

cient  Samaria :  it  is  mountain¬ 
ous,  but  well  cultivated,  and 
forms  at  present  the  most 
flourishing  part  of  the  Holy 
Land.  Judea  Proper  comprises 
the  territory  extending  from 
the  Dead  Sea  to  the  Mediter¬ 
ranean,  and  is  composed  of  a 
range  of  limestone  hills,  rising 
by  stages  from  the  level  of  the 
coast,  and  becoming  more 
rugged  and  rocky  as  you  ap¬ 
proach  Jerusalem  from  Joppa, 
Between  Joppa  and  Gaza 
westward  of  the  mountains  a. 
Judea,  lies  the  tract  distin 
guished  as  the  plain  of  th 
Mediterranean  Sea,  the  an- 
cient  territory  of  the  Philis¬ 
tines,  including  the  five  cities 
of  Gaza,  Askelon,  Ashdod, 
Gath,  and  Ekron.  (Josh.  xiii. 
3,  and  1  Sam.  vi.  17.)  This 
district  still  bears  the  name  of 
Fhalastin,  and  forms  a  sepa¬ 
rate  pashalic;  it  may  be  dis¬ 
tinguished  as  Palestine  Pro¬ 
per. 

The  land  of  Canaan  was 
called  the  land  of  Israel,  (I 
Sam.  xiii.  19,)  because  it  was 
occupied  by  the  descendants 
of  Jacob  or  Israel.  The  holy 
land,  (Zech.  ii.  12,)  because 
God’s  presence  was  continu¬ 
ally  manifested  there,  as  the 
leader  and  governqf  of  his 
shosen  people;  and  especially 
may  it  be  regarded  as  such, 
since  the  sufferings  and  death 
of  Christ  have  consecrated  it- 
The  land  of  promise,  (Heb.  xi. 
9,)  because  it  was.  promised  to 
Abraham  and  hisjposterity  as 
their  possession.  The  land  of 
Judah,  (Jer.  xxxix.  10,)  be¬ 
cause  Judah  was  the  leading 
tribe;  the  land  of  the  He¬ 
brews,  (Gen.  xl.  15,)  or  the  de¬ 
scendants  of  Eber,  an  ances¬ 
tor  of  Abraham.  The  modern 
name  of  Palestine,  or  the  land 
of  the  Philistines,  was  origi¬ 
nally  applied  to  the  region 
lying  along  the  coast  of  the 
Mediterranean,  south-west  of 
the  land  of  promise ;  but  in  its 


CAN 


CAN 


present  usage  denotes  the 
whole  country  bounded  by  the 
Jordan  on  the  east,  the  Medi¬ 
terranean  on  the  west,  Arabia 
on  the  south,  and  Lebanon  on 
the  north.  (See  Stria.) 

CANAANITES.  (See  pre¬ 
ceding  article.) 

0  A  Nil  ACE.  (See  Philip.) 

CANDLE  (Job  xviii.  6)  is 
often  used  figuratively  by  the 
sacred  writers,  to  denote  light 
generally.  (See  Lamp.) 

CANDLESTICK,  golden, 
fEx.  xxv.  31,)  was  a  splendid 
article  of  the  tabernacle  furni¬ 


ture,  made  of  fine  gold,  and 
computed  to  have  been  worth, 
at  the  modWn  value  of  gold, 
three  millions  of  dollars.  It 
consisted  of  a  shaft  or  stem 
supposed  to  have  been  five 
feet  high,  with  six  branches. 
The  branches  came  out  from 
the  shaft  at  three  points,  two 
at  each  point,  as  in  the  fol- 
lowing  cut,  and  the  width  of 
the  whole  candlestick,  across 
the  top,  was  about  three  feet 
and  a  half.  It  was  richly 
adorned,  with  raised  work,  re. 
presenting  flowers,  and  also 


V1 

M 


mm* 


mmm 


m 


CAP 

know  or  knobs,  and  little 
bowls  resembling  half  an  al¬ 
mond  shell.  At  the  extremity 
of  each  branch  there  was  a 
socket  for  the  candle,  and  also 
at  the  top  of  the  main  shaft, 
making  seven  in  all.  (Rev.  i. 

12,  13.  20.)  Tongs  to  remove 
the  snuff,  and  dishes  to  receive 
it,  as  well  as  oil  vessels,  were 
articles  of  furniture  belonging 
to  the  candlestick,  and  were 
all  made  of  gold.  The  lights 
were  trimmed  and  supplied 
daily  with  the  purest  olive  oil. 
They  were  lighted  at  night 
and  extinguished  in  the  morn¬ 
ing;  though  some  suppose  that 
a  part  of  them,  at  least,  were 
kept  burning  through  the  day. 
The  candlestick  was  so  situ¬ 
ated  as  to  throw  the  light  on 
the  altar  of  incense  and  on  the 
table  of  shew-bread,  occupy¬ 
ing  the  same  apartment,  and 
from  which  the  natural  light 
was  excluded.  (See  Biblical 
ANTiauiTiES,  vol.  ii.  ch.ik,  and 
Destruction  op  Jerusalem, 
ch.  xiii.,  both  by  Am.  S.  S. 
Union.) 

CANE.  (See  Calamus.) 

CANKER-WORM,  (Joel  i. 
4,)  elsewhere  called  the  cater¬ 
pillar,  (Jer.  li.  27,)  was  one 
of  the  army  of  destroying  in¬ 
sects  by  which  the  land  of 
Judea  was  laid  waste.  The 
particular  species  of  insect 
intended  by  the  prophet  is  un¬ 
certain,  though  tne  prevailing 
opinion  is,  that  it  was  of  the 
locust  tribe.  Its  voraciousness 
and  multitude  are  sufficiently 
indicated  by  the  connexion  in 
which  it  is  mentioned.  (Nah. 
iii.  15,  16.) 

CANNEH.  (See  Calneh.) 

CAPERNAUM.  (Matt.  iv. 

13. )  A  city  on  the  western 
shore  of  the  sea  of  Tiberias, 
where  our  Saviour  often  re¬ 
sided,  and  where  some  of  his 
most  wonderful  works  were 
done,  add  where  also  he  de¬ 
livered  some  of  his  most  point- 

12* 


CAP 

ed  discourses.  (See  Mark  i.  21. 
37,  and  ii.  1—28.  John  vi.  25— 
70,  and  comp,  with  Isa.  ix.  1, 
2.)  Notwithstanding  it  was  thus 
highly  favoured  with  the  pre 
sence  and  instructions  of  the 
Lord  of  glory,  it  y?as  the  sub 
ject  of  the  most  fearful  denun 
ciations.  (Matt.  xi.  20—24. 
The  prediction  of  its  downfall 
was  long  ago  fulfilled ;  anf 
though  it  was  once  a  city  of 
renown,  and  the  metropolis  of 
all  Galilee,  the  site  it  occu 
pied  is  now  uncertain.  Wher 
Mr.  Fisk,  an  American  mis 
sionary,  travelled  in  Syria  ir 
1823,  he  found  twenty  or  thirty 
uninhabited  Arab  huts,  occu 
pying  what  are  supposed  to  be 
the  ruins  of  the  once  exalted 
city  of  Capernaum. 

CAPHTOR,  CAPHTORIM. 
(See  Crete.) 

CAPPADOCIA.  (1  Pet.  i.  1.) 
One  of  the  three  interior  pro- 
vinces  of  Asia  Minor.  (See 
Map  to  article  Paul.)  It  was 
bounded  east  by  Armenia, 
north  by  Pontus,  west  by  Ly- 
caonia,  and  south  by  Cilicia. 
Christianity  was  probably  in¬ 
troduced  into  this  proyince  at 
an  early  period,  (Acts  ii.  9,) 
and  the  existence  of  Christian 
churches  there  is  easily  traced 
up  to  a  period  as  late  as  the 
tenth  century. 

CAPTAIN.  (Deut.i.  15.)  An 
officer  in  the  Jewish  army 
whose  rank  or  power  was  de¬ 
signated  by  the  number  of 
men  under  his  command,  as 
captain  of  fifty,  or  captain  of  a 
thousand;  and  the  commander 
or  chief  of  the  whole  army 
was  called  the  captain  of  the 
host.  The  divisions  of  the 
army  were  regulated  in  some 
measure  by  the  division  of 
families,  as  the  heads  of  fami¬ 
lies  were  usually  officers. 
(2 Chron.  xxv.  5.)  Captains  of 
hundreds,  or  larger  companies, 
were  probably  what  would  be 
called  in  modern  phrase,  staff 


CAP 

officers,  and  formed  the  coun¬ 
cils  of  war.  (1  Chron.  xiii.  i.) 

Captain  op  the  temple. 
(Acts  iv.  i.)  Either  the  com¬ 
mander  of  the  Roman  garrison 
stationed  near  the  temple,  or 
the  chief  of  the  priests  and 
Levites  who  kept  guard  around 
and  within  the  temple. 

CAPTIVE  (Gen.  xiv.  14) 
usually  denotes  one  taken  in 
war.  Among  eastern  nations 
such  persons  were  treated  with 
great  cruelty,  and  were  sub¬ 
jects  of  merchandise.  (Joel 
lii.  3.)  The  Romans  sometimes 
compelled  a  captive  to  be 
joined  face  to  face  with  a  dead 
body,  and  to  bear  it  about  until 
the  horrible  effluvia  destroyed 
the  life  of  the  living.  (Rom. 
vii.  34.) 

CAPTIVITY.  (Num.  xxi. 
29.)  A  term  usually  employed 
to  denote  an  important  era  in 
the  history  of  the  Jewish  peo¬ 
ple. 

To  punish  their  rebellions 
and  idolatries,  God  suffered 
them  to  come  into  frequent 
bondage  to  surrounding  na¬ 
tions.  Several  of  their  captivi¬ 
ties  took  place  at  an  early  pe¬ 
riod  of  their  history,  of  which 
a  particular  account  is  given 
in  the  first  ten  chapters  of 
Judges. 

Soon  after  the  close  of  Solo¬ 
mon’s  glorious  reign,  the  king¬ 
dom  was  divided.  Ten  of  the 
tribes  separated  themselves, 
and  took  the  name  of  the 
kingdom  of  Israel,  leaving  the 
tribes  of  Judah  and  Benjamin 
to  constitute  the  kingdom  of 
Judah.  Each  of  these  two 
kingdoms  suffered  a  distinct 
captivity.  That  of  Israel  is 
called  the  Assyrian,  and  that 
of  Judah  the  Babylonish  cap¬ 
tivity. 

In  the  year  of  the  world 
3204,  Tiglath-pileser,  the  king 
of  Assyria,  made  war  upon  Is¬ 
rael,  and  carried  a  large  num¬ 
ber  of  their  people  (chiefly 


CAP 

those  of  the  tribes  of  Reuben, 
Gad,  and  Manasseh)  into  cap¬ 
tivity,  (2  Kings  xv.  29.  1 
Chron.  v.  20,)  and  the  residue 
remained  under  their  own 
king,  but  paid  tribute  to  the 
Assyrian  government.  After 
the  lapse  of  twenty  years  this 
tribute  was  refused,  and  there¬ 
fore  Shalmaneser,  son  of  Tig- 
lath-pileser,  besieged  and  (af¬ 
ter  three  years)  captured  and 
destroyed  Samaria,  the  capital 
of  the  kingdom,  and  the  great 
mass  of  the  people  were  trans¬ 
ported  to  provinces  beyond  the 
Euphrates,  and  some  doubt  is 
entertained  whether  they  ever 
returned.  (2  Kings  xvii.  5,  6, 
and  xviii.  10,  11.  Hos.  i.  6.) 
Jewish  historians  say  they  ne¬ 
ver  did  return.  The  following 
among  other  passages  are  em¬ 
ployed  to  support  an  opposite 
opinion:  Ezra  ii.  59;  vi.  16, 
and  viii.  35.  Isa.  xi.  12, 13,  and 
xxvii.  12,  13.  Jer.  iii.  18 ;  xvi. 
15;  xxxi.  7 — 20,  and  xlix.  2. 
Ezek.  xxxvii.  16.  Hos.  i.  10, 11. 
Amos  ix.14.  Obad.  19— 2l.Mic. 
ii.  12.  Zech.  ix.  13,  and  x.  6. 10. 
(See  Hebrews.) 

The  first  captivity  of  Judah 
took  place  under  king  Jehoia- 
kim,  in  the  year  of  the  world 
3398,  when  Daniel  and  his 
companions  were  among  .th« 
captives.  The  second  was  in 
the  seventh  year  of  Jehoia 
kim,  about  3404 ;  the  third,  in 
the  reign  of  Jehoiachin,  a.  m. 
3406.  The  fourth,  or  seventy 
ears’  captivity,  was  undei 
edekiah’s  reign,  in  the  yeal 
of  the  world  3416.  (For  a  par¬ 
ticular  accounted  these  events, 
see  2  Kings  xxiv.  2  Chron. 
xxxvi.  Jer.  xxv.  xxvi.  xxix. 
xxxii.  xxxiv.  lii.  Ezek.  xii. 
Dan.  i.  1,  2.)  The  sufferings 
in  which  these  captivities  in¬ 
volved  them  are  affectingly 
described  in  Ps.  cxxxvii.  1 — 5, 
and  Jer.  iv.  19—31. 

In  3157  the  Jews  were  al¬ 
lowed  to  return,  (Ezra  i.  1:1 
138 


CAR 

bat  it  was  not  until  3486,  or 
seventy  years  from  the  period 
of  their  fourth  captivity,  that 
they  were  permitted  to  rebuild 
the  temple  (See  Elisama,  by 
Am.  S.  S.  U mon,  pp.  25—28.) 

Children  op  the  captivi¬ 
ty  (Ezra  iv.  1.)  A  common 
figure  of  speech  denoting  those 
who  were  in  captivity,  or  per¬ 
haps  sometimes  literally  their 
posterity.  Turn  again,  (Ps. 
cxxvi.  1,)  turn  away ,  (Jer. 
xxix.  14,)  turn  back,  (Zeph.  iii. 
20,)  or  bring  again  (Ezek.  xvi. 
53)  the  captivity,  are  figurative 
phrases,  all  referring  to  the 
Jewish  nation  in  bondage,  and 
their  return  to  Canaan.  A  si¬ 
milar  expression  is  used  in  re¬ 
lation  to  individuals,  as  in  Job 
xlii.  10 :  The  Lord  turned  the 
captivity  of  Job,  that  is,  he  re¬ 
leased  him  from  the  unusual 
bufferings  and  perplexities  to 
which  he  had  been  in  bond¬ 
age,  and  caused  him  to  rejoice 
again  in  the  favour  of  God. 
He  led  captivity  captive,  (Eph. 
iv.  8,)  or  he  led  those  as  his 
captives  who  had  made  cap¬ 
tives  of  others,  is  a  figurative 
allusion  to  the  victory  which 
our  blessed  Redeemer  achiev¬ 
ed  over  sin  and  death,  by 
whom  our  ruined  race  are 
brought  into  bondage.  (Rom. 
viii.  21.  Gal.  iv.  24.  Heb.  ii. 
15.  2  Pet.  ii.  19.) 

CARBUNCLE.  (Ezek. 
xxviii.  13.)  A  precious  stone. 
Its  colour  is  adeep  red  mingled 
with  scarlet,  and  when  held 
up  in  the  rays  of  the  sun,  it 
loses  its  deep  tinge,  and  re¬ 
sembles  burning  charcoal.  It 
is  not  certain,  however,  that 
the  carbuncle  of  the  Scriptures 
is  the  same  species  of  fossil  to 
which  we  give  that  name. 

CARCHEMISH.  (2  Chron. 
xxxv.  20.)  A  town  on  the  east¬ 
ern  banks  of  the  Euphrates, 
where  the  Chebar  or  Khaboor 
falls  into  it.  It  is  now  known 
as  Kirkisia  It  was  taken  from 


CAR 

the  Assyrians  by  the  king  of 
Egypt,  (2  Kings  xxiii.  29,)  who 
left  it  in  charge  of  a  garrison. 
Nebuchadnezzar,  king  of  Ba- 
bylon,  afterwards  took  it  from 
the  Egyptians  with  great 
slaughter,  in  fulfilment  of  the 
remarkable  prophecy  of  Jere¬ 
miah.  (Jer.  xlvi.  1—12.) 

CARMEL,  mount.  (Isa. 
xxxiii.  9)  One  of  the  most 
remarkable  points  on  the 
shores  of  the  Mediterranean. 
It  is  the  highest  peak  of  a 
range  of  mountains  (of  the 
same  name)  rising  in  the  plain 
of  Esdraelon,  and  running  five 
or  six  miles  in  a  north-west 
course  till  it  terminates  in  a 
promontory  on  the  coast,  south 
of  the  bay  of  Acre.  It  is  from 
fifteen  hundred  to  two  thou¬ 
sand  feet  above  the  level  of 
the  sea.  (Amos  ix.  3.)  Its 
shape  resembles  a  flattened 
cone,  and  is  the  finest  and 
most  beautiful  mountain  in 
Palestine.  Its  soil  was  once 
fertile  and  highly  cultivated. 
(Isa.  xxxiii.  9 ;  xxxv.  2.  Jer. 
1.  19.)  Its  name  signifies  a 
fruitful  field,  or  a  country  of 
vineyards  and  gardens.  Mo 
dern  travellers  tell  us  that  the 
oaks,  wild  vines,  olive  trees, 
and  fragrant  flowers  still  indi¬ 
cate  its  former  productiveness, 
though  it  has  sufficiently  dete¬ 
riorated  to  fulfil  the  prediction 
of  the  prophet.  (Amos  i.  2.) 
The  graceful  form  and  verdant 
beauty  of  its  summit  are  al¬ 
luded  to,  Sol.  Song  vii.  5.  The 
base  of  the  mountain  was 
washed  by  “  that  ancient  river, 
the  river  Kishon,”  (Judg.  v. 
21,)  and  the  plain  of  Sharon 
spread  out  towards  the  south. 
We  are  told  that  while  Leba¬ 
non  raised  to  heaven  a  sum¬ 
mit  of  naked  and  barren  rocks, 
covered  the  greater  part  of 
the  year  with  snow,  the  top 
of  Carmel,  how  naked  and 
sterile  soever  its  present  ap¬ 
pearance,  was  clothed  with 
139 


CAS 

perennial  verdure ;  so  that  the 
lofty  geDius  of  Isaiah,  guided 
ny  the  spirit  of  inspiration, 
could  not  find  a  more  appro¬ 
bate  figure  to  represent  the 
ourishing  state  of  the  Re¬ 
deemer’s  kingdom,  than  “  the 
excellency  of  Carmel  and 
Sharon.”  The  summit  of  Car¬ 
mel  is  remarkable  for  its  pure 
and  enlivening  atmosphere. 

This  promontory  is  a  place 
of  deep  interest  in  the  annals 
of  the  Jews,  (1  Kings  xviii. 
19.42.  2Kings  ii.  25,  and  iv. 
25,)  and  was  once  the  resort 
of  crowds  of  Christian  devo¬ 
tees, land  the  residence  of  an 
order  of  monks  called  Carmel¬ 
ites,  who  had  a  convent  there, 
which  was  pillaged  and  de¬ 
stroyed  by  the  Arabs  after  the 
retreat  of  the  French  army,  in 
1799,  who  used  it  as  an  hospital 
for  their  sick  and  wounded 
during  the  siege  of  Acre. 

There  are  many  traditions 
and  superstitions  which  tra¬ 
vellers  have  preserved,  about 
the  caves  and  grottos  which 
abound  in  this  mountain;  but 
they  will  not  be  in  place  here. 

Carmel, town  op.  (Josh.  xv. 
55.)  A  city  and  hill,  five  miles 
west  of  the  Dead  Sea,  and  be¬ 
tween  the  wilderness  of  Ziph 
and  the  wilderness  of  Maon. 
It  was  the  residence  of  Nabal. 
(1  Sam.  xxv.  2.  and  xxvii.  3.) 

A  limestone  mountain,  call¬ 
ed  El  Carmel,  is  described  by 
travellers  as  the  same  with 
the  ancient  city  and  hill. 

CARRIAGES.  (Actsxxi.  15.) 
The  load  or  burden  of  man  or 
beast ;  baggage  (Isa.  x.  28)  or 
mat,  on  which  any  thing  is 
carried.  (1  Sam.xvii. 20,  trench, 
or  place  of  the  carriages.  Isa. 
xlvi.  1.)  “  They  took  up  their 
carriages,”  i.  e.  they  packed 
up  their  things,  and  commenc¬ 
ed  their  journey.  (Actsxxi.  15.) 

CART.  (See  Wagon.) 

CART-ROPE.  (Isa.  v.  18.) 
This  is  a  strong  figurative 


CAT 

expression,  the  most  natural 
meaning  of  which  is  shown  by 
two  Jewish  sayings — “Wo  to 
them  that  begin  to  sin  a  little, 
and  they  go  on  and  increase 
until  their  sins  are  as  a  cart- 
rope;”  and,  “The  evil  imagi¬ 
nation  is  at  first  like  a  spider’s 
thread,  but  at  last  it  is  like  to 
cart-ropes.”  There  may  be  a 
remote  allusion  also  to  the 
cords  with  which  the  sacrifices 
were  bound. 

CASEMENT.  (See  Win¬ 
dow.) 

CASSIA.  (Ex.  xxx.  24)  The 
bark  of  a  tree  of  the  same  spe¬ 
cies  with  cinnamon  and  sassa¬ 
fras,  and  one  of  the  ingredi¬ 
ents  of  the  holy  anointing  oil 
It  was  an  article  of  Tyrian 
trade,  (Ezek.  xxvii.  19,)  aixi 
remarkable  for  its  fragrance. 
(Ps.  xlv.  8.) 

CAST  OUT,  (John  ix.  22, 
and  34,  comp.,)  or  excommuni¬ 
cate,  was  to  cut  off  from  the 
privileges  of  the  Jewish  church. 

CASTOR  and  POLLUX, 
(Acts  xxviii.  11,)  in  heathen 
mythology,  were  the  names 
of  twin  sons  of  Jupiter,  who 
were  supposed  to  preside  over 
the  destinies  of  sailors.  Hence 
an  image  representing  them 
was  often  seen  on  the  prow  of 
ancient  ships,  like  the  figure¬ 
heads  of  modern  days.  The 
word  sipi  is  supposed  by  some 
not  to  signify  the  name  of  the 
ship,  but  only  the  protecting 
image  of  the  deity  under  whose 
auspices  she  sailed.  We  are 
inclined  to  believe  that  the 
sign  was  the  only  designa¬ 
tion  the  ship  had,  and  that  this 
mode  of  expression  by  the 
apostle,  signified  to  the  mer¬ 
chants  of  Alexandria  and  Mal¬ 
ta  what  particular  vessel  was 
intended.  This  particularity 
of  detail  in  the  sacred  narra¬ 
tive  is  highly  corroborative  of 
its  truth. 

CATERPILLAR.  (1  Kings 
viii.  37.)  A  tribe  of  insects  of 
140 


CAU 


CED 


Taut  number  and  destructive 
voracity.  Hence  they  were 
often  employed  as  the  agents 
in  the  execution  of  God’s 
judgments,  (Ps.  lxxviii.46,  and 
cv.  34,)  and  figuratively  repre¬ 
sent  a  great  multitude.  (Isa. 
xxxiii.  4.  Jer.  li.  14. 27.)  They 
were  regarded  as  among  the 
most  desolating  visitations  of 


God’s  hand. 

CATTLE.  (Gen.  i.  25.)  In 
the  common  scriptural  use  of 
this  term  it  embraces  the  tame 
quadrupeds  employed. by  man¬ 
kind,  as  oxen,  horses,  sheep, 
camels,  goats,  &c.  (Gen.  xm. 
2.  Ex.  xii.  29,  and  xxxiv. 
19.  Num.  xx.  19;  xxxii.  16. 
and  Ps.  1.  10,  and  Job  i.  3, 
where  the  word  translated 
substance  would  be  more  pro¬ 
perly  rendered  cattte.') 

The  allusion  in  Job  xxxvi. 
33,  is  explained  by  the  well- 
known  lact  that  certain  ani¬ 
mals  of  this  class  are  peculi¬ 
arly  sensitive  to  the  change  of 
air  which  precedes  rain. 

CAUL.  (Isa.  iii.  18.)  The  at¬ 
tire  of  the  head,  made  of  net¬ 
work  and  ornamented.  InHos. 
xiii.  8,  I  will  rend  the  caul 
of  their  heart,  the  word  caul 
denotes  the  membranous  ves¬ 
sel  which  contains  the  heart. 
The  figure  represents  a  raging 
beast  of  prey  seizing  his  vic¬ 
tim,  and  tearing  out  its  vitals. 

CAUSEWlY.  (IChron. 
xxvi.  16.)  A  raised  way  or 
path.  (2  Chron.  ix.  4.)  In  most 
of  the  passages  where  it  oc¬ 
curs,  it  signifies  any  .  public 
way  or  high  road,  and  indeed 
is  so  translated  in  Judg.  xx.  31, 
32,  1  Sam.  vi.  12.  Prov.  xvi.  2. 

The  same  word  is  rendered 
ways  inPs.  lxxxiv.5,  and  here 
signifies  the  ways  to  Zion,  by 
which  the  devout  Jews  as¬ 
cended  to  worship  in  the  tem¬ 
ple.  and  the  remembrance  of 
which  was  continually  present 
in  the  hearts  of  those  who 
loved  them,  and  who  loved  also 


the  holy  place  and  service  to 
which  they  led. 

CAVE.  (Gen.  xix.  30.)  Caves 
were  very  common  in  Judea, 
and  were  made  use  of  as  tem¬ 
porary  dwelling  places ,  (Gen. 
xix.  30 ;)  as  places  of  conceal¬ 
ment,  (Josh.  x.  16.  Judg.  vi. 

2.  1  Sam.  xiii.  6;  xxii.  l,  2, 
and  xxiv.  3.  2  Sam.  xxiii.  13. 

1  Kings  xviii.  4  ;  xix.  9.  Heb. 
xi.  38 ;)  and  as  burial  places. 
(Gen.  xxiii.  17. 19,  and  xlix.  29. 
John  xi.  38.) 

CEDAR.  (2  Sam.  vii.  2.)  One 
of  the  most  valuable  and  ma- 
iestic  trees  of  eastern  forests. 
It  grows  to  the  height  of  se¬ 
venty  or  eighty  feet.  The 
branches  are  thick  and  long, 
spreading  out  almost  horizon¬ 
tally  from  the  trunk,  which  is 
sometimes  thirty  or  forty  feet 
in  circumference.  (Ezelt.  xxxi. 

3.  6.  8.)  Maundrell  measured 
one  which  was  thirty-six  feet 
and  six  inches  in  the  girth, 
and  one  hundred  and  eleven 
feet  in  the  spread  of  its  boughs. 
The  wood  is  of  a  red  colour 
and  bitter  taste,  which  is  offen¬ 
sive  to  insects,  and  hence  it 
is  very  durable,  having  been 
known  to  last  (as  historians 
assert)  upwards  of  two  thou¬ 
sand  years.  It  was  used  for 
the  most  noble  and  costly  edi 
fices.  This  timber  served  not 
only  for  beams  for  the  frame, 
and  boards  for  covering  build¬ 
ings,  but  was  also  wrought  into 
the  walls.jfl  Kings  vi.  36,  and 
vii.  12.)  TChe  mountains  of 
Lebanon  were  famous  for  the 
growth  of  the  cedar,  but  travel¬ 
lers  tell  us  that  the  words  of 
prophecy  are  verified,  for  now 
a  child  may  write  them. 
(Isa.  x.  19.  See  Lebanon.) 

(For  a  very  full  description 
and  cut  of  this  tree,  with  the 
explanation  of  its  figurative 
use  in  the  sacred  writings, 
see  article  Cedar,  in  Bibls 
Natural  History,  by  Am.  a. 
S.  Union.) 


EEN 

CEDRON.  (See  Kieron.) 

1  CEIL:  (See  Cieling.) 

CELLARS.  (1  Chron.  xxvii. 
27.)  Of  cellars,  such  as  are 
common  among  us,  nothing 
was  known  in  the  east,  if  we 
except  the  chambers  which 
are  used  in  Persia  for  the  stor¬ 
ing  of  earthen  jars  or  other 
■vessels  of  wine.  Among  the 
Hebrews  and  Greeks  these 
jars  were  buried  up  to  the 
neck  in  the  ground.  The  word 
tcine-cellars,  in  the  passage 
cited,  probably  denotes  the 
patches  of  ground  used  to  bury 
wine.  (See  Wine.) 

CENCHREA.  (Acts  xviii. 
18.)  A  seaport  on  the  eastern 
side  of  the  isthmus  of  Corinth, 
and  nine  miles  distant  from 
that  city.  It  was  the  seat  of  a 
Christian  church.  (Rom.  xvi. 
i.  4.) 

CENSER.  (Lev.  x.  1.)  A  ves¬ 
sel  used  in  the  temple  service, 
for  the  purpose  of  carrying  the 
fire  in  which  the  incense  was 
burned.  It  was  made  of  pure 

fold.  (1  Kings  yii.  50.  Heb.  ix. 
.)  The  censer  was  held  in 
one  hand,  and  contained  the 
fire  taken  from  the  perpetual 
supply  on  the  altar  of  burnt- 
offering.  The  incense  was 
carried  in  the  other  hand  ;  and 
as  the  high-priest,  once  a  year, 
entered  the  holy  of  holies,  he 
strewed  the  pulverized  incense 


CES 

upon  the  fire,  and  the  cloud 
of  smoke  ascended  up  in  a 
dark  volume,  and  filled  the 
apartment  with  its  fragranca 
It  is  called  a  spoon,  (Num.  vii. 
14.)  and  vial,  (Kev.  v.  8.) 

The  foregoing  cut  represents 
the  probable  form  of  the  ves¬ 
sel,  or  the  charger  and  censer 
combined. 

CENTURION.  (Matt.  viii. 
5.)  The  title  of  an  officer  of 
the  Roman  army,  who  had 
command  of  one  hundred  sol¬ 
diers. 

CEPHAS.  (John  i.  42.)  A 
Syriac  surname  given  to  Peter, 
which  in  the  Greek  is  render¬ 
ed  Petros^snA  inLatinPelrns, 
both  signifying  a  rock.  (See 
Peter  ) 

CEREMONIES.  (Num.  ix. 
3,)  or  ORDINANCES, (Heb.  ix. 
],)  denote  the  external  rites  of 
religion,  or  the  forms  and  cir¬ 
cumstances  by  which  it  is  ren¬ 
dered  solemn  and  magnificent, 
particularly  under  the  Mosaic 
dispensation. 

CESAR  (AUGUSTUS.) 
(Luke  ii.  1.)  Nephew  and  suc¬ 
cessor  of  Julius  Cesar,  emperor 
of  Rome.  The  name  Augustus, 
signifying  august  ot  noble, 
was  a  complimentary  title,  de¬ 
creed  to  him  by  the  Roman 
senate,  whence  is  derived  the 
name  of  the  month  August. 
Cesar  was  the  regal  title  of 
the  emperors,  and  hence  Tibe¬ 
rius  is  called  Cesar,  (Matt, 
xxii.  21,)  and  Nero  is  called 
Cesar..  (Acts  xxv.  11.)  The 
title  Augustus  was  a  personal 
distinction  ;  but  after  the  death 
of  the  individual  to  whom  it 
was  given,  it  was  regarded 
and  used  as  a  part  of  the  royal 
title. 

CESAR  (CLAUDIUS.) 
(Acts  xi.  28.)  An  emperor  of 
Rome,  who  succeed edCaiusCa- 
ligula,  A.  d.  41.  Four  different 
famines  are  mentioned  by  pro¬ 
fane  historians  as  having  taken 
'glace  during  his  reign ;  one  of 


CES 

which  was  very  severe  in  Ju¬ 
dea,  extended  into  adjoining 
countries,  and  continued  near¬ 
ly  three  years.  Such  a  famine 
was  predicted  by  a  prophet 
named  Agabus,  who  came  from 
Jerusalem  to  Antioch,  about 
the  year  a.  d.  35  or  45 ;  and 
the  expression,  throughout  all 
the  world ,  evidently  intends 
its  general  prevalence  in  other 
parts  of  the  world  besides  Ju¬ 
dea.  (See  Agabus.) 

In  the  ninth  year  of  his 
reign,  Claudius,  by  a  decree, 
banished  the  Jews  (probably 
including  the  Christian  con¬ 
verts)  from  Rome.  (Acts  xviii. 
2.  See  Tiberius  Cesar.) 

CESAREA.  (Acts  xxiii.  33.) 
A  considerable  town  on  the 
coast  of  the  Mediterranean, 
between  Joppa  and  Tyr%  about 
sixty-two  miles  from  Jerusa¬ 
lem.  It  is  sometimes  called 
Cesarea  of  Palestine,  to  dis¬ 
tinguish  it  from  Cesarea-Phi- 
lippi,  (see  next  article,)  and  is 
supposed  by  some  to  be  the 
Hazor  of  the  Old  Testament. 
(Josh.  xi.  1.)  Herod  the  Great 
contributed  chiefly  to  the  mag¬ 
nificence  of  the  city  by  build¬ 
ing  some  of  the  most  splendid 
of  its  edifices,  and  constructing 
a  fine  harbour  for  it.  He  call¬ 
ed  it  Cesarea,  in  honour  of  the 
emperor  Cesar  Augustus.  After 
the  destruction  of  Jerusalem, 
when  Judea  became  a  Roman 
province,  Cesarea  was  the 
chief  city  of  Palestine,  (Acts 
xxiv.  27,  and  xxv.  1.  13,)  and 
was  often  visited  by  Paul,  (Acts 
ix.  30;  xviii.  22;  xxi.  8;)  and 
it  was  here  that  he  made  his 
eloquent  defence  before  Felix, 
Festus,  and  Agrippa,  (Acts 
xxiii.  xxv.  and  xxvi.  ;)  and 
here  he  suffered  two  years’ 
imprisonment. 

Philip  the  "fevangelist  re¬ 
sided  here,  (Acts  xxi.  8;) 
and  also  Cornelius,  who,  with 
his  family,  were  the  first-fruits 
from  among  the  Gentiles,  un- 


CHA 


der  the  preaching  of  Peter. 
(Acts  x.) 

A  traveller,  who  passed  the 
ruins  of  Cesarea  in  1801,  say#, 

“  Perhaps  there  has  not  been 
in  the  history  of  the  world  an 
example  of  any  city,  that  in  so 
short  a  space  rose  to  so  extraor¬ 
dinary  a  height  of  splendour, 
or  that  exhibits  a  more  awful 
contrast  to  its  former  magnifi¬ 
cence,  by  the  present  desolate  E 
appearance  of  its  rulns;  Not  a 
single  inhabitant  remains.  Its 
theatres,  once  resounding  with 
the  shouts  of  multitudes,  echo 
no  other  sound  than  the  nightly 
cries  of  animals  roaming  for 
their  prey.” 

Napoleon  encamped  here 
after  raising  the  siege  of  Acre, 
and  speaks  of  the  broken  frag 
ments  of  marble  and  granite 
columns  which  surrounded 
him. 

CESAREA-PHILIPPI  (Matt. 


xvi.  13,  and  Mark  viii.  27)  was 
a  town  in  the  northern  part 
of  Judea,  in  the  vicinitv  of 
mount  Hermon.  Some  have 
supposed  it  is  the  same  with 
Laish  or  Leshem,  and  also  the 
Dan  of  the  Old  Testament. 
(Josh.  xix.  47.  Judg.  xviii.  29. 
See  Dan.)  Philip  the  tetrarch. 
son  of  Herod,  contributed 
largely  to  its  prosperity,  and 
gave  it  the  name  of  Cesarea, 
in  honour  of  Tiberius  Cesar. 
It  is  called  Cesarea-Philippi, 
or  Cesarea  of  Philip,  to  distin¬ 
guish  it  from  a  town  of  the 
same  name  on  the  coast.  (See 
preceding  article.)  It  now 
contains  about  two  hundred 
houses, and  is  inhabited  chiefly 
by  Turks. 

CHAIN.  (See  Feet.) 

CHALCEDONY.  (Rev.  xxi. 
19.)  A  precious  stone  found  in 
Europe  and  in  several  dis¬ 
tricts  of  the  United  States. 
Tiie  common  cornelian  is  one 
of  its  varieties. 

CHALDEA.  (Jer.  1.  10.) 
CHALDEANS.  (Job  1.17.) 

143 


CHA 

The  country  of  which  Baby¬ 
lon  wis  the  capital,  and  which 
was  hence  called  Babylonia, 
is  a  level  region  of  Asia,  wa¬ 
tered  by  the  Euphrates  and 
Tigris,  between  which  rivers 
it  was  situated.  These  rivers, 
when  swollen  by  the  waters 
from  the  mountains  of  Arme-. 
nia,  overflowed  their  banks, 
and  fertilized  the  whole  coun¬ 
try.  Hence  the  strong,  figura¬ 
tive  language  in  Isa.xxi.  1.  Jer. 
li.  13.  In  the  year  b.  c.  630, 
the  Chaldeans,  a  wandering 
race,  not  unlike  the  modern 
Arabs,  (Job  i.  17,)  descended 
from  Taurus  and  Caucasus, 
subdued  western  Asia-destroy- 
ed  Jerusalem,  (B.  c.  588 — A.  m. 
3416,)  conquered  Tyre  and 
Phenlcia,  and  founded  an  em¬ 
pire,  which  extended  to  the 
shores  of  the  Mediterranean, 
and  which  from  them  was 
called  Chaldea. 

Babel  or  Babylon  (whence 
the  name  Babtjlonia)  was  the 
capital  of  this  mighty  empire. 
It  had  long  been  distinguished 
for  its  commerce  and  science. 
Learning  was  confined  to  the 
priests,  who  were  employed  in 
the  services  of  their  religion, 
In  medicine,  magic,  astrology, 
&c.  Their  pretended  know¬ 
ledge  was  kept  secret  from 
the  people,  and  hence,  under 
this  name,  they  became  a  dis¬ 
tinct  class  of  magicians  and 
conjurers,  called  Chaldeans. 
(Dan.  iv.  7.) 

In  a.  d.  536,  this  vast  coun¬ 
try  was  united  with  Persia ; 
and  in  a.  d.  640,  they  both  fell 
under  the  dominion  of  Mo¬ 
hammed,  and  finally,  a.  d. 
1639,  into  the  hands  of  the 
Turks,  who  still  hold  them. 
The  two  names,  Chaldea  and 
Babylonia,  appear  to  have 
been  often  applied  to  the  same 
tountry.  (Jer.  xxiv.  5;  xxv. 
12 ;  1.  8.  Ezek  xii.  13.)  The 
original  name  of  at  least  a 
Section  of  Chaldea,  was  Shi- 


CHA 

nar.  (Gen.  x.  10.  Dan.  i.  1, 2. 
See  Babylon,  Syria,  Shinar. 
See  also  Evening  Recrea¬ 
tions,  vol.  ii.  pp.  69,  70,  by 
Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

'  CHALK-STONES.  (Isa. 
xxvii.  9.)  A  soft  mineral  sub¬ 
stance,  resembling  what  we 
call  limestone.  To  make  the 
stones  of  the  Jewish  altars  like 
chalk-stones  is  to  crumble  and 
destroy  them. 

CHAMBER.  (Gen.  xliii.  30.) 
Usually  the  private  apart¬ 
ments  of  a  house  are  called 
chambers.  (2  Sam.  xviii.  33. 
Ps.  xix.  5.  Dan.  vi.  10.)  Par 
ticular  rooms  of  this  class  in 
eastern  houses  were  desig 
nated  by  significant  terms. 

Guest-chamber.  (Mark  xiv. 
14.)  This  we  may  suppose  to 
have  been  a  spacious  unoc¬ 
cupied  room,  usually  in  the 
upper  part  of  the  house,  and 
furnished  suitably  for  the  re¬ 
ception  and  entertainment  of 
guests  and  social  meetings. 
The  proverbial  hospitality  of 
the  Jews  would  make  such 
provision  necessary,  and  espe¬ 
cially  at  Jerusalem,  in  festival 
seasons,  when  every  house  in 
the  city  was  the  stranger’s 
home.  (Mark  xiv.  15.  Luke 
xxii.  12.  Acts  i.  13.) 

Inner  chamber.  (2  Kings 
ix.  2.)  A  chamber  within  an¬ 
other  chamber. 

Little  chamber.  (2  Kings 
iv.  10.)  An  apartment  built 
upon  and  projecting  from  the 
walls  of  the  main  house,  and 
communicating  by  a  private 
door  with  the  house,  and  by  a 
private  stairway  to  the  street. 

Upper  chamber,  or  loft, 
(Acts  ix.  37,)  is  supposed  to 
have  occupied  the  front  part 
of  the  building,  over  the  gate 
or  outer  entrance,  and  to  have 
been  used  tm  lodge  strangers. 
(Comp.  1  Kings  xvii.  19  “and 
23,  with  2  Kings  iv.  10.  See 
Dwellings,  paragraph  Upper 
ROpM.) 

144 


CHA 

CHAMBERING.  (Rom.  xiii. 
18.)  Low  intrigue  for  licentious 
purposes. 

CHAMBERLAIN.  (2  Kings 
Xxiii.  11.)  An  officer  who  has 
charge  of  the  royal  chambers, 
or  the  king’s  lodgings,  ward¬ 
robes,  &c.  In  eastern  courts, 


CHA 

eunuchs  were  commonly  em¬ 
ployed  for  this  service.  (Esth. 
1. 10. 12. 15.)  The  sixth  officer 
of  the  British  crown  is  the 
lord  high  chamberlain.  The 
title  in  Rom.  xvi.  23,  pro¬ 
bably  denotes  the  steward  or 
treasurer  of  the  city. 


CHAMELEON.  (Lev.  xi. 
30.)  A  species  of  the  lizard, 
of  very  singular  construction 
and  appearance.  Its  tail  is  as 
long  as  its  whole  body,  and  be¬ 
ing  wound  around  the  branches 
of  trees,  assists  the  animal  in 
climbing  or  suspending  itself. 
It  feeds  on  insects,  and  to 
catch  them  it  is  provided  with 
a  tongue  nearly  as  long  as  its 
body,  which  it  darts  out  and 
then  draws  back  again,  con¬ 
tracting  it  into  a  small  com¬ 
pass.  This  organ  is  covered 
with  a  glutinous  substance,  by 
which  flies  and  other  insects 
are  arrested  and  drawn  in  for 
the  animal’s  food.  Its  colour  is 
changeable,  but  not  to  the  ex¬ 
tent  nor  from  the  causes  which 
are  vulgarly  supposed.  It  is  by 
no  means1  certain  that  the  cha¬ 
meleon  known  to  us  was  the 
animal  which  was  reckoned 
unclean  by  the  Levitical  law. 

CHAMOIS.  (Deut.  xiv.  5.) 

13 


The  animal  intended  in  this 
passage  was  probably  of  the 
family  of  antoiupes  ;  and  as 
the  chamois  of  modern  natu¬ 
ral  history  is  found  in  the  higli- 
lands  of  Switzerland,  Germa¬ 
ny,  and  Greece,  at  the  height 
and  in  the  same  climate  with 
the  mountains  of  Judea,  it  is 
not  unlikely  that  the  same 
animal  which  we  know  as  the 
chamois  was  regarded  as  un¬ 
clean  by  the  Jewish  law.  (See 
Natural  Historv  op  thb 
Bible,  pp.  77,  78,  by  Am.  S. 
S.  Union,  for  a  partictflar  do 
scription  and  cut.) 

CHANCE  (1  Sam.  vi.  9> 
might  be  better  rendered  oc 
currence ,  and  is  so  rendered 
in  several  ancient  versions. 
In  Eccl.  ix.  1 — 11,  the  sacred 
writer  is  illustrating  the  weak¬ 
ness  and  blindness  of  man, 
andshowingthat  all  theevents 
and  occurrences  of  his  life  are 
appointed  by  infinite  wisdom 


CMA 

awl  power.  In  the  passage  I 
first  above  cited  the  word  im¬ 
plies  simply  this, — that  if  the 
■cattle,  without  any  guidance 
off  man,  should  leave  their 
calves  and  their  pastures,  and 
the  roads  Which  they  were  ac¬ 
customed  to  go  in,  and  should 
draw  the  ark  towards  Bethshe- 
mesh,  (the  nearest  point  of  the 
land  of  Israel,)  then  the  Philis¬ 
tines  might  infer  from  this 
supernatural  occurrence,  that 
God’s  hand  had  afflicted  them 
rs  a  punishment  for  detaining 
the  ark;  but  if  nothing  like 
this  should  appear,  they 'might 
suppose  that  their  singular  af¬ 
fliction  was  the  result  of  natu¬ 
ral  though  unknown  causes. 
What  men  speak  of  as  hap¬ 
pening  by  chance,  are  those 
occurrences  which  take  place 
without  any  apparent  cause, 
as  in  .Luke  x.  31 ;  “  It  so  hap- 
yicnelf  that  a  priest,”  &c.  i.  e. 
lie  had  no  design  to  pass  by 
the  wounded  man,  &c.;  though 
they  are  not  the  less  actually 
die  result  of  divine  appoint¬ 
ment.  The  word,  in  ils  athe¬ 
istical  use,  is  as  unphilosophi- 
cal  as  it- js  impious. 

CHANCELLOR.  (Ezra  iv. 
8.  17.)  'A  distinguished  officer 
of  tile  Jewish  court,  of  whose 
particular  functions  we  have 
now  no  knowledge. 

CHANGEABLE  SUITS  OF 
APPAREL.  (See  Clothes.) 

CHANGES- OF  RAIMENT. 
(See  Clothes.) 

CHANGERS  OF  MONET, or 
MONEY-CHANGERS.  (Matt. 
xxi.12.Jdhn  ii.14.)  When  Judea 
became  a  province  of  Rome, 
the  Jews  were  required  to  pay 
taxes  in  Roman  currency,  and 
at  the  same  time  the  annual 
tribute- for  the  service  of  the 
sanctuary  was  the  half  she¬ 
kel  of  Jewish  currency.  To  ex¬ 
change  these,  one  for  Lite  other, 
was  the  business  of  the  mo¬ 
ney-changers,  like  the  busi¬ 
ness  of  modern  brokers.  To 


CHA 

obtain  custom,  they  stationed 
themselves  in  the  courts  of 
the  temple,  the  place  of. gene¬ 
ral  resort  for  strangers  from 
every  part  of  Judea,  and  their 
oppressive  and  fraudulent 
practices  probably  justified 
the  allusion  of  our  Saviour  to 
a  den  of  thieves.  Perhaps, 
they  were  also  accustomed  to 
pay  and  receive  interest  on 
loans,  and  this  practice  is  re-, 
cognised  in  Matt.  xxv.  Id.  27. 

CHANT.  (See  Viol.) 

CHAPEL,  (Amos  vii.  13,)  or 
SANCTUARY.  A  place  of 
worship.  Bethel  is  called  the 
king’s  chapel  by  one  of  the 
idol  priests,  because  there  the 
kings  of  Israel  paid  idolatrous 
worship  to  the  golden  calves. 
(See  BEggt^L.) 

CHAJPITEJRS,  (Ex.  xxxvi. 
38,)  or-CAPITALS,(as  they  are 
called  in  modern  architecture,) 
are  the  upper  or  ornamental 
part  of  a  column. 

CHAPMEN  (2Chron.  ix.  14) 
are  called,  in  the  correspond¬ 
ing  passage,  .(1  Kings  x.  15,) 
spice-merchai'Is.  The  classes 
might  be  distinguished  as  the 
merchants  ane  grocers  of  mo¬ 
dern  days.  The  revenuelo  the 
king  was  probably  in  the  form 
of  duties  on  their  imports. 

CHARAN.  (See  Haran.) 

CHARGER.  (Mum.  vii.  13. 
Ezra  i.  9.  -Matt.  xiv.  8.  11.) 
A  shallow  bowl  or  basin,  used 
for  receiving  the  blood  at  the 
preparation  of  the  sacrifices. 
(See  Censer.) 

CHARIOT.  (Gen.  xli.  43, 
and  xlvi.  29.  2  Kings  x.  15. 
Acts  viii.  28.).  Until  within 
three  or  four’  hundred  years 
nothing  was  known  of  the  con¬ 
venience  and  even  luxury  of 
modern  vehicles  of  pleasure. 
The  chariots  of  the  early  ages 
were  probably  little  superior 
in  style  or  convenience  to  mo¬ 
dern  carts  or  wagons.  The 
following  is  given  as  a  repre¬ 
sentation  of'  the  vehicle  in 
146 


CHA 


CHA 


which  the  Ethiopian  was  rid¬ 
ing  when  accosted  by  Philip. 

Travellers  describe  a  clum¬ 
sy  carriage  used  in  Asia  at  the 


present  day,  which  is  formed 
like  a  large  wicker  basket, 
eight  feet  long,  supported  by 
four  solid  wheels,  convex  on 


each  side,  and  shaped  not  un¬ 
like  the  above.  These  car¬ 
riages  were  made  of  wood,  and 
were  often  burnt  in  war.  (Ps. 
Klvi.  9.  Sol.  Song  iii.  9.  Nah. 
li.  13.) 

Another  form  is  given  us,  as 
on  the  following  page. 

Where  chariots  are  men¬ 
tioned  as  of  iron,  (Josh.  xvii. 
18,)  it  is  probable  that  the  iron 
instruments  with  which  they 
were  often  heavily  armed  gave 
them  such  a  designation.  The 


word  chariot  is  used  for  the 
horses  by  which  it  is  drawn, 
(2  Sam.  viii.  4;  x.  18,)  and 
again  for  the  riders  of  horses 
and  other  animals.  (Isa.  xxi. 
7.  9  >  ^ 

Captains  op  chariots,  (Ex. 
xv.  4,)  or,  literally,  mounted 
three  standers.  This  expres¬ 
sion,  in  an  English  transla¬ 
tion,  might  he  supposed  to  de¬ 
note  the  officer  or  officers  who 
had  charge  of  the  chariot 
forces ;  but  the  literal  mean 


CH  A 


CHA 


ing,  above  given,  makes  the 
passage  obscure.  The  cut,  from 
an  Egyptian  tomb,  nearly  or 
quite  as  ancient  as  the  period 
to  which  the  above-cited  pas¬ 
sages  relate,  furnishes  a  key 
to  this  otherwise  difficult  ex¬ 
pression.  It  represents  three 


men  standing  upon  a  chariot, 
two  of  whom  are  prepared  for 
action,  and  the  third  manages 
the  horses.  They  were  pro¬ 


bably  selected  for  their  valour, 
and  perhaps  formed  by  them¬ 
selves  a  distinct  di  vision  of  the 
army,  and  each  had  its  distinct 
officer.  (Ex.  xiv.  7.) 

Chariot  op  the  cheru- 
bims  (1  Chron.  xxviii.  18) 
means  the  frame  work  on 
which  the  cherubims  rested, 
and  one  pattern  of  which 
might  resemble  the  body  of  a 
chariot. 

(See  Amminadab,  War, 
Harness.) 

Chariot  cities,  (2  Chron. 
i.  14,)  or  cities  specially  desig¬ 
nated  for  storing  the  chariots 
of  war  during  the  time  of 
peace,  as  magazines  and  ar¬ 
senals  of  modern  times  are 
used. 

Chariot  horses.  (2  Kings 
vii.  14.)  Horses  that  were  pe¬ 
culiarly  fitted,  by  size,  spirit, 
docility, or  special  training, for 
service  in  chariots ;  as  car¬ 
riage,  draft,  and  saddle-horses 
of  later  days. 

Chariot  man.  (2  Chron 
xviii.  33.)  Driver,  or  chariot, 
eer. 

Chariots  op  the  sun.  (2 
Kings xxiii.ll.)  Chariots  which 
148 


CHE 

had  been  consecrated  to  the 
Bun  by  the  idolatrous  customs 
of  the  kings  of  Judah.  Such 
consecration  of  horses  and  ve¬ 
hicles  was  common,  especially 
in  Per*!  a. 

The  word  chariots  is  some¬ 
times  used  figuratively  for 
hosts  or  armies,  (Fs.  Ixviii. 
17;)  and  Elijah,  by  his  prayers 
and  counsels,  and  power  with 
God,  was  the  “  chariot  and 
horsemen  of  Israel,”  (2  Kings 
ii.  1 1,  12,)  inasmuch  as  he  did 
more  for  them  than  all  the 
chariots  and  horsemen  which 
they  could  muster.  (Ps.  xx.  7. 
Isa.  xxxi.  1.) 

Chariots  (forwar.)  (Judg. 
tv.  3.)  One  class  of  carriages 
thus  denominated  were  used 
as  the  common  vehicles  of 
princes  and  generals ;  but  an- 


CHE 

other  formed  the  most  terrible 
of  military  engines,  and  were 
employed  in  great  numbers. 
(1  Sam.  xiii.  5.~  1  Chron.  xviii. 
4.)  Like  other  ancient  car¬ 
riages,  they  had  usually  only 
two  wheels,  and  iron  scythes, 
strong  and  sharp,  were  affixed 
to  the  extremities  of  the  axles 
on  each  side. 

Warriors  sometimes  fought 
standing  on  them,  or  leaping 
from  them  upon  the  enemy. 
The  chariots  in  the  army  of 
Cyrus  were  capacious  enough 
to  permit  twenty  men  to  fight 
from  them. 

The  following  sketch  of  the 
wooden  war-chariot  used  by 
the  Parthians,  may  illustrate 
the  general  appearance  and 
uses  of  the  chariot  of  earlier 
days. 


CHARITY.  (1  Cor.  xiii.  1.) 
In  l  his  and  parallel  passages, 
the  word  love  would  more  pro¬ 
perly  express  the  sentiment 
intended.  (See  Love.)  Chari¬ 
ty,  in  the  popular  acceptation 
of  the  word,  is  almsgiving. 
(See  Alms.) 

CHARM,  CHARMER.  (See 
Adder,  Asp,  Divination.) 

CHARRAN.  (SeeHAitAN.) 

CHATTER.  (See  Crane, 
Swallow.) 

CHEBAR.  (Ezek.  i.  1.  3.)  A 
river  in  the  land  of  the  Chal¬ 
deans.  A  colony  of  the  cap- 
13* 


tive  Jews  resided  here,  and 
the  prophet  Ezekiel  also,  with 
whose  predictions  the  place 
has  very  interesting  associa¬ 
tions. 

CHEDORLAOMER.  (Gen. 
xiv.  1.  5.)  One  of  the  kings 
who  formed  an  allianceagainst 
the  five  cities  of  the  plain,  and 
whose  spoils  were  taken  from 
them  by  Abram.  (See  Abram.) 

CHEEKBONE.  (Ps.  iii.  7.) 
The  figurative  language  of 
this  passage  presents  the 
psalmist  surrounded  by  his 
enemies  as  by  a  herd  of  wild 


CHE 

beasts,  and  denotes  their  com¬ 
plete  deprivation  of  the  power 
of  seizing  upon  or  devouring 
their  prey. 

CHEESE,  (1  Sam.  xvii.  18,) 
or  the  pressed  curd  of  milk, 
was  a  common  article  of  foot! 
among  the  Jews,  and  is  now 
among  many  nations  of  the 
east.  The  word  occurs  hut 
three  times  in  our  Scriptures, 
and  in  each  of  them  the  ori¬ 
ginal  word  is  different.  (2Sam. 
xvii.  29.  Job  x.  10.)  Travel¬ 
lers  tell  us  that  new  cheese, 
er  the  curd  of  cream  salted, 
was  a  luxury  of  the  richest 
tables.  The  milk  was  sepa¬ 
rated  by  a  rude  sort  of  churn¬ 
ing,  (see  Butter,)  and  the 
curd  was  placed  in  a  close- 
woven  rush  or  wicker  basket, 
and  so  pressed  as  to  retain  its 
form,  as  in  the  annexed  cut. 


Ten  baskets  of  curds  of  this 
kind  were  not  an  unsuitable 
present  for  Jesse  to  make, 
even  to  an  nflicpr  of  Saul's 
army.  (See  Milk.) 

C  HEM  AKIMS.  (Zeph.i.4.) 
The  priests  of  idol  gods,  as  in 
S  Kings  xxiii.  5,  and  Hos.  x.  5, 


CHE 

whpre  the  same  word  is  trans¬ 
lated  idolatrous  priests. 

CHEMOSH.  (Nmn.  xxi.  29.) 
The  name  of  an  idol  of  thB 
Moabites, (Jer.  xlviii.7,)  which 
bishop  Newton  and  others  sup¬ 
pose  to  have  been  the  same 
with  Baal-peor.  It  is  called 
“  the  abomination  cf  the  Mo¬ 
abites,”  as  Moloch  was  the 
abomination  of  the  Ammon¬ 
ites.  Solomon  built  a  place 
for  its  worship  in  the  suburbs 
of  Jerusalem,  (1  Kings  xi.  7,) 
which  Josiah  afterwards  de¬ 
stroyed.  (2  Kings  xxiii.  13.) 
The  people  of  Cheraosh  are  his 
worshippers.  (Jer.  xlviii.  46.) 

CHEPHIRAH  (Josh.  ix.  17) 
formerly  belonged  to  the  Gibe- 
onites.  It  afterwards  fell  into 
the  hands  of  the  tribe  of  Ben¬ 
jamin,  and  was  occupied  by 
this  tribe  after  their  return 
from  captivity.  (Josh,  xviii- 
26.  Ezra  ii.  25.  Nell.  vii.  29.) 

CHERETHIMS.  (Ezelc.xxv 
16.)  CHERETHITES.  (1  Sam 
xxx.  14.)  These  names  are  ap¬ 
plied  to  a  part  of  David’s  army, 
(2  Sam.  xv.  18,  and  xx.  7,) 
which  seems  to  have  been  a 
distinct  corps.  (2  Sam.  viii. 
16 — 48.)  It  is  probable  they 
were  either  originally  Philis- 
tines,  skilful  in  archery,  (comp. 
1  Sam.  xxx.  14.  1G,  with  Zeplt. 
ii  5,)  and  thus  qualified  to  be- 
come  a  sort  of  body-guard  to 
the  king ;  or  that  they  wpre  Is¬ 
raelites  who  were  with  David 
among  the  Philistines  or  Che- 
relhites,  and  hence  their  corps 
was  known  by  this  name  in 
the  army.  They  are  usually 
joined  with  the  IVlethites,  (2 
Sam.  viii.  18,)  yho  are  sup¬ 
posed  to  have  been  native  Is¬ 
raelites  of  the  tribe  rl  Reuben, 
(Num.  xvi.  1,)  or  Judah.  (1 
Chron.  ii.  33.  See  Crete.) 

CHERITH.  (1  Kings  xvii.  3 
5.)  A  small  brook  which  emp 
tied  into  the  Jordan,  and  in 
the  vicinity  of  which  Kliial 
concealed  himself  and  was 
supported  by  ravens. 

150 


CHI 

CHERUB,  CHERUBIM. 
(F.zek.  x.  5.  7.)  The  word 
cherubim  occurs  first,  Gen. 
iii.  24,  and  is  applied  to  the 
guard  which  was  placed  over 
Eden  after  the  expulsion  of 
fallen  man. 

Among  the  directions  given 
to  Moses  respecting  the  form 
and  construction  of  the  mercy- 
Beat,  one  was,  to  make  a  che¬ 
rub  at  each  end,  whose  face 
should  be  Rirned  inward,  and 
whose  wings  should  cover  the 
mercy-seat.  From  between 
these  figures  or  cherubim  God 
communed  with  Moses  con¬ 
cerning  the  children  of  Israel. 
(Ex.  xxv.  22.  Num.  vn.  89. 

1  Sam.  iv.  4.  Fs.  lxxx.  1,  and 
xcix.  I.) 

The  size  and  shape  of  the 
figures  representing  the  cheru¬ 
bim  in  Solomon’s  temple,  are 
described  particularly  2Chron 
iii.  10— 13.  (See  Biblical  An 
TiaurriEs,  vol.  ii.  ch.  ii.  pp 
61_63,  by  Am.  S.S.  Union.) 

CHESTNUT  TREE.  (Gen. 
xxx.  37.)  A  well-known  tree, 
which  is  figuratively  used 
(Ezek.  xxxi.  8)  in  connexion 
with  the  cedar  and  fir,  to  illus 
trate  the  greatness  of  the  As 
Syrian  kingdom.  The  tree 
known  to  us  as  the  plane ,  or 
buttonwood ,  is  supposed  to  be 
intended  by  the  sacred  wri¬ 
ters,  and  the  original  has 
sometimes  he.en  so  translated. 

CHIEF  OF  ASIA.  (Acts  xix. 
31.)  Certain  wealthy  persons 
were  appointed  annually  in 
the  Asiatic  provinces  of  Borne, 
to  preside  over  the  religious 
rites,  public  games,  &c.  winch 
they  maintained  in  honour  ol 
the  gods,  and  at  their  own  ex¬ 
pense.  They  received  their 
title  from  the  name  of  the  pro¬ 
vince  ;  as  the  chief  or  priest 
of  Caria  was  called  Cariarch; 
of  Lycia,  Lyciarch,  &c.  Seve¬ 
ral  of  these  chiefs  or  priests 
were  holding  games  at  Ephe¬ 
sus,  when  the  tumult  was  ex¬ 
cited  in  that  city  because 


CHI 

Paul’s  preaching  interfered 
with  the  personal  interest 
of  Demetrius.  These  people 
were  friendly  to  the  apostle, 
and  advised  him  not  to  expose 
his  person  unnecessarily  to 
the  fury  of  the  populace. 

CHIEF  PRIEST.  (See 
Priest  ) 

CHIMHAM.  (2  Sam.  xix. 
37.)  It  is  possible  he  was  a 
son  of  Barzillai,  hut  cannot 
certainly  be  inferred  from  1 
Kincs  ii.  7,  which  is  sometimes 
citetl  to  prove  it.  Some  have 
supposed  that  David  gavs 
Chimham  a  parcel  of  land, 
which  was  afterwards  known 
by  his  name.  (Jer.  xli.  17.) 

CHIMNEY.  (See  Dwell- 

1NGS.)  „  _  „ 

CHINNERETH,  (Num. 
xxxiv.  11.  Deut.  iii.  17,)  ol 
CIIINNEROTH,  (Josh,  xl  2, 
and  xii.  3,)  or  CINNEROTH, 
(1  Kin^s  xv.  20,)  were  names 
of  a  place  and  lake  in  Lower 
Galilee.  The  town  of  Cinne- 
roth  was  on  the  western  shore 
of  the  lake,  near  the  bonier 
of Zebulon  and  Naphtali.  The 
town  is  supposed  to  have  been 
the  same  with  Tiberias,  and 
the  lake  is  called  the  lake  of 
Genesaret,  the  sea  of  Galilee, 
and  the  sea  of  Tiberias,  which 
is  its  present  name. 

There  is  no  part  of  Pales¬ 
tine  to  be  compared  with  the 
environs  of  this  lake  for  cli¬ 
mate,  fertility,  and  richness 
of  scenery.  Many  cities  ol 
note  (as  Capernaum,  Bethsai- 
da,  and  Cliorazin)  stood  upon 
its  shores.  The  river  Jordan 
flows  through  it,  and  it  for¬ 
merly  abounded  with  fish,  and 
cave  occupation  to  four  of  the 
first  disciples  of  our  Saviour, 
who  were  born  in  its  vicinity, 
and  were  called  from  their 
worldly  business  to  follow  him. 
Much  of  the  time  of  his  minis¬ 
try  was  spent,  and  many  of  Ins 
most  wonderful  works  were 
done, on  these  shores,  a  hough 
this  lake  was  less  than  twenty 
151 


CHI 

miles  long,  oy  six  or  eight 
wide,  it  was  subject  to  violent 
squalls.  The  wind  from  the 
south,  sweeping  down  the  sides 
of  the  mountains,  and  setting 
up  against  the  strong  current 
of  the  Jordan,  rendered  the 
lake  boisterous  and  full  of 
peril.  No  craft  is  seen  upon 
its  waters  in  modern  days. 
The  Arab  fishermen  wade  in 
with  hand-nets,  and  take  what 
fish  they  can. 

Mr.  F’iske,  an  American  mis¬ 
sionary,  was  at  Tiberias  (Ta- 
baria)  in  1823.  The  old  town 
is  surrounded  by  a  wall,  Jail 
within  it  is  very  ruinous,  and 
the  plain  for  a  mile  or  two 
south  is  strewed  with  ruins. 
The  Jordan,  where  it  issues 
from  the  lake,  was  so  shallow 
that  cattle  and  asses  forded  it 
easily.  Mr.  F.  was  shown  a 
house  called  the  house  of  Pe¬ 
ter,  which  is  used  as  the  Greek 
Catholic  church,  and  is  the 
only  church  in  the  place.  The 
number  of  Christian  families 
is  thirty  or  forty,  all  Greek 
Catholics.  There  were  two 
sects  of  Jews,  each  of  whom 
had  a  synagogue.  The  Jewish 
population  was  estimated  at 
about  1000.  On  the  1st  of  Ja¬ 
nuary,  1837,  Tiberias  was  de¬ 
stroyed  by  an  earthquake.  (See 
Views  op  Palestine,  p.  27, 
and  Omar,  pp.  120,  121,  and 
Life  of  Peter,  all  by  Am.  S. 
S.  Union.) 

CHIOS.  (Acts  xx.  15.)  A 
mountainous  island  on  the 
coast  of  Asia  Minor,  between 
Lesbos’  and  Samos,  thirty-two 
miles  long  and  fifteen  broad, 
inhabited  by  Greeks.  It  is 
now  called  Scio,  and  was  the 
scene  of  a  memorable  massa¬ 
cre  by  the  Turks  in  1823. 

CHISLEU.  (See  Months.) 

CH1TTIM.  (Pan.  xi.  30.) 
Probably  this  name  was  ori¬ 
ginally  applied  to  the  island 
of  Cyprus,  but  afterwards  be¬ 
came  a  general  name  for  the 
maritime  countries  and  islands 


CHR 

of  the  Mediterranean.  In  Isa. 
xxiii.  1,  we  are  told  that  the 
news  of  the  destruction  of 
Tyre  should  be  revealed  to  the 
ships  of  Tarshish,  as  they 
passed  the  land  of  Chittim  6* 
island  of  Cyprus. 

The  prophecy  of  Balaam, 
(Num.  xxiv.  24,5  of  the  visita 
tion  which  should  come  on 
Asshur, (Assyria, )and  Eber, (the 
Hebrew  s,)  probably  referred  te 
the  Grpek  and  Homan  inva¬ 
sion  of  those  countries  re¬ 
spectively.  (See  Cyprus.) 

CHIUN.  (Amos  v.  20.)  An 
idol  which  the  Israelites  made 
and  worshipped  in  the  wilder¬ 
ness.  (See  Remphan.) 

CHORAZ1N.  (Matt.  xi.  21.) 
A  town  on  the  shore  of  the  sea 
of  Tiberias,  (where  Christ 
wrought  miracles,)  but  its  pre¬ 
cise  location  is  not  known. 

CHORASHAN.  (See  Asu¬ 
an.) 

CHRIST  JESUS.  (Eph.  ii. 
10.)  This  is  a  compound  name 
significant  of  two  characters. 
Christ  is  from  the  Greek  word 
Christos,  which  signifies  an¬ 
ointed.  The  word  Messiah,  in 
the  Hebrew,  corresponds  to 
the  word  Christos ,  in  the 
Greek.  Hence  the  Jews  or 
Hebrews  speak  of  him  as  the 
Messiah,  and  Christians  speak 
of  him  as  the  Christ.  He  is 
called  Christ,  or  the  anointed, 
in  allusion  to  the  custom  of 
anointing  with  oil  such  as 
were  set  apart  to  a  sacred  or 
regal  office.  (Ex.  xxviii.  41, 
and  xxix.  7.  1  Sam.  ix.  10; 
xv.  1.  2Sam.  xxiii.  1.  1  Kings 
xix.  16.)  This  was  a  conse¬ 
crating  ceremony,  making  the 
person  of  the  subject  of  it  sa¬ 
cred.  (1  Sam.  xxiv.  6.  2  Sam. 
xix.  21.  1  Cliron.  xvi.  22.)  It 
was  also  emblematical  of  the 
effusion  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  \1 
John  ii.  20.  27 ;  Comp.  Matt, 
iii.  10,  17.  John  iii.  34.)  The 
Son  of  God  was  pre-eminently 
the  Anointed.  (I  Sam.  ii.  lu. 
Isa.  lxi.  1.  Han.  ix.  24.  26.) 


CHR 

The  word  Jesus  is  derived 
/rom  a  Rebrew  word  signifying 
Jo  save,  or  sent  to  save.  (Malt”, 
i.  21.  Luke  ii.  11.  21.)  The  word 
Joshua  has  the  same  meaning, 
and  is  a  very  common  name 
among  theHebrews,  and  would 
have  been  more  properly  used 
in  Acts  vii.  45,  and  Heb.  iv.  8, 
than  Jesus. 

The  word  Christ  was  origin¬ 
ally  used,  not  as  a  part  ofthe 
name,  but  as  indicative  of 
character  or  office :  thus  Jesus, 
the  Christ,  was  a  descriptive 
phrase,  like  John  the  Baptist. 
(Matt.  xxvi.  63.  Mark  viii. 
29;xiv.  61.  John  i.  20. 25. 41 ; 
vi.  69 ;  vii.  41 ;  x.  24 ;  xi.  27 ; 
xx.  31.)  Such  an  official  ap¬ 
pellation  was  necessary  to  dis¬ 
tinguish  the  Redeemer  from 
others  who  were  called  Joshua 
orJeSbs.  Grolius  says  that  the 
name  Jesus  was  dropped  at  a 
very  early  period  after  the 
ascension,  and  Christ  alone 
generally  used ;  though  we 
find  upon  examination,  that 
the  word  Christ  is  almost  al¬ 
ways  used  alone  in  the  Gos¬ 
pels,  while  in  the  Acts  and 
Epistles,  Jesus  Christ,  or  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  is  the  pre¬ 
vailing  expression. 

When  God  was  pronouncing 
the  dreadful  sentence  of  con¬ 
demnation  upon  our  first  pa¬ 
rents,  it  wss  his  sovereign 
pleasure,  without  any  solicita¬ 
tion  or  act  of  man,  to  intimate 
a  purpose  of  mercy  in  the  fol¬ 
lowing  language :  And  the 
Lard  God  said  unto  the  ser¬ 
pent,  I  will  put  enmity  be¬ 
tween  thee  and  the  woman, 
and  between  thy  seed  ( posteri¬ 
ty )  and  her  seed ;  it  (or  he,  i.  e. 
her  seed )  shall  bruise  thy 
head,  and  thou  shalt  bruise 
his  (or  its)  heel. 

In  this  single  verse  lies  the 
grand  principle  of  all  true  re¬ 
ligion.  It  is  the  root  and  sub¬ 
stance  of  alii  the  prophecies 
and  promises  of  after-times. 
The  war  between  sin  and  ho- 


CHR 

liness  was  then  waged,  and  has 
since  been  prosecuted  without 
intermission.  (Rom.  vii.  23.) 
The  Son  of  God  and  all  true 
believers  are  “  the  seed  of  tho 
woman.”  (Comp.  Acts  xiii.  23. 
Gal.  iv.  4,  and  Heb.  ii.  16, 
with  John  xvii.  21—23.)  The 
devil  and  ail  his  servants  re- 
present  the  serpent  and  his 
seed.  (John  viii.  44.  1  John  iii. 
8.)  The  temptations,  suffer¬ 
ings,  and  ignominious,  death 
of  Christ,  and  the  fierce  oppo¬ 
sition  and  cruel  persecution 
which  his  true  followers  have 
endured  in  various  ages  of  the 
world,  are  significantly  de¬ 
scribed  by  the  bruising  of  the 
heel;  while  the  complete  vic¬ 
tory  which  our  glorious  Re¬ 
deemer  has  himself  achieved 
over  sin  and  death,  and  which 
his  grace  enables  the  believer 
also  to  obtain,  and  the  still 
more  perfect  and  universal 
triumph  which  he  will  finally 
accomplish,  are  all  strikingly 
illustrated  by  the  bruising'of 
the  serpent’s  head. 

The  books  of  heathen  my¬ 
thology  furnish  curious  allu¬ 
sions  to  this  wonderful  passage 
of  the  Bible.  In  one  of  them, 
Thor  is  represented  as  the 
eldest  of  sons,  a  middle  divini 
ty,  a  mediator  between  God 
and  man,  who  bruised  the 
head  of  the  serpent  and  slew 
him  ;  and  in  one  of  the  oldest 
pagodas  of  India  are  found 
two  sculptured  figures,  repre¬ 
senting  two  incarnations  of 
one  of  their  supreme  divini¬ 
ties  ;  the  first  t.o  be  bitten  by 
a  serpent,  and  the  second  to 
crush  him.  (See  cuts  on  the 
next  page.) 

The  text  which  we  have 
been  illustrating  is  the  first  in¬ 
timation  of  a  Saviour  which 
was  given  to  our  world  after  it 
was  ruined  by  sin ;  and  through¬ 
out  all  succeeding  ages  of  the 
church  and  of  the  world,  In 
the  wonderful  system  of  sacri 
ficial  and  ceremonial  obser 
153 


CHR 


vances,  in  all  the  types  and 
shadows  of  the  Jewish  law, 
in  the  whole  current  of  pro¬ 
phecy,  and  in  all  the  changes 
and  revolutions  of  ancient 
kingdoms  and  nations,  the 
Hebrews  were,  so  clearly  in¬ 
structed  in  the  character  and 
offices  of  the  promised  Messi¬ 
ah,  that  their  unbelief  and  re¬ 
jection  of  him,  when  he  ac¬ 
tually  appeared,  seem  unac¬ 
countable  on  any  other  hypo¬ 
thesis,  than  that  they  were 
judicially  blinded  ;  and  espe¬ 
cially  must  we  thus  regard 
their  conduct,  when  it  is  con¬ 
sidered  how  accurately  the 
minute  circumstances  of  his 
birth,  life,  and  death  are  pre¬ 
dicted.  (See  Infidel  Class, 
by  Am.  S.  S.  Union,  pp.  3S— 
43.)  So  that  it  has  been  truly 
said,  that  a  very  full  and  well 
connected  life  of  Christ  could 
be  prepared  from  the  materials 
which  the  prophecies  alone 
would  supply. 

The  Jews,  as  a  nation,  cross¬ 
ly  misapprehended  the”  cha¬ 
racter  o,  the  Messiah  and  the 
purpose  of  his  mission.  So 
clearly  were  his  advent  and 
offices  predicted  in  the  words 
of  prophecy,  that  a  general 
expectation  of  the  appearance 


CHR 


of  some  great  deliverer  pre¬ 
vailed.  They  were  even  ac¬ 
customed  to  regard  his  earning 
as  the  grand  era  in  the  annals 
of  the  world ;  for  they  spoke 
of  the  two  great  ages  of  histo¬ 
ry,  the  one  as  preceding  and 
the  other  as  following  this 
wonderful  event.  Their  views, 
however,  were  on  the  whole 
very  narrow,  and  in  the  mass 
of  the  people  were  elevated 
very  little,  if  at  all,  above  tbe 
temporal  advantages  of  their 
nation.  Their  foolish  hearts 
were  too  much  darkened  to 
see  that  his  kingdom  was  to 
be  spiritual ;  that  their  deli¬ 
verance  was  to  be  from  the 
power  and  dominion  of  sin ; 
that  the  blessings  he  would 
confer  would  be  holiness  and 
life  everlasting,  and  that  th© 
benefits  of  his  atonement,  me. 
diation,  and  glorious  reign, 
would  be  shared  by  all,  both 
Jews  and  Gentiles,  who  should 
repent,  and  believe  his  gospel. 

.  How  long  these  groundless 
apprehensions  prevailed,  even 
in  the  minds  of  those  who  had 
the  best  opportunity  to  know 
the  truth,  may  be  seen,  Luk© 
xxiv.  21,  and  Acts  i.6. 

We  find  that  about  the  time 
I  of  the  Messiah’s  appearance, 
154 


CHR 

Simeon,,  Anna,  and  others  of 
like  faith,  were  eagerly  ex¬ 
pectins  the  promised  salva¬ 
tion.  (Luke  ii.  25—38.) 

At  the  appointed  time  the 
Redeemer  pf  the  world  ap¬ 
peared.  He  was  born  in  the 
year  of  the  creation  4000,  at 
Bethlehem,  in  Judea,  of  a  vir¬ 
gin,  named  Mary,  who  was  es¬ 
poused  to  Joseph  ;  and  through 
them  he  derived  his  descent 
from  David,  according  to  pro¬ 
phecy.  Though  we  may  not  be 
able  to  trace  this  genealogy, 
we  may  be  assured  of  the  fact 
from  the  circumstance  that 
the  Jews  never  questioned  it. 
This  would  undoubtedly  have 
been  the  stronghold  of  their 
unbelief;  for  if  it  could  have 
been  shown  that  the  individu¬ 
al  who  claimed  to  be  their 
Messiah  was  not  descended 
from  David,  they  might  have 
justified  themselves  in  reject¬ 
ing  him,  by  referring  to  their 
Scriptures.  (Ps.  lxxxix.  3,  4, 
and  cx.  J.  Comp.  Acts  i:.  25— 
36.  Isa.  xi.  1—10.  Jer.  xxiii.5, 
6.  Ezek.  xxxiv.23,24;  xxxvn. 
24,25.  John  yji.  42.) 

At  the  proper  time  he  was 
subjected  to  the  rite  of  circum¬ 
cision,  under  the  Jewish  law, 
and  was  called  Jesus,  accord¬ 
ing  to  the  command.  <Ma.lt.  l. 
21.  Luke  ii.  21.) 

After  a  temporary  stay 
at  Bethlehem,  whither  they 
went  to  be  taxed,  in  compli¬ 
ance  with  a  decree  of  the  go¬ 
vernment,  they  were  prepar¬ 
ing  to  return  to  Nazareth,  the 
place  of  their  residence;  but 
they  were  admonished  by  an 
angel  of  a  cruel  decree  which 
had  been  issued  by  Herod  the 
king,  requiring  the  indiscrimi¬ 
nate  massacre  of  all  the  male 
children  in  Bethlehem  and  iis 
vicinity,  who  were  not  over 
two  years  old.  By  this  mas¬ 
sacre  he  hoped  to  cutoff  the 
infant  Jesus,  who,  as  he  sup¬ 
posed,  from  some  _  confused 
apprehensions  of  his  charac- 


CHR 

ter,  might  make  some  preten¬ 
sion  to”the  government  of  the 
country. 

In  obedience  to  the  divine 
intimation,  Joseph  took  the  in¬ 
fant  and  its  mother  and  went 
into  Egypt,  where  they  remain¬ 
ed  until  another  message  from 
God  informed  them  that  Herod 
was  dead,  and  they  might 
safely  return  into  the  land  of 
Israel.  So  they  took  up  their 
abode  in  Nazareth,  a  small 
town  in  Galilee,  where  Jesus 
remained, subject  to  his  earthly 
parents,  until  he  was  thirty 
years  of  age.  The  sacred  wri¬ 
ter  says  that  the  residence  of 
Christ  at  Nazareth  was  a  ful¬ 
filment  of  that  which  was 
spoken  by  the  prophet,  Ha 
shall  bt  called  a  Nazarene. 
Probably  to  come  from  Naza¬ 
reth  was  regarded  as  a  re¬ 
proach,  (John  i.  46;  vii.  52;) 
and  hence,  to  call  a  man  a 
Nazarene,  was  to  apply  to 
him,  in  one  word,  all  that  the 
prophets  said  of  the  humble 
and  despised  origin  of  the 
Messiah.  (Ps.  xxii.  Isa.  liii.) 
At  twelve  he  went  up  to  Jeru¬ 
salem  with  his  parents,  at  the 
feast  of  the  passovpr,  and  as¬ 
tonished  the  Jewish  rabbies 
by  his  wisdom  and  knowledge. 
The  design  of  the  evangelists 
being  to  record  only  the  events 
of  his  public  ministry,  we  are 
not  favoured  with  many  par¬ 
ticulars  of  Christ’s  life  upon 
earth  during  the  intervening 
period. 

When  he  was  about  thirty 
years  of  age,  he  went  from 
Nazareth  to  the  river  Jordan, 
where  John  was  preaching 
and  baptizing,  (Mark  i.  3— it) 
for  John  foreknew,  supernatu- 
rally,  that  the.followers  of  Je¬ 
sus  were  to  be  initiated  by  this 
rite,  and  that  they  were  like¬ 
wise  to  receive  the_  higher  bap¬ 
tism  of  the  Spirit.  _  John  at 
first  declined  administering 
the  ordinance  t.o  him,  for  he 
recognised  in  Chrlspthe  great 


CHR 

fountain  and  author  of  that 
inward  and  spiritual  grace  of 
which  the  ordinance  itself  was 
but  the  outward  and  visible 
sign.  He  therefore  sought 
rather  to  be  himself  baptized 
by  Christ ;  but  upon  being  in¬ 
formed  by  his  divine  master 
that  a  compliance  was  neces¬ 
sary,  in  order  that  he  might 
sanction  by  his  example  the 
ministry  of  John,  and  the  use 
of  this  significant  rite,  John  ad¬ 
ministered  the  ordinance;  and 
thereupon  there  was  a  visible 
and  audible  manifestation  of 
God’s  presence,  solemnly  at¬ 
testing  the  divinity  and  messi- 
ahship  of  Christ.  (Malt.  iii.  16.) 

He  then  commenced  his  pub¬ 
lic  ministry.  Calling  around 
him  twelve  humble  fishermen, 
to  be  the  companions  of  his 
journeyings,  and  the  witnesses 
of  his  conduct,  conversation, 
preaching,  and  miraclps,  and 
the  propagators  of  his  religion 
after  he  should  have  accom- 
plished  the  work  of  redemp¬ 
tion,  he  began  to  make  known 
the  great  purposes  of  his  incar¬ 
nation.  For  three  years  he 
exhibited  to  a  faithlpss  and 
perverse  generation,  the  most 
indubitable  evidence  of  his  di¬ 
vine  authority  and  power.  He 
forgave  sins,  rebuked  unclean 
spirits  so  that  they  came  out 
of  such  as  were  possessed  by 
them  ;  commanded  the  winds 
and  the  seas,  and  they  obeyed 
him ;  healed  all  manner  of 
diseases;  raised  the  dead,  and 
showed  conclusively,  in  every 
variety  of  form,  that  he  pos¬ 
sessed  all  the  divine  attributes 
that  there  was  any  fit.opportu- 
pity  to  employ,  for  the  benefit 
either  of  the  bodies  or  souls  of 
men. 

In  all  his  ministrations,— 
under  every  species  of  insult, 
contradiction,  and  misrepre¬ 
sentation,— he  most  perfectly 
illustrated  the  precepts  and 
principles  of  the  religion  he 
taught.  His  love  and  compas- 


CHR 

sion ;  his  forbearance  and  for¬ 
giveness;  his  meekness  and 
wisdom;  his  simplicity  and  ho. 
liness ;  his  equanimity  and  self- 
possession, have  never  had,  and 
never  will  have,  a  parallel  in 
any  finite  being.  It  seems  iro- 
ossible  that  his  history  can 
e  read  with  an  unprejudiced 
mind,  and  fail  to  produce  the 
conviction  that  it  is  of  him, 
and  of  no  other,  that  the  pro¬ 
phet  says,  His  name  shull  be 
called  Wonderful,  C  junsei.- 
lor,  the  Mighty  Guru  rps 
Everlasting  Father^  ths 
Prince  of  Peace.  (Isa.  ix.  6.) 

When  the  grand  purpose  of 
his  extraordinary  mission  was 
about  to  be  consummated,  lie 
gave  his  disciples  full  instruc¬ 
tions  respecting  their  duty,  in¬ 
timated  to  them  the.  difficulties 
and  dangers  which  would  at¬ 
tend  the  propagation  of  the 
religion,  but  assured  them  of 
strength,  grace,  and  final  suc¬ 
cess  in  the  enterprise.  Pie 
then  instituted  a  simple  but 
most  affecting  memorial  of  his 
sufferings  and  death,  which 
were  to  close  his  earthly  minis¬ 
try.  And  while  in  the  garden 
of  Gethsemane,  bowed  down, 
even  unto  death,  with  exceed¬ 
ing  sorrow,  and  in  prospect  of 
what  he  was  about  to  bear  for 
man’s  offence,  the  traitor,  who 
was  one  of  the  little  company 
of  twelve  disciples,  drew  near, 
and  by  a  kiss  signified  to  a 
band  of  ruffian  soldiers  that  ho 
was  the  object  of  their  pursuit. 
Then  ensued  a  mock  trial, 
every  stage  of  which  was 
crowded  with  injuries  and  in¬ 
sults,  and  in  the  midst  of  which 
he  was  denied  with  oaths  and 
curses  by  the  most  bold  and  fop. 
ward  of  his  disciples.  Wanton 
and  unprovoked  abuse,  cruel 
mockings  and  scourgings,  in 
short,  whatever  could'increasa 
the  intensity  of  bodily  and 
mental  suffering  was  heaped 
upon  the  guiltless  Redeems 
without  measure  or  mercy 


CHR 

They  were  such  as  the  most 
base  and  contemptible  male¬ 
factor  seldom  endured,  and 
were  terminated  by  the  excru¬ 
ciating  and  disgraceful  death 
of  the  cross.  After  hanging  for 
upwards  of  three  hours,  till  life 
was  entirely  extinct,  (John  xix. 
33,)  the  body  was  taken  down, 
and  committed  to  a  tomb  hewn 
out  of  a  solid  rock  ;  and,  not¬ 
withstanding  all  the  safeguards 
which  the  malice  and  cunning 
of  his  persecutors  and  murder¬ 
ers  could  invent,  to  secure 
him,  hi  rose  from  the  dead  on 
the  third  day,  as  he  had  fore¬ 
told;  and  after  giving  to  his 
disciples  ^tnd  hundreds  of 
others,  in  a  variety  of  ways, 
and  at  different  times,  during 
the  space  of  nearly  six  weeks, 
the  most  indubitable  evidence 
of  the  fact  that  he  had  risen, 
he  led  a  chosen  company  out 
to  Bethany;  he  there  bestowed 
on  them  his  parting  benedic¬ 
tion,  and,  ascending  up  to 
heaven  in  their  presence,  a 
cloud  received  him  out  of  their 
sight. 

Being  thus  raised  up,  and  by 
the  right  hand  of  God  exalted 
to  be  a  Prince  and  a  Saviour, 
to  give  repentance  and  remis¬ 
sion  of  sins,  he  soon  furnished 
to  his  faithful  disciples  the 
evidence  of  his  power  and 
grace.  (Acts  ii.)  And  the  his¬ 
tory  of  God’s  dealings  with  the 
church  of  Christ,  from  the  be¬ 
ginning  hitherto,  abundantly 
shows  the  perfectness  of  his 
sacrifice  and  intercession,  and 
that  he  is  the  end  of  the  law 
for  righteousness  to  every  one 
that  believeth.  (Rom.  x.  4.) 
He  is  the  way,  the  truth,  and 
the  life  ;  and  no  man  cometh 
to  the  Father  but  by  him. 
John  xiv.  6.)  As  our  great 
high  priest  and  intercessor, 
(Rom.  viii.  34.  Heb.  iv.  14; 
vii.  25.  1  John  ii.  1,  2,)  he  hath 
entered  by  his  own  blood  into 
the  holy  place,  having  obtain¬ 
ed  eternal  redemption  for  us. 


CHR 

He  hath  put  away  sin  by  th., 
sacrifice  of  himself,  (Heb.  ix. 
26,)  and  thus  hath  perfected 
for  ever  them  that  are  sancti¬ 
fied,  (Heb.  x.  14,)  so  that  they 
may  have  boldness  to  enter 
into  the  holiest  by  his  blood, 
by  the  new  and  living  way, 
which  he  hath  consecrated, 
through  the  veil,  that  is  to  say, 
his  flesh.  (Heb.  x.  19,  20.) 
Thus  the  seed  of  the  woman 
hath  bruised  the  serpent’s  head 
—the  sting  of  death  is  removed. 
(I  Cor.  xv.  55.)  He  that  had 
the  power  of  death,  that  is,  the 
devil,  is  subdued ;  and  they  are 
delivered  who,  through  fear  of 
death,  were  all  their  lifetime 
subject  to  bondage.  (Heb.  ii. 
14,  15.)  Life  anil.immortality 
are  brought  to  light.  (2  Tim.  i. 
10.)  Because  he  lives,  we  shell 
live  also.  (John  xiv.  19.  Rom. 
vi.  8.  2  Cor.  xiii.  4.  1  Thess.  v. 
10.  2  Tim.  ii.  11.)  He  comforts, 
sustains,  and  guides  all  true 
believers, '  of  whatever  coun¬ 
try,  colour,  or  denomination 
they  may  be,  through  this 
world  of  tribulation;  reveals 
to  them  fountains  in  the  wil¬ 
derness,  and  springs  in  the  de¬ 
sert  ;  passes  with  them  through 
flames  and  floods ;  gives  them 
the  victory  over  sin  and  death, 
and  bestows  on  them,  as  a  free 
gift,  eternal  life  and  blessed¬ 
ness,— a  crown  of  glory  that 
fadeth  not  away. 

Whoever  seriously  examines 
the  great  plan  of  salvation  by 
Christ,  in  all  that  preceded, 
and  has  thus  far  attended, 
its  very  partial  and  incipient 
development,  will  be  led  to 
exclaim,  with  the  apostle, 
Without  controversy, great 
is  the  mystery  of  godliness.  (1 
Tim.  iii.  16.)  The  revelation  of 
it  sheds  light  on  all  preceding 
and  succeeding  time.  It  raises 
the  veil  through  which  the  in¬ 
stitutions  and  ordinances  of 
the  Jewish  dispensation  seem¬ 
ed  like  a  vain  and  burdensome 
ritual,  and  shows  us  of  what 


CHR 


CHE 


glorious  things  they  were  the 
imperfect  types  and  shadows. 
It  discloses  a  mode  of  redemp¬ 
tion  from  the  curse  of  God’s 
violated  law,  — safe,  suitable, 
and  plain  for  man ;— just,  con¬ 
sistent,  and  glorious  for  the 
lawgiver;  and  it  reveals  the 
sanction  of  a  judgment  to  come, 
in  which  the  principles  and 
purposes  of  the  divine  govern¬ 
ment  will  be  carried  out  in  the 
unchangeable  destinies  of  men 
and  angels:  all  God’s  ways 
will  be  vindicated  in  the  view 
of  an  assembled  world,  and  his 
perfect  attributes  will  shine 
forth  in  new,  endless,  and  in¬ 
finite  glory. 

It  has  been  well  said,  that  the 
sum  and  substance  of  the  en¬ 
tire  Bible  is,  “Jesus  Christ 

CRUCIFIED  TO  SAVE  LOST  SIN¬ 
NERS.”  The  moment  we  lose 
sight  of  this  grand  and  amazing 
design,  —  which  eternal  love 
and  mercy  combined  with  in¬ 
finite  justice  and  holiness  to 
conceive  and  execute,  —  the 
Jewish  Scriptures,  from  begin¬ 
ning  to  end,  present  only  a 
vain  and  perplexing  show,  and 
the  glory  of  the  divine  revela- 
tion  is  extinguished. 

(For  a  full  and  deeply  inte¬ 
resting  sketch  of  the  rise  and 
progress  of  the  religion  of 
Christ,  and  of  his  character 
and  ministry,  see  Biblical 
ANTiauiTiEs,  vol.  ii.  ch.  i. : 
Christ  our  Saviour  ;  Sister 
Mary’s  Stories,  (No.  6,  The 
Wonderful  Redeemer ,-)  First 
Lessons,  Lesson  xiit.— xix. ; 
dll  by  the  Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

It  may  be  proper,  before 
closing  this  article,  to  suggest 
the  leading  points  and  princi¬ 
pal  references,  respecting  the 
true  and  proper  divinity  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

1.  The  names  and  titles  of 
the  Supreme  Being  are  applied 
to  him.  (Rom.  ix.  5.  1  John  v. 
20.  Rev.  i.  U.  Comp.  Isa.  vi. 
1—10,  with  John  xii.  41.) 

U.  The  principal  attributes 


of  God  are  ascribed  to  Christ  J 
as,  Eternity,  (John  i.  1 ;  viii. 
68.  Rev.  xxii.  13;)  Omnisci¬ 
ence,  (Matt.  ix.  4.  John  xvi. 
30;  xxi.  17.  Rev.  ii.  23;)  Om¬ 
nipotence, (Phil.  iii.21.  Col.ii. 
9,  10;)  Omnipresence,  (Matt, 
xviii.  20;  xxviii.  20.  John  ill. 
13;)  and  Uncbangeableness. 
(Heb.  xiii.  8.) 

III.  The  works  and  preroga¬ 
tives  of  God  are  ascribed  to 
him,  as  the  Creator  of  all 
things.  (Isa.  xliv.  24. '  John  i. 
1. 3,  Col.  i.  16, 17 ;)  their  Pre¬ 
servation,  (Heb.  1.3;)  For¬ 
giveness  of  Sins,  (Dan.  ix.  9 
comp,  with  Ps.  cxxx.  Matt,  ix 
2. 6.  Col.  iii.  13 ;)  to  raise  thi 

UEAO,  AND  JUDGE  THE  WORLD 

(Malt.  xxv.  31 — 33.  John  v.  21 
—29.  Rom.xiv.  10.  2  Cor.  v.  10, 

IV.  He  is  the  otjject  of  reli 

fious  worship.  (Phil.  ii.  10,  11 
leb.  i.  6.  Rev.  v.  11—13.) 

The  following  passages  maj 
also  be  cited :  Ps.  xiv.  6,  7 
Comp.  Isa.  vii.  14,  with  Matt 
i.  23.  Isa.  viii.  14,  with  1  Pet.  ii 
8.  Isa.  xliv.  23,24.  Ps.  lxxxix 
8,  9,  with  Mark  iv.  37 — 39 
John  ii.  24, 26 ;  iii.  31 ;  xiv.  7.  9 
xx.  28.  Acts  i.  24 ;  vii.  69,  60 
x.  36.  Rom.  xiv.  9.  Eph.  1 
20-23;  iv.  8—11.  Phil.  ii.  6 
9—11.  Col.  ii.  9.  1  Tim.  iii.  16 
2Pet.  iii.  18.  Rev.  i.  5,6;  v.  8, 
vii.  9—17;  xxi.  22,  23;  xxii. 
16. 

False  Christs.  (Matt,  xxi  v. 
24.)  Our  Lord  warned  his  dis¬ 
ciples  that  false  Christs  should 
arise.  Not  less  than  twenty- 
four  different  persons  of  such 
pretensions  have  appeared ; 
and  the  defence  of  their  claims 
to  the  messiahship  has  cost 
the  Jews  a  great  expense  of 
life  and  treasure.  One  of  them, 
Cariba,  or  Barchocheba,  lived 
early  in  the  second  century. 
He  put  himself  at  the  head  of 
the  Jewish  nation  as  their  Mes¬ 
siah  ;  they  adhered  to  him. 
The  Romans  made  war  upon 
him ;  and  the  Jews  themselves 
allow,  that  in  their  defence  ol 
168 


CHR 


CHR 

♦his  false  Messiah,  they  lost 
between  Jive  and  six  hundred 
thousand  souls.  In  the  twelfth 
century,  not  less  than  eight  or 
ten  impostors  appeared  under 
the  same  name,  and  were  fol¬ 
lowed  by  great  numbers  of  the 
Jews.  Most  of  them  were  pun¬ 
ished  for  their  imposture  with 
death,  and  usually  involved 
a  multitude  of  their  deluded 
followers  in  persecution  and 
death.  The  last  that  gained 
any  considerable  number  of 
converts  was  Mordecai,  a  Jew 
of  Germany,  who  lived  in  1682. 
He  lied  for  his  life,  and  his  end 
is  not  known. 

CHRISTIAN  (Acts  xxvi.  28) 
was  a  name  given  to  the  fol¬ 
lowers  of  our  Saviour.  It  was 
first  used  at  Antioch,  (Acts  xi. 
26,)  about  the  year  42  or  43, 
and  probably  (like  the  names 
Nazarenes  and  Galileans)  as  a 
term  of  reproach  or  contempt. 
This  supposition  is  confirmed 
by  the  circumstance  that  the 
word  occurs  in  only  three 
places  in  the  New  Testament, 
viz.  in  the  two  passages  before 
cited,  and  in  IPst.  iv.  16,  where 
it  is  strongly  implied  that  the 
very  name  was  associated  with 
reproach  and  suffering.  Taci¬ 
tus,  a  profane  historian,  tells 
us  of  the  low,  or  vulgar  peo¬ 
ple,  called  the  followers  of 
Christ,  or  Christians. 

The  term  Christian  is  now 
employed,  (l.)In  contradistinc¬ 
tion  to  Pagans  and  Moham¬ 
medans  ;  and,  (2.)  To  denote 
the  open  professors  of  religion, 
in  contradistinction  from  those 
who  are  not  professors.  In 
some  countries  it  is  still  a 
terra  of  bitter  reproach,  and 
the  assumption  of  it  is  attended 
with  persecution,  cruelty,  and 
death. 

The  Christian  religion  is  re¬ 
ceived  at  the  present  day  (as  it 
is  supposed)  Dy  less  than  one 
quarter  of  the  inhabitants  of 
the  world.  Some  have  esti¬ 
mated  the  numbers  as  follows : 


Jews  ...  2,300,000 

Mohamiredaus  -  -  140,000,000 

Pagans  ...  482,000,000 
Catholics  ...  80,000,000 

Protestants  •  -  65,000,000 

Greeks  -  -  -  30,000,000 

CHRONICLES,  (lKings  xi  v 
19,)  or  ANNALS.  In  its  gene 
ral  signification,  this  term  de¬ 
notes  a  chronological  history, 
or  an  acccount  of  facts  ana 
events  in  the  order  of  tima 
The  thirteenth  and  fourteenth 
books  of  the  Old  Testament 
are  called  the  first  and  second 
books  of  Chronicles ;  and  are 
in  some  sense  supplemental  to 
the  two  books  of  Kings  which 
precede  them.  They  appear 
to  have  been  compiled  from 
the  national  diaries  or  journals, 
but  it  does  not  satisfactorily 
appear  who  compiled  them. 
These  voluminous  diaries  are 
referred  to  frequently  under 
different  names,  (1  Kings 
xiv.  19.  1  Chron.  xxvii.  24. 
Esth.  ii.  23;)  but  are  not  to 
be  confounded  with  the  ab¬ 
stract  which  constitutes  the 
books  to  which  this  article 
refers. 

The  principal  object  of  the 
author  of  these  books  seems  to 
have  been,  to  point  out,  from 
the  public  records,  the  state 
of  the  different  families  before 
the  captivity,  and  the  distribu¬ 
tion  of  the  lands  among  them ; 
that  each  tribe  might,  as  far 
as  possible,  obtain  the  ancient 
inheritance  of  their  fathers  at 
their  return.  So  that  this  por¬ 
tion  of  the  Old  Testament  may 
be  considered  as  an  epitome 
of  all  the  sacred  history,  but 
more  especially  from  the  origin 
of  the  Jewish  nation  to  their 
return  from  the  first  captivity ; 
embracing  a  period  of  nearly 
3500  years.  The  first  book 
traces  the  rise  and  propagation 
of  the  children  of  Israel,  from 
Adam,  together  with  a  circum¬ 
stantial  account  of  the  reign 
and  transactions  of  David :  the 
second  continues  the  narra¬ 
tive  ;  relates  the  progress  and 

’  ikQ 


CHU 

dissolution  of  the  kingdom  of 
Judea,  (apart  from  Israel,)  to 
the  year  of  the  return  of  the 
people  from  Babylon.  Samuel, 
Kings,  and  Chronicles  should 
be  read  and  compared  together, 
as  they  relate  substantially  the 
same  histories,  though  with  dif¬ 
ferent  degrees  of  particularity, 
and  with  different  means  of 
information:  so  that  the  whole 
contains  but  one  history  j  and 
what  is  obscure  or  defective  in 
one  part  mav  be  explained  or 
supplied  in  another. 

CHRYSOLITE.  (Rev.  xxi. 
20.)  This  was  anciently  a  ge¬ 
neral  name  for  all  precious 
stones  in  which  a  golden  or 
yellow  colour  was  prevalent. 
It  more  particularly  denoted 
a  stone  resembling  in  colour 
the  modern  topaz.  The  stone 
now  called  chrysolite  is  green, 
tinged  with  yellow.  It  is  not 
very  valuable,  is  seldom  found 
larger  than  a  buck-shot,  and 
comes  chiefly  from  the  Levant. 
CHRYSOPRASUS.  (Rev.xxi. 
20.)  A  species  of  the  beryl, found 
in  Brazil  and  Ceylon,  and  in 
some  parts  of  the  United 
States. 

CHUB.  (Ezek.  xxx.5.)  From 
the  connexion  of  this  word,  it 
is  presumed  to  have  been  an 
Ethiopian  tribe  or  province. 

CHUN,  (1  Chron.  xviii.  8,) 
called  Berothai  in  2  Sam.  viii. 
8;  and  Berothah,  in  Ezek. 
zlvii.  16. 

CHURCH.  (Matt.  xvi.  18.) 
This  word  is  variously  used  by 
the  sacred  writers, but  us  import 
is  generally  to  be  inferred  from 
its  connexion.  It  may  be  suf¬ 
ficient  to  notice  particularly 
two  uses  of  the  term. 

Sometimes  it  denotes  simply 
an  assembly  of  persons  for  any 
.purpose,  (Acts  xix.  41 ;)  but  in 
the  New  Testament  it  is  ap¬ 
plied  particularly  to  Christians 
as  a  body  or  community.  (Acts 
ii.  47.)  It  is  also  applied  to  the 
people  of  God  in  all  ages  of  the 
world,  whether  Jews  or  Chris- 


CHU 

tians.  (Acts  vii.  38;  xii.  1. 
Eph.  iii.  21 ;  v.  25.)  For  al¬ 
though  there  have  been  two 
dispensations,  viz.  that  of  the 
law  by  Moses,  and  that  of  the 
gospel  by  Jesus  Christ ;  yet  the 
religion  of  the  Bible  is,  and 
ever  has  been,  and  ever  will 
be  one  religion ;  whether  they 
lived  before  or  after  the  coming 
of  Christ,  true  believers  are  all 
one  in  Christ  Jesus.  (Gal.  iii 
28.)  Of  this  church  or  company 
of  the  redeemed,  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  is  now  the  head,  and  the 
church  is  therefore  called  the 
body,  (Col.  i.  18.  24,)  and  com¬ 
prises  the  redeemed  who  have 
gone  to  heaven  as  well  as 
those  who  are  or  will  be  on  the 
earth.  (Heb.  xii.  23.) 

Particular  portions  of  the 
whole  body  of  Christians  are 
also  called  the  church,  as  the 
church  at  Jerusalem,  at.  Co¬ 
rinth,  Ac.  (Acts  viii.  1.  1  Cor. 
i.  2 ;  iv.  17.) 

As  the  incarnation,  death, 
resurrection,  and  reigning  of 
Christ  in  heaven,  constitute 
him  the  founder  and  head  of 
the  church  as  it  now  exists, 
he  is  compared  to  “the  chief 
corner-stone”  in  the  building, 
(Eph.  ii.  20,)  on  whom  the 
whole  structure  is  dependent. 
For  this  purpose  God  “hath 
put  all  things  under  his  feet, 
and  given  him  to  be  the  head 
over  all  things  to  the  church, 
which  is  his  body,  the  fulness 
of  him  that  filleth  all  in  all.” 
(Eph.  i.  22.) 

The  figurative  language 
which  is  employed  by  Christ 
himself,  as  well  as  by  his 
apostles,  to  denote  the  nature 
of  his  relations  to  the  church 
(as  composed  of  all  true  be¬ 
lievers,)  and  its  relations  to 
him,  are  of  the  most  significan 
character.  Some  of  them'  have 
been  intimated  above;  others 
are,  that  of  husband  and  wife, 
(Eph.  v.  30—32;)  a  vine  and  its 
branches,  (John  xv.  1—6  ;)  and 
a  shepherd  and  his  flock,  (John 
160 


CIL 

T.  11.)  And  it  is  generally  sup¬ 
posed  that  Solomon’s  Song  is  a 
highly  figurative  and  poetical 
illustration  of  the  mutual  love 
of  Christ  and  the  people  of  his 
churcli  in  all  ages. 

In  modern  times,  the  word  is 
applied  to  various  associations 
of  Christians,  united  by  a  com¬ 
mon  mode  of  faith  or  form  of 
government,  as  the  Episcopal 
church,  the  Baptist  church,  the 
Moravian  church,  &c, 

CHURL.  (Isa.  xxxii.  5.  7. 
Comp.  1  Sam.  xxv.  3.  10,  11. 
17,  with  passage  in  Isaiah.) 

CHURN.  (See  Butter.) 

CHU  SHAN-RISHAT  HAIM. 
(Judg.  iii.  8—10.)  A  king  of 
Mesopotamia,  and  an  oppress¬ 
or  of  the  Israelites.  Othniel, 
Caleb’s  nephew,  delivered 
them  from  his  dominion. 

CIELED.  (2  Chron.  iii.  5.) 
CIELING.  (1  Kings  vi.  15.) 
Eastern  floors  and  ceilings 
were  just  the  reverse  of  ours. 
Their  cielings  were  of  wood, 
painted,  (Jer.  xxii.  14;)  ours 
are  of  plaster ;  their  floors 
were  of  plaster  or  some  sort  of 
tiles,  and  ours  of  wood.  Some 
public  buildings  in  Europe  are 
cieled  with  wood,  and  we 
sometimes  see  wooden  ciel¬ 
ings  in  our  own  country. 

CILICIA.  (Acts  xxi.  39.)  A 
province  in  the  south-eastern 
district  of  Asia  Minor,  lying  on 
the  northern  coast,  at  the  east¬ 
ern  extremity  of  the  Mediter¬ 
ranean  sea.  Its  capital  city  was 
Tarsus,  the  birth-place  of  Paul. 
The  synagogue  of  “  them  of  Ci¬ 
licia ,”  (Acts  vi.  9,)  was  a  place 
of  Jewish  worship  in  Jerusalem, 
appropriated  to  the  use  of  Jews 
who  might  be  at  Jerusalem 
from  the  province  of  Cilicia. 
A  similar  custom  in  modern 
times  is  the  fitting  up  of  public 
houses  to  accommodate  stran¬ 
gers  from  particular  States  or 
countries.  Paul,  being  of  this 
'province,  was  probably  a  mem¬ 
ber  of  this  synagogue,  and 
perhaps  one  of  the  defeated 


cm 

opposers  and  controvertists  of 
Stephen.  (Comp.  Acts  vi.  10 ; 
vii.  58.) 

CINNAMON.  (Sol.  Song  iv. 
14.)  A  well  known  aromatic, 
produced  from  the  inner  bark 
of  a  tree  which  grows  chiefly 
in  Ceylon;  and  being  peeled 
off, and  cut  into  strips,  curls  up, 
in  the  form  in  which  it  is  usu¬ 
ally  seen.  The  cinnamon  tree 
is  a  species  of  the  laurel.  Cin¬ 
namon  was  one  of  the  ingre¬ 
dients  of  the  holy  oil,  (Ex.  xxx. 
23,)  and  was  probably  an  ar¬ 
ticle  of  commerce  in  ancient 
Babylon.  (Rev.  xviii.  13.) 

C1NNERETH,  CINNE- 
ROTH.  (See  Chinnereth.) 

CIRCLE  (Isa.  xl.  22)  means, 
in  this  passage,  the  line  within 
which  the  earth  revolves,  and 
figuratively  describes  a  posi¬ 
tion  from  which  every  part  of 
its  surface  can  be  seen.  In 
Prov.  viii.  27,  the  same  word 
is  rendered  compass,  and  de¬ 
notes  the  boundary  or  mound 
within  which  the  waters  are 
restrained.  The  Creator  is  re- 

resented  as  marking  out  the 

abitation  of  the  vast  expanse 
of  waters,  with  the  same  ease 
with  which  a  designer  or 
draftsman  delineates  the  plan 
of  a  building  or  an  estate. 

CIRCUIT.  (Job  xxii.  14.)  A 
circular  path  or  route.  (1  Sam. 
vii.  1G.)  In  the  passage  from 
Job,  God  is  figuratively  repre¬ 
sented  as  confining  his  pre¬ 
sence  to  the  high  heavens. 
(Comp.  ver.  11,  12,  with  ver. 
13,  14.)  In  Psalm  xix.  6,  the 
circuit  of  the  sun  is  represented 
as  'extending  from  one  end  of 
heaven  to  the  other,  or  from 
east  to  west. 

CIRCUMCISED.  (Gen.  xvn. 
10.)  CIRCUMCISION.  (John 
vii.  22.)  Circumcision  was  a 
remarkable  rite  or  ceremony 
of  the  Jewish  religion,  which 
consisted  in  cutting  around  the 
flesh  of  the  foreskin  of  all 
males,  on  the  eighth  day  after 
their  birth.  This  rite  was  esta 


CIS 

blished  as  the  token  of  God’s 
covenant  with  Abraham,  (Gen. 
xvii.  9—14,)  who  immediately 
subjected  himself  and  all  his 
family  to  its  observance.  The 
precept  of  circumcision  was  re¬ 
newed  to  Moses,  (Ex.  xii.  44. 
Lev.  xii.  3.  John  vii.  22,  23;) 
requiring  that  all  should  sub¬ 
mit  to  it  who  would  partake 
of  the  paschal  sacrifice.  And 
the  Jews  have  always  been 
very  scrupulous  in  its  obser¬ 
vance,  though  it  was  omitted 
in  their  journey  through  the 
wilderness  for  obvious  rea¬ 
sons.  Many  other  nations  have 
adopted  the  rite ;  and  it  is  the 
chief  ceremony  of  initiation 
into  the  religion  of  Moham¬ 
med,  though  it  is  regarded  only 
as  a  traditionary  precept,  and 
is  not  performed  till  the  child 
is  five  or  six  years  old.  The 
instrument  used  for  this  pur¬ 
pose  was  a  knife,  a  razor,  or 
even  a  sharp  stone.  (Ex.  iv. 
25.  Josh.  v.  3.) 

The  design  of  this  require¬ 
ment  obviously  was,  to  fix  upon 
the  persons  of  all  the  natural 
descendants  of  Abraham  a  dis¬ 
tinguishing  mark,  separating 
them  from  all  the  rest  of  the 
world.  As  this  rite  was  pecu¬ 
liar  to  the  Jews,  they  are  call¬ 
ed  the  circumcision,  and  the 
Gentiles  the  uncircumcision. 
(Korn.  iv.  9.) 

The  terms  uncircumcised  and 
uncircumcision  are  also  used  to 
denote  impurity  or  wickedness 
generally;  and  to  circumcise 
Die  heart  was  to  become  trac¬ 
table  and  docile.  (Ex.  vi.  12. 
30.  Jer.  iiv.  4;  vi.  10;  ix.  26. 
Ezek.  xliv.  7.  Acis  vii.  51.) 
Jews  who  renounced  Judaism, 
under  the  Roman  persecution, 
Sometimes  endeavoured  to 
erase  the  mark  of  circumci¬ 
sion  ;  and  probably  Paul  may 
allude  to  this,  1  Cor.  vii.  13. 
(See  Covenant,  Concision.) 
CISTERN.  (Prov.  v.  15.)  The 
face  of  the  country,  and  the  pe¬ 
culiarity  of  the  climate,  made 


CTT 

cisterns  indispensable  in  Ju¬ 
dea.  They  were  generally,  if 
not  universally,  private  pro¬ 
perty.  (Num.  xxi.  22.)  Some 
were  formed  by  merely  exca¬ 
vating  the  earth ;  others  were 
covered  reservoirs,  into  which 
the  water  was  conducted,  and 
others  still  were  lined  with 
wood,  or  cement,  or  hewn  out 
of  the  rock  with  great  labour, 
and  ornamented  with  much 
skill.  When  the  pits  were 
empty,  there  was  a  tenacious 
mire  at  the  bottom,  and  they 
were  used  as  the  places  of  the 
most  cruel  and  extreme  pun¬ 
ishments.  It  was  into  such  a 
pit  probably  that  Joseph  was 
cast.  (See  also  Ps.  xl.  2.  Jer. 
xxxviii.  6.)  Large  cisterns  aro 
now  found  in  Palestine,  at  in¬ 
tervals  of  fifteen  or  twenty 
miles.  One  of  them  is  describ¬ 
ed  by  a  modern  traveller  to  be 
six  hundred  and  sixty  feet  long 
by  two  hundred  and  seventy 
broad.  These  cisterns  were 
the  chief  dependence  of  the 
people  for  water;  hence  the 
force  of  the  allusion,  Jer.  ii.  13. 
(See  Conduit.) 

CITY.  (Gen.  iv.  17.)  It  is 
not  very  easy  to  determine  by 
what  the  lews  distinguished 
villages  from  towns,  and 
towns  from  cities.  Probably, 
at  first,  a  number  of  tents 
and  cottages  formed  a  vil¬ 
lage.  They  were  brought 
together  by  family  relation¬ 
ship,  by  local  attractions,  or 
more  probably,  for  mutual  de 
fence  against  more  powerful 
clans  or  tribes.  When  their  si 
tuation  became  insecure,  they 
began  to  protect  themselves  by 
a  ditch  or  ledge,  or  perhaps  a 
wall.  The  advancement  from 
this  rude  state,  to  the  fortified 
towns  and  cities  of  ancient 
days,  was  easy  and  rapid  Some 
have  supposed  that  cities  were 
always  walled,  (Num.  xiii.  28;) 
but  there  is  no  evidence  of  this. 
We  know  they  were  often  (if 
not  always)  fortified,  and  many 


CIT 

of  them  were  very  populous. 
The  streets  were  narrow,  so 
that,  in  some  of  them,  (as  we 
are  told,)  loaded  camels  could 
not  pass  each  other;  and  even 
at  tt  is  day,  in  Alexandria  and 
Cairo,  mats  are  spread  across 
the  streets,  from  house  to  house, 
for  shade. 

We  know,  however,  that 
many  of  them  were  spacious. 
Sometimes,  in  Asiatic  cities, 
a  broad  street,  or  a  section  of 
it,  is  covered  for  the  accommo¬ 
dation  of  merchants  or  trades¬ 
men,  and  such  places  are 
called  Bazaars ;  and  the_  pro¬ 
minent  branch  of  business 
transacted  there  gives  the 
name  to  the  street ;  as,  _  the 
woollen  drapers,  coppersmiths, 
&c-  Around  the  gates  of  cities 
was  the  principal  concourse  of 
people,  (Neh.  viii.  1.  Job  xxix. 
7  ;>  and  therefore  these  stations 
were  desirable  for  booths  or 
stalls,  for  the  sale  of  merchan¬ 
dise.  (2  Kings  vii.  1.)  These 
square  or  open  places  are  pro¬ 
bably  intended  in  2  Chron. 
xxxii.  6,  and  Neh.  iii.  16 ;  viii. 
1. 3.  Some  cities  were  adorned 
with  open  squares  and  large 
gardens.  One-third  of  the  city 
of  Babylon,  we  are  told,  was 
occupied  with  gardens ;  and 
Cesarea,  Jerusalem,  Antioch, 
and  other  of  the  largest  cities 
were  paved. 

Fenced  Citv,  (2  Kings  x.  2,) 
or  Defended  Cities.  (Isa. 
xxxvi.  1.)  A  fortified  city.  To 
build  a  city,  and  to  fortify  or 
fence  it,  in  the  oriental  idiom, 
mean  the  same  thing.  The 
fencing,  or  fortification,  was 
usually  with  high  walls,  and 
watch-towers  upon  them.(Deut. 
iii.  5.)  The  walls  of  fortified 
cities  were  formed,  in  part  at 
least,  of  combustible  materials, 
(Amos  i.  7. 10. 14,)  the  gates  be¬ 
ing  covered  with  thick  plates  of 
iron  or  brass.  (Ps.  cvii.  16- 
Isa.  xlv.2.  Acts  xii.  10.)  There 
was  also  within  the  city  a  cita¬ 
del  or  tower,  to  which  the  in- 


CIT 

habitants  fled  when  the  city  ■ 
itself  could  not  be  defended. 
(Judg.  ix.  46— 52.)  These  were 
often  upon  elevated  ground, 
and  were  entered  by  a  night  of 
steps.  (See  Gate.) 

At  the  time  when  Abraham 
came  into  the  land  of  Canaan, 
there  were  already  in  exist¬ 
ence  numerous  towns,  which 
are  mentioned  in  the  book  of 
Genesis  ;  Sodom,  Gomorrah, 
Zeboim,  Adman,  Bela,  Hebron, 
and  Damascus.  This  last  is 
truly  venerable,  as  it  is  beyond 
doubt  the  oldest  city  in  the 
world.  The  spies  who  were 
sent  over  Jordan  brought  back 
an  account  of  well  fortified 
cities.  In  the  book  of  Joshua, 
we  read  of  no  less  than  six 
hundred  towns,  of  which  the 
Israelites  took  possession.— 
When  the  city  of  Ai  was  ta¬ 
ken,  Its  inhabitants,  who  were 
put  to  the  sword,  amounted  to 
12,000,  (Josh.  viii.  1G.  25;)  and 
we  are  told  that  Gibeon  was  a 
still  greater.city.  (x.  2.)  It  i» 
commonly  calculated  that,  in 
Europe,  one-third  or  one-fourth 
of  a  nation  is  comprised  in 
cities  and  towns.  reckoning 
the  Hebrews, then,  at  3,000,000, 
it  would  give  about  1250  foi 
the  average  population  of  the 
towns;  and,  for  greater  safety 
it  is  probable  that  half  the 
inhabitants  dwelt  in  towns. 
Now  in  Gibeah  (Judg.  xx.  15f 
there  were  seven  hundred 
men  who  bore  arms,  and 
of  course,  not  less  than  3006 
inhabitants.  By  a  similar  cal¬ 
culation,  we  conclude  that  the 
forty-eight  cities  of  the  Levites 
contained  each  about  1,000 
souls.  In  the  time  of  David, 
the  population  of  Palestine 
was  between  five  and  six  mil¬ 
lions;  and  we  may  suppose 
that  the  towns  and  cities  were 
proportionably  increased.  On 
the  (treat  annual  festivals,  fe- 
rusalem  must  have  presented 
a  sublime  spectacle  of  count 
less  multitudes,  when  all  the 


CIT 

taaleg  of  the  nation  were  re¬ 
quired  to  be  there  assembled. 
On  such  times  the  city  itself 
was  insufficient  to  contain  the 
host  of  Israel,  and  thousands 
encamped  around  its  outskirts. 
After  the  return  from  the  Baby¬ 
lonish  captivity,  the  population 
of  the  towns  may  nave  been 
inconsiderable;  but  the  sub¬ 
sequent  increase  was  most  ra¬ 
pid,  so  that  in  the  time  of 
Tosephus,  the  small  villages 
of  G  alilee  contained  15,000  in¬ 
habitants,  and  the  larger 
towns  50,000.  At  the  same 
period,  Jerusalem  was  four 
miles  in  circuit,  and  had  a 
population  of  150,000.  The 
same  author  tells  us,  that  un¬ 
der  Cestius,  the  number  of 
paschal  lambs  was  256,500, 
which  would  give  an  amount 
of  about  2,006,000  attending 
the  passover.  At  the  time  of 
the  fatal  siege  of  Jerusalem, 
more  than  a  million  of  persons 
were  shut  in  by  the  Romans ; 
so  that  the  space  included  by 
the  four  mfles  must  have  been 
remarkably  economized. 

City  op  DAVin.  (1  Chron.  xi. 
5.)  A  section  in  the  southern 
part  of  Jerusalem ;  embracing 
mount  Zion,  where  a  fortress 
of  the  Jebusites  stood.  David 
reduced  the  fortress,  and  built 
a  new  palace  and  city,  to 
which  he  gave  his  own  name. 
(See  Biblical  Antiq.uities, 
vol  ii.  pp.  62,63;  and  Selu- 
miel,  pp.  50,  51,  both  by  Am. 
S.  S.  Union.)  Bethlehem,  the 
native  town  of  David,  is  also 
called, from  that  circumstance, 
the  city  of  David.  (Luke  ii.  11.) 

City  op  God  (Ps.  xlvi.  4) 
was  one  of  the  names  of  an¬ 
cient  Jerusalem,  and  its  ap¬ 
propriateness  is  evident  from 
Deut.  xii.  5. 

Holy  City.  (Neh.  xi.  1.) 
The  sacredness  of  the  temple 
e®ended  itself  in  some  mea¬ 
sure  over  the  city,  apd  hence 
Jerusalem  itself  was  called  the 
Holy  City ,  and  is  so  distin- 


CIT 

guished  in  the  east  at  the  pre» 
sent  day. 

Cities  of  Refuge  (Deut. 
xix.  7.  9.  Josh.  xx.  2.  7,  8) 
were  six  of  the  Levitical  cities 
divinely  appointed  by  the  Jew¬ 
ish  law"  as  asylums,  to  which 
those  were  commanded  to 
flee,  for  safety  and  protection, 
who  had  been  undesignedly 
accessary  to  the  death  of  a 
fellow  creature.  The  kinsmen 
of  the  deceased,  or  other  per¬ 
son  who  might  pursue  to  kill 
him,  could  not  molest  him  in 
one  of  these  cities,  until  his 
offence  was  investigated,  and 
the  judgment  of  the  congrega¬ 
tion  passed.  If  he  was  not 
within  the  provisions  of  the 
law,  he  was  delivered  to  the 
avenger  and  slain.  The  cus¬ 
tom  of  blood  revenge  was  deep¬ 
ly  rooted  among  the  Israelites, 
and  continues  among  the  Arabs 
to  this  day;  and  the  institution 
of  cities  of  refuse  was  wisely 
designed  to  check  the  violence 
of  human  passion.  Several 
sections  of  the  Jewish  law  have 
relation  to  this  subject.  For 
the  size  and  situation  of  the 
cities,  see  Num.  xxxv.  4, 5. 14; 
the  description  of  persons,  and 
the  manner  of  killing,  in  cases 
which  entitled  the  slayer  to 

Erotection,  Num.  xxxv.  15—23. 

'eut.  xix.  4—11.  For  the  mode 
of  ascertaining  whether  the 
offence  was  worthy  of  death, 
and  the  consequences  of  the 
judgment,  see  Num.  xxxv.  24 
— 33;  and  for  the  rules  to  be 
observed  by  the  manslayer, 
in  order  to  avail  himself  of  the 
benefit  of  the  city  of  refuge, 
see  Num.  xxxv.  25—28.  It  is 
doubtful  whether  the  trial  of 
the  manslayer  was  had  at  the 
city  of  refuge,  or  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  place  where  the  offence 
occurred.  Perhaps  there  were 
two  processes;  one  introduc¬ 
tory  to  the  other,  as  we  have  a 
preliminary  examination  to  de- 
termine  if  the  party  accused 
shall  be  held  to  answer  for  his 
164 


CLE 

offence.  This  first  process  might 
have  been  at  the  city  of  refuge. 
The  Jewish  writers  say  that,  at 
every  cross-road,  signs  were 
erected  in  same  conspicuous 
place,  pointing  to  the  cities  of 
refuge,  on  which  was  inscriben, 
“Refuge,  Refuge,”  which, 
with  many  other  similar  provi¬ 
sions,  were  designed  to  direct 
and  facilitate  the  flight  of  the 
unhappy  man  who  was  pur¬ 
sued  by  the  avenger  of  blood. 
There  were  other  sacred 
places,  as  it  is  supposed,  parti- 
cularlythetemRleand  thealtar 
of  burnt-offerings.  (Ex.  xxi.  14. 

SeeBlELICALANTiaUITlES.VOl. 

i.  ch.  ix.  §  5 ;  and  the  Refuge, 
ch.  i.,  both  by  Am.  S.  S.Union.) 

Cities  with  Suburbs.  (Josh, 
xxi.  41,  42.)  This  expression 
is  explained  by  reference  to 
Num.  xxxv.  1 — 5.  (See  Trea¬ 
sure-cities,  Walls.) 

CLAUDA.  (See  Crete.) 

CLAUDIUS  LYSIAS.  (Acts 
xxiii.  26.)  The  chief  captain 
or  commander  of  a  band  of 
soldiers,  stationed  as  a  pub¬ 
lic  guard  over  the  temple. 
(John  xviii.  12.  Acts  v.  26.) 
His  conduct  on  the  occasion 
of  the  uproar  in  Jerusalem, 
and  his  interposition  for  the 
protection  of  Paul,  on  two  oc¬ 
casions  where  his  life  was  in 
jeopardy,  are  creditable  to  his 
efficiency  and  humanity.  (Acts 
xxi.  xxii.  xxiii.)  , 

CLAY.  (Isa.  xlv.  9.)  This 
substance  was  used  by  the  an¬ 
cients  as  it  is  by  us.  It  was 
mixed  by  treading.  (Isa.  xli. 
25.)  It  was  fashioned  by  the 
motion  of  a  wheel  or  frame, 
(Jer.  xviii.  3,)  and  was  baked 
or  burnt  in  a  kiln.  (Jer.  xliu. 
9.  For  its  figurative  uses,  see 
Natural  History  of  thf. 
Bible,  by  Am.  S.  S.  Union, 
pp.  80 — 83.) 

CLEAN  and  UNCLEAN. 
(Lev.  x.  10.)  These  words  are  of 
frequent  occurrence  and  obvi¬ 
ous  meaning  in  the  sacred 
writings;  but  it  is  in  their  pe- 


CLE 

culiar  application,  by  the  Jew¬ 
ish  law,  to  persons,  animals, 
and  things,  that  they  are  now 
to  be  eonsidered. 

■In  order  to  partake  of  the  pri¬ 
vileges  of  the  Jewish  church, 
and  to  engage  acceptably  in 
its  outward  worship,  the  indi¬ 
vidual  must  not  only  be  cir¬ 
cumcised,  but  he  must  be  cere¬ 
monially  clean  ;  that  is,  he 
must  be  free  fromunclean'ness.  k 
How  the  various  kinds  of  un¬ 
cleanness  were  contracted, 
what  time  it  continued,  and 
what  was  the  process  of  purifi¬ 
cation,  we  have  particularly 
described,  Lev.xi.— xv.  Num. 

xix. ;  and  a  very  vivid  and  in¬ 
teresting  sketch  of  the  whole 
ceremony  will  be  found  in 
Biblical  ANTiauiTiks,  by  Am. 

S.  S.  Union,  vol.  ii.  ch.  vii. 

The  division  of  animals  into 
clean  and  unclean  existed  be¬ 
fore  the  flood,  (Gen.  vii.  2,)  and 
was  probably  founded  upon 
the  practice  of  animal  sacri¬ 
fice.  Those  animals  only 
which  divide  the  hoof  and 
chew  the  cud  were  regarded 
as  clean,  (Lev.  xi.  3,  4 ;)  and 
the  same  chapter  enumerates 
a  variety  of  beasts,  birds,  rep¬ 
tiles,  fishes,  and  things  which 
are  upelean.  (See  also  Ex. 
xxii.  31 ;  xxxiv.  15.  26.  Deut. 
xi  v.  21.)  What  was  the  design 
of  these  distinctions,  and  how 
they  were  abolished,  may  be 
learned  with  sufficient  accu 
racy  from  a  comparison  of 
Scripture  with  Scripture.  (Lev., 

xx.  24 — 26.  Acts  x.  9 — 16;  xi.  1 
— 4.  18— 21.  Heb..ix.9— 14.)  It 
has  been  observed,  that  one 
object  of  these  appointments 
may  have  been,  to  moke  the 
Jews  suspicious  of  Gentile  cus¬ 
toms  and  entertainments,  and 
so  induce  inem  to  abstain  from 
all  intercourse  with  them.  We 
find  in  the  New  Testament 
that  eating  with  the  Gentles 
was  regarded  as  a  peculiar 
aggravation  of  the  offence  of 
associating  with  them.  (Malt- 


CLO 


CLO 

ix.  11.  Acts  xi.  3.)  It  may  be 
remarked  also,  that  some  of 
the  prohibited  animals  were 
unwholesome ;  and  the  He¬ 
brews  were  at  least  taught  by 
these  strict  regulations  habitu¬ 
ally  to  regard  their  relation  to 
God,  and  the  necessity  of  ab¬ 
staining  from  every  thing  that 
should  offend  his  infinite  ho¬ 
liness,  or  involve  the  least 
appearance  of  pollution.  It  is 
very  evident  that  the  Jews 
would  not  worship  animals 
that  were  set  apart  as  un¬ 
clean,  and  still  less  would 
they  worship  those  they  ate; 
so  that,  so  far  as  the  idol  wor¬ 
ship  of  animals  was  concerned, 
it  was  very  effectually  guarded 
against. 

CLEOFAS.  (See  Alpheus.) 

CLOAK.  (See  Clothes.) 

CLOTH,  LINEN.  (See 

Pr  nirxiTJc  \ 

CLOTHES.  (Matt.  xxiv.  18.) 
The  art  of  making  cloth  was 
known  very  early.  The  skins 
of  animals  supplied  the  place 
of  cloth  at  first ;  but  we  may 
suppose  that  spinning  and  nee¬ 
dle-work  were  so  far  perfected 
as  to  furnish  cloth,  of  a  coarse 
kind  at  least,  at  an  early  peri¬ 
od.  (Ex.  xxxv.  25.  Judg.  v.  30.) 
The  beauty  of  dress  consisted 
in  the  fineness  and  colour 
of  the  cloth.  (See  Colours, 
Sackcloth.) 

The  Asiatic  modes  of  dress 
are  nearly  the  same  from  age 
to  age  ;  and  hence  much  light 
is  thrown,  by  modern  obser¬ 
vation,  on  the  subject  of  the 
clothing  of  the  Hebrews.  We 
may  suppose  their  ordinary 
dress  to  have  consisted  of  the 
inner  garment,  the  outer  gar¬ 
ment,  a  girdle,  and  sandals. 
One  of  the  oldest  and  sim¬ 
plest  garments  was  a  strip  of 
cloth  (linen  or  cotton)  bound 
around  the  loins  with  a  string 
or  band,  and  reaching  to  the 
knees.  It  is  the  only  garment 
of  the  Arabs.  Such  a  strip  ap¬ 
pears  as  the  inner  garment 


of  the  dress, in  the  fmigcingot 
This  is  so  slight  a  dress,  th.rt 
those  who  have  ro  other  are 
said  to  be  naked.  (Isa.  xx. 
2 — 4.  John  xxi.  7.)  In  its  im¬ 
proved  state,  it  was  larger 
and  longer,  and  supplied  with 
sleeves.  The  coat  was  some¬ 
times  woven  in  a  loom,  and 
had  no  seams.  (Ex.  xxviii. 


166 


CI.O 

32.  John  xix.  23.)  The  phrase 
coats  and  garments  (Acts  ix. 
39)  means  inner  and  outer  gar¬ 
ments.  The  word  hosen  (Dan. 
iii.  21)  is  supposed  to  designate 
an  under  garment,  not  unlike 
trousers.  These  were  worn  by 
the  Persian  kings,  and  are 
represented  in  the  preceding 
figure. 

The  inner  garment  was  at 
first  single,  as  above  described ; 
soon  a  strip  of  cloth  was 
thrown  over  the  shoulder,  and 
covered  the  arm.  It  was  sewed 
at  the  sides,  and  extended  to 
the  knees.  This  is  now  a  com- 


Girdles.  When  the  gar¬ 
ments  came  to  be  made  long 
and  Bowing,  they  were  con¬ 
fined  around  the  loins  with 
girdles,  which  not  only  served 
to  bind  them  to  the  body,  but 
also  to  hold  them  when  tucked 
up.  This  increased  the  grace¬ 
fulness  of  their  appearance, 
and  prevented  them  from  in¬ 
terfering  with  labour  or  motion. 
Hence,  “to  gird  up  the  loins 
became  a  significant  figurative 
expression,  denoting  readiness 


CLO 

mon  dress  in  Arabia.  Next 
came  sleeves ;  first  to  the  el¬ 
bows,  and  then  to  the  wrists. 
This  garment  would  resemble 
a  shirt,  except  at  the  neck. 
The  sleeves  of  this  garment, 
among  the  Arabs,  are  wide  and 
open,  and  easily  thrown  off.  To 
make  bare  the  arm  is  a  lively 
and  beautiful  figure,  represent¬ 
ing  the  removal  of  all  encum¬ 
brances  from  the  most  powerful 
limb  of  the  body,  that  it  may  be 
put  forth  in  its  utmost  strength 
(Isa.  Iii.  10.)  The  following 
cuts  represent  the  garments 
and  sleeves  just  described. 


for  service,  activity, and  watch- 
fulness  ;  and  to  loose  the  gir¬ 
dle  was  to  give  way  to  repose 
and  indolence.  (2  Kings  l v.  29 . 
Job  xxxviii.  3.  Isa.  v.  27.  Jer.i. 
17.  Luke  xii.  35.  John  xxi.  7. 
Acts  xii.  8.  1  Pet.  i.  13.)  This 
girdle  was  a  belt  or  band  of 
cord,  cloth,  or  leather,  six 
inches  or  more  in  breadta, 
with  a  buckle  affixed  to  loosen 
or  draw  it  closer.  Travellers 
say  that  eastern  girdles  of  this 
day  are  wide  enough  for  a  mat 

■'  1  <V7 


CLO 

or  covering,  and  that,  when  of 
this  width,  they  are  plaited  in 
folds. 

Sometimes  the  girdle  was 
made  of  linen,  (Ezek.  xvi.  10,) 
and  was  often  adorned  with 


CLO 

rfch  and  beautiful  ornaments 
of  metals,  precious  stones,  and 
embroidery.  The  forms  and 
plan  of  the  girdle  are  seen  in 
the  following  cuts. 


The  girdle  was  used  to  carry 
weapons,  (2  Sam.  xx.  8,)  mo¬ 
ney,  and  other  things  usually 
carried  in  the  pocket.  The 
Arabs  carry  their  daggers  in 
It,  pointing  to  the  right  side; 
and,  through  all  the  east,  it  is 
the  place  for  the  handkerchief, 
smoking  materials,  and  the 
implements  of  one’s  profes¬ 
sion.  (See  Ink  hohn.)  The 
word  translated  purses ,  (Matt, 
x.  9,)  is  in  other  places  trans¬ 
lated  girdle.  The  girdle  not 
only  protected  the  body,  but 
braced  it  with  strength  and 
firmness.  The  girdle'  is  sup¬ 
posed  by  some  to  have  been  a 
chief  article  or  appendage  of 
the  armour :  hence,  to  have  it 
continually  fastened  upon  the 
erson  is  emblematical  of  great 
delity  and  vigilance.  'And 
Decause  it  encircled  the  body 
verj  closely,  the  perfect  ad¬ 


herence  of  the  people  of  God 
to  his  service  is  figuratively 
illustrated  by  the  cleaving  of 
the  girdle  to  a  man’s  loins. 
(Jer.  xiii.  11.)  In  the  same 
view,  righteousness  and  faith¬ 
fulness  are  called  by  the  pro¬ 
phet  (Isa.  xi.  5)  the  girdle  of 
the  promised  Messiah. 

The  outer  or  upper  gar¬ 
ment,  (Matt,  xxi.8,)  or  cloak, 
(Matt.- v.  40,)  was  probably  a 
square  or  oblong  strip  of  cloth, 
two  or  three  yards  long,  and 
perhaps  two  yards  wide.  Such 
a  garment  is  now  worn  by  the 
Arabs.  It  was  simply  wrapped 
round  the  body,  as  a  protec¬ 
tion  from  the  weather;  ami, 
when  occasion  required,  it 
might  be  thrown  over  theshoul- 
der  and  under  the  arm,  some- 
what  like  an  Indian  blanket, 
|  and  be  fastened  with  clasps  or 
buckles,  two  corners  being  in 
ICS 


CLO 

front,  and  were  called  skirts, 
and  were  often  used  as  aprons 
sometimes  are  among  us.  (Ex. 
xii.34.  2  Kings  iv  39.  Lukevi. 
38.)  The  Arabs  throw  this  gar¬ 
ment  over  the  left  shoulder 
and  under  the  right  arm,  and 
thus  cover  the  whole  body, 
leaving  only  the  right  arm  ex¬ 
posed.  This  garment  was  the 
poor  man’s  bed-clothing.  (Ex. 
xxii.  26,  27.  Job  xxii.  6 ;  xxiv. 
7.)  This  was  probably  the 
cloak  and  the  coal  or  linen 
garment  to  which  reference  is 
had,  (Matt.  v.  40,)  and,  in  a 
more  ample  form,  was  called 
a  robe,  (Luke  xxiii.  11,)  or  a 
mantle.  (2  Kings  ii.  8.)  It  is 
supposed  that  the  fringes,  with 
the  blue  riband,  (Num.  xv.  38,) 
were  placed  on  the  corners  or 
borders  of  this  garment.  (Matt, 
xxiii.  5.)  They  are  seen  still 
on  ancient  figures,  in  the  fol¬ 
lowing  form  : 


CLO 

4.  The  common  skins  of  this 
kind  were  worn  by  the  poorest 
and  meanest  people,  (Heb.  xi. 
37;)  but  the  fur  dresses  were 
sometimes  very  costly,  and 
constituted  a  part  of  the  royal 
apparel.  The  word  translated 
robe  (Jon.  iii.  6)  is  supposed 
to  mean  a  fur  garment.  The 
sheep’s  clothing  (Matt.  vn.  15) 
was  considered  emblematical 
of  innocence  anil  gentleness, 
and  was  the  disguise  of  the 
false  prophets,  who  were,  in 
truth,  fierce  and  ravenous  as 
wolves,  for  the  blood  of  souls. 
The  word  translated  sheets 
(Judg.  xiv.  12,  13)  is  supposed 
to  denote  some  kind  of  garment 
worn  next  to  the  skin,  and  pro¬ 
bably  the  same  which  is  spoken 
of,  under  the  general  name fine 
linen,  in  Prov.  xxxi.  24.  Isa.  iii. 
23;  and  Mark  xv.  46.  (See 
Sheets.) 

The  linen  cloth  mentioned 
Mark  xiv.  51,  was  probably  an 
article  of  bed-clothing,  caught 
up  in  haste, and  thrown  around 
the  body.  Some  suppose  that 
this  young  man  was  following 
our  Saviour,  while  his  professed 
disciples  were  fleeing  in  all  di¬ 
rections,  and  that  those  around 
him  supposed  him  to  be  one  of 
his  adherents,  and  so  laid  hold 
upon  him.  If  this  view  is  re¬ 
jected,  the  only  way  of  account¬ 
ing  for  the  introduction  of  an  in¬ 
cident  so  entirely  unconnect¬ 
ed,  as  it  seems  to  be,  with  the 
narrative,  or  at  least  unessen¬ 
tial  to  it,  is  to  regard  it  as 
illustrative  of  the  confusion 
and  excitement  which  attend¬ 
ed  the  arrest  of  our  divine 
Redeemer  by  the  lawless  rab¬ 
ble.  The  Arabs  use  the  same 
arment  for  a  complete  dress 
y  day,  which  serves  them  for 
a  bed  and  covering  by  night- 
(Deut.  xxiv.  13.)  Such  also  is 
the  use  of  the  Highlander’s 
plaid.  (See  Sheets.) 

The  common  dress  of  females 
was  probably  as  cheap  and  sim¬ 
ple  as  that  of  males.  A  loose 
169 


CLO 

flowing  outer  garment,  with  a 
belt  or  zone  upon  the  waist, 
and  a  veil,  was  probably  the 
rincipal  dress.  The  veil  or 
ood  was  considered  a  token 
of  modesty  in  unmarried  wo¬ 
men,  (Gen.  xxiv.  G5,)  and  of 
subjection  and  reverence  in 
those  that  were  married.  (1 
Cor.  xi.  3—10.)  The  upper  gar¬ 
ment  or  robe  was  often  made 
full ;  and,  when  lucked  up,  the 
front  of  it  would  answer  the 
purpose  of  a  large  apron;  which 
is  one  meaning  of  the  word 
translated  veil.  (Ruth.  iii.  15.) 
The  Arabs  put  their  hykes  or 
cloaks  to  a  like  use. 

Handkerchiefs.  (Acts  xix. 
12.)  These  were  common 
among  the  Hebrews ;  and  tra¬ 
vellers  inform  us  that  the  peo¬ 
ple  of  eastern  nations  at  this 
day  carry  them  in  their  hands, 
and  that  they  are  often  beauti¬ 
fully  wrought  with  the  needle. 

Aprons ,  (Gen.  iii.  7.  Acts  xix. 
12,)  we  have  no  reason  to  doubt, 
were,  in  form  and  purpose, 
substantially  like  those  in  com¬ 
mon  use  at  the  present  day. 

Sandals  and,  shoes.  (Deut. 
xxv.  9.  Mark  vi.  9.)  The  san¬ 
dal  was  at  first  a  flat  piece  of 
wood  or  leather,  suited  to  the 
sole  of  the  foot,  and  .bound 


upon  it  by  straps  or  strings. 
The  fastening  was  called  a 
latchet.  (Gen.  xiv.  23.)  Per¬ 
haps  the  simplest  form  of  the 
sandal  is  seen  in  the  preceding 
cut,  from  ancient  Egyptian 
monuments. 

We  subjoin  other  forms  of 
leather  sandals,  and  such  as  [ 


CLO 

are  still  in  common  use  in 
many  countries  of  the  east : 


The  common  sandal  is  made 
of  a  piece  of  hide,  from  the 
neck  of  a  camel,  and  some¬ 
times  of  several  thicknesses 
sewed  together.  It  is  fastened 
by  two  straps,  one  of  which 
passes  between  the  great  and 
second  toe,  and  the  other 
around  the  heel  and  over  the 
instep.  Hence  it  appears  that 
the  shoe  was  easily  slipped  otf, 
and  that  it  afforded  no  protec¬ 
tion  from  the  dust  and  dirt. 
Sandals  were  never  worn  in 
the  house,  as  it  was  considered 
a  violation  of  good  manners. 
The  taking  off  the  shoes  was  a 
mark  of  reverence  shown  to 
exalted  persons  and  sacred 
places.  At  the  doors  of  Hindoo 
pagodas,  sandals  are  collected 
in  great  numbers ;  and  the 
same  ceremony  is  required  by 
the  Turks,  even  of  Christians 
and  strangers. 

The  necessity  of  washing  the 
feel  after  every  walk  is  obvi¬ 
ous,  and  it  was  the  first  token 
of  hospitality  to  supply  water 
for  this  purpose.  (Gen.  xxiv. 
32.  Luke  vii.  44.)  To  unloose 
the  straps  or  latchets  was  the 


CLO 

business  of  a  menial,  (Mark  i. 
7,)  as  was  also  the  washing  of 
the  feet.  (John  xiii.  1—16.) 

The  wooden  sandal  is  much 
worn  in  Arabia,  Judea,  and 
Egypt.  It  has  a  raised  heel 
and  toe,  as  represented  in  the 
following  cuts ;  and,  though 


often  expensive  and  neat,  it 
was  usually  a  cheap,  coarse, 
and  very  clumsy  article. 

Mitre ,  (Ex.  xxxix.  28,)  or 
bonnet,  (Ex.  xxviii.  40,)  seems 
to  have  been  part  of  the  sacred 
dress  only.  The  Arab  women 
wear  a  cap  of  folded  cloth, 
not  unlike  the  modern  turban. 
Bonnets  are  mentioned  as  a 
part  of  female  dress,  (Isa.  iii. 
20;)  but  it  is  not  known,  at 
this  day,  with  any  certainty, 
of  what  material  the  Jewish 
Donnets  were  made,  nor  the 
shape  or  mode  of  wearing 
(hem. 

Change  of  raiment  or  gar¬ 
ments.  (2  Kings  v.  5.  22.)  It  is 
customary  in  the  east,  at  this 
day,  to  make  presents  of  gar¬ 
ments;  and  the  Asiatic  princes 
keep  changes  of  raiment  ready 
made,  for  presents  to  persons 


CLO 

of  distinction,  whom  they  wish 
particularly  to  honour.  The 
simple  and  uniform  shape  of 
the  garments  make  this,  cus¬ 
tom  practicable,  and  accounts 
also  for  the  change  of  one  per¬ 
son's  dress  for  another’s,  which 
is  mentioned  in  sacred  his¬ 
tory.  (Gen.  xxvii.  15.  1  Sam. 
xviii.  4.  See  also  Deut.  xxii. 
5.  Luke  xv.  22.) 

Changeable  suits  of  apparel 
(Isa.  iii.  22)  are  supposed  to 
have  been  made  of  some  thin 
fabric,  ornamented  with  em 
broidery,  and  worn  over  gar¬ 
ments  of  various  colours;  of 
which,  beautiful  representa¬ 
tions  are  to  be  seen  in  Indian 
paintings. 

Coat  of  many  colours.  (Gen. 
xxxvii.  3.)  This  was  regarded 
as  of  peculiar  value.  A  travel¬ 
ler  mentions,  that  the  noble 
families  among  the  Turks  at 
Haleb  clothe  their  children, 
when  small,  in  loose  coats  of 
fine  texture,  and  woven  of  va¬ 
riegated  threads;  and  speak* 
of  them  as  very  beautiful. 

Among  the  appendages  to 
Jewish  dress  were  jewels  of 
gold  and  silver, bracelets, neck¬ 
laces,  ear-rings,  &c.  Nose  and 
ear-rings  are  very  common  in 
the  east.  A  celebrated  travel¬ 
ler  (Chardin)  says  he  never 
saw  a  woman  or  girl  in  Arabia 
or  Persia  without  a  ring  in  the 
left  nostril.  The  thread  (Gen. 
xiv.  23)  is  supposed  by  some 
to  mean  the  thread  on  which 
precious  stones  were  hung  for 
neck-chains.  (Ezek.  xvi.  11.) 
Bracelets  were  worn  on  th 
arms  by  both  sexes,  (2  Sam.  i. 
10,)  and  by  females  upon  the 
leg  also.  (Isa.  iii. 19.20.)  Women 
in  Persia  and  Arabia  wear 
rings  about  the  ankle,  full  of 
little  bells.  (Isa.  iii.lG.)  Hand- 
mirrors,  made  of  molten  brass, 
and  finely  polished,  were  also 
a  common  accompaniment  of 
female  dress,  (Ex.  xxxviii.  & 
Isa.  iii.  23,)  and  were  either 
carried  in  the  hand  or  sus¬ 
pended  from  the  girdle  or  neck. 


CLO 

In  later  times,  these  mirrors 
were  made  of  polished  steel. 

All  the  Grecian  and  Roman 
women,  without  distinction, 
wore  their  hair  long.  On  this 
they  lavished  all  their  art, 
disposing  it  in  various  forms, 
and  embellishing  it  with  many 
ornaments.  In  ancient  me¬ 
dals  and  statues  we  see  the 
plaited  tresses,  interwoven 
with  expensive  and  fantastic 
decorations,  so  pointedly  con¬ 
demned  by  the  apostle,  as 
proofs  of  a  vain  mind,  and  as 
inconsistent  with  the  modesty 
and  decorum  of  Christian  wo¬ 
men.  (1  Tim.  ii.  9.  10.  1  Pet. 
iii.  1.3,4.  See  Phylacteries.) 

We  are  told  (Deut.  viii.  4) 
that  the  raiment  of  the  He¬ 
brews  did  not  grow  old  during 
their  journey  of  forty  years ; 
and  some  have  supposed  that 
it  was  literally  so,  and  that  the 
clothes  of  the  children  were 
miraculously  made  to  grow 
with  their  growth.  The  better 
opinion  seems  to  be,  that  they 
were  so  provided  with  clothes 
and  other  necessaries,  as  to  be 
comfortable  and  decent,  in 
their  external  appearance,  du¬ 
ring  all  that  tedious  journey. 
(See  Journeyings  of  Israel, 
and  Omar,  by  the  Am.  S.  S. 
Union,  pp.  23—25.) 

Rending  clothes.  (See 
Rend.) 

CLOSET.  (See  Dwelling.) 
CLOUD,  pillar  op.  (Ex. 
xiii.  21.)  When  the  people  of 
Israel  commenced  their  march 
through  the  wilderness,  God 
caused  a  cloud,  resembling  a 
pillar,  to  pass  before  the  camp. 
In  the  day-time,  it  was  like  a 
cloud,  dark  and  heavy,  and  in 
the  night  bright  and  shining, 
like  fire;  though  some  have  sup¬ 
posed  there  were  two  clouds, 
iine  to  shade,  and  the  other  to 
give  light  to  the  camp.  It  also 
served  as  a  signal  for  rest  or 
motion.  (Num.  ix.  17—23.) 

CLOUTED.  (Josh.  ix.  6.) 
Worn  out  and  patched. 


coc 

CNIDUS.  (Acts  xxvii.  7.)  A 
city  of  Asia  Minor,  situated  o:i 
the  point  of  a  peninsula  of  the 
same  name,  and  lying  north¬ 
west  of  the  island  of  Rhodes. 
COAT.  (See  Clothes.) 
COCK.(SeeCocK-cRowiNG.) 
COCKATRICE.(Jer.viii.l7.) 

A  harmless  species  of  lizard. 
The  word  in  the  Scriptures, 
however,  evidently  denotes  a 
very  venomous  reptile.  (Isa- 
xiv.  29.)  Some  have  inferred 
from  Isa.  lix.  5,  that  it  was  of 
the  viper  tribe.  Others  have 
supposed  the  hooded  snake  is 
intended,  which  is  known 
among  the  Portuguese  as  the 
most  venomous  of  serpents. 
Naturalists  tell  us  that  its  bite 
is  always  incurable,  and  proves 
fatal  usually  within  an  hour. 
This  serpent  is,  however,  un¬ 
known  in  Judea  and  the  adja¬ 
cent  countries.  In  the  passage 
from  Jeremiah  above  cited,  al¬ 
lusion  is  made  to  the  unyield¬ 
ing  cruelty  of  the  Chaldean 
armies  under  Nebuchadnez¬ 
zar,  who  were  appointed  mi¬ 
nisters  of  divine  vengeance 
on  the  Jewish  nation  frr 
their  manifold  and  aggravated 
sins. 

COCK-CROWING.  (Mark, 
xiii.  35.)  A  name  given  to  the 
watch  of  the  night,  from  mid¬ 
night  to  daybreak.  Some  per¬ 
plexity  has  been  occasioned 
by  the  difference  between  the 
expressions  in  Matt.  xxvi.  34, 
“  before  the  cock  crow ,  thou 
shalt  deny  me  thrice,'’  and 
Mark  xiv.  30,  “  before  the  cock 
crow  twice ,  thou  shalt  deny 
me  thrice.”  To  reconcile  this 
seeming  variance,  it  is  stated 
that  there  were  two  cock- 
crowings;  one  soon  after  mid¬ 
night,  and  the  other  about 
three  o’clock ;  and  that  the  last, 
which  was  the  signal  of  ap. 
proaching  day,  was  spoken  of 
as  the  cock-crowing.  To  this 
it  has  been  answered,  that  on  ly 
one  hour  elapsed  between  the 
denials.  (Luke  xxii.  59.)  This 
172 


COL 

is  true  of  the  second  and  third ; 
but  there  seems  to  be  no  au¬ 
thority  for  saying  it  of  the  first 
and  second.  It  seems  most 
natural  to  suppose,  that  the 
phraseology  in  both  cases  was 
substantially  the  same,  and 
that  the  Jews  understood,  by 
the  phrase,  “  before  the  cock 
crow,"  the  same  time  which 
was  denoted  by  the  phrase, 
"■  before  the  cock  crow  twice 
both  referred  to  that  cock- 
crowing  which  especially  and 
most  distinctly  marked  a 
watch  or  division  of  the  night. 

COCKLE.  (Job  xxxi.  40.) 
This  word,  as  we  use  it,  de¬ 
notes  a  common  wild  plant, 
usually  found  in  the  borders  of 
fields  and  among  grain.  The 
original  perhaps  refers  to  some 
offensive  and  poisonous  weed; 
but  it  is  not  necessary  to  sup-' 
pose  any  tiling  more  than  a 
reference  to  noisome  weeds 
generally. 

COFFIN.  (See  Bury.) 

COHORT.  (See  War.) 

COLLEGE.  (2  Kings  xxii. 
14.)  Perhaps  a  place  of  in¬ 
struction  in  or  near  the  court 
of  the  temple,  but  more  proba¬ 
bly  a  range  or  block  of  build¬ 
ings  in  its  vicinity. 

COLLOPS.  (Job  xv.  27.) 
Thick  pieces  of  flesh. 

COLONY.  (Acts  xvi.  12.)  A 
city  or  province  planted  or 
occupied  by  Roman  citizens, 
as  Philippi. 

COLOSSE.  (Col.  i.  2.)  A 
city  of  Phrygia  in  Asia  Minor, 
on  the  river  Lycus,  (now  the 
Gorduk.)  About  a  year  after 
Paul’s  epistle  was  written  to 
the  church  at,  this  place,  it 
was  destroyed  by  an  earth¬ 
quake.  The  former  site  of 
Colosse  is  now  occupied  by  the 
castle  and  village  of  Chonos. 

COLOSSIANS,  EPISTLE  TO, 
was  written  by  Paul,  while  he 
was  a  prisoner  at  Rome,  about 
A.  d.  G1-G2.  It  is  probable  that 
Epaphras,  who  is  spoken  of  as 
the  minister  of  Christ  in  that 
15* 


COL 

place,  (Col .  i.  7,)  came  to  Rome 
to  consult  Paul  respecting 
some  erroneous  opinions  that 
had  been  preached  among  the 
Colossians,  (Col.  ii.  8—23;)  and 
Paul  addressed  this  epistle  to 
them  for  their  instruction  and 
admonition.  The  design  and 
force  of  this  epistle  is  seen  by 
comparing  it  carefully  with  the 
epistle  to  the  Ephesians,  which 
was  written  nearly  at  the  same 
time.  It  is  not  improbable  that 
Paul  himself  established  the 
church  at  Colosse.  (Acts  xvi. 
6 ;  xviii.  23.) 

COLOURS.  (Gen.  xxxvii.3.) 
The  artof  colouring  cloth  seems 
to  have  attained  to  great  perfec¬ 
tion  among  the  Jews.  The  ful¬ 
lers  had  a  remarkable  skill  in 
imparting  a  splendidwhite,and 
this  was  considered  the  richest 
dress.  (Esth.  viii.  15.  Mark  ix. 
3.  Rev.  iii.  4,  5.)  The  royal 
apparel  was  usually  of  a  blue 
or  purple  colour,  and  histo¬ 
rians  say  it  was  a  perfect 
combination  of  the  gayety  of 
bright  red  with  a  sober,  soft¬ 
ening  shade  of  olive.  The 
material  with  which  the  rich¬ 
est  kind  of  this  colour  was 
iven,  is  obtained  from  a  shell- 
sh,  and  was,  it  is  said,  so 
scarce  as  to  be  considered 
more  precious  than  gold.  (Luke 
xvi.  19.)  The  term  purple 
was  sometimes  applied  to  any 
bright  red  colour,  (comp.  Malt, 
xxvii.  28,  with  Mark  xv.  17 ;) 
and  indeed  it  was  probably  the 
name  of  a  whole  class  of  dyes. 
Pliny  gives  us  to  understand 
that  there  were  two  kinds  of 
shell-fish  which  produced  this 
dye,  and  that  botli  were  abun¬ 
dant  on  the  Phenician  and 
Mediterranean  coast,  but  the 
excellence  of  the  tint  varied 
exceedingly.  The  colouring 
matter  was  found  in  a  small 
vein,  and  the  rest  of  the  fish 
was  useless.  The  most  beauti¬ 
ful  purple  was  dyed  at  Tyre, 
Scarlet  or  crivison  was  also 
used  for  the  royal  apparel. 


g  CON 

Lydia  is  said  to  have  been  a 
seller  qf  purple,  (Actsxvi.  14;) 
which  may  mean  either  that 
she  kept  the  dye  for  sale,  or 
cloth  of  that  colour. 

COMFORTER.  (John  xiv. 
16.)  This  word  is  used  only  by 
John.  In  four  out  of  the  five 
passages  in  which  it  occurs,  it 
is  applied  to  the  Holy  Ghost, 
and  is  peculiarly  significant 
of  our  want  of  his  office,  viz.  to  | 
Impart  hope  and  consolation  to 
the  true  disciples  of  Christ,  by 
exciting  in  their  minds  holy 
desires  and  aspirations,  and 
causing  them  to  trust  continu¬ 
ally,  and  without  wavering,  in  j 
his  grace  and  love.  In  the  re¬ 
maining  passage,  (1  John  ii.  1,) 
it  is  translated  advocate,  and 
applied  to  our  Saviour. 

COMMANDMENTS.  (See 
Law.) 

COMMUNION.  (1  Cor.  .x. 
16.)  Intimate  fellowship  and 
communication ;  such  as  is 
expressed  in  John  xv.  1—7, 
and  xvii.  10.  21—26.  Rom.  xii. 
4,  5.  2  Cor.  xiii.  14.  1  John  i.  3. 
As  the  ordinance  of  the  Lord's 
supper  furnishes  both  the  op¬ 
portunity  and  the  motive  (John 
xiii.  34 ;  xv.  12)  to  this  mutual 
love  and  confidence,  it  is  call¬ 
ed,  by  way  of  distinction,  the 
communion. 

CONCISION.  (Phil.  iii.  2.) 
The  Egyptians,  Edomites,  and 
others  practised  a  partial  or 
imperfect  circumcision.  It  was 
a  mere  cutting,  and  not  to  be 
regarded  as  a  seal  of  the  cove¬ 
nant,  or  as,  in  any  sense,  a 
compliance  with  the  law.  The 
apostle  denominates  persons 
who  do  this  the  concision, — 
which  implies  in  itself,  and 
from  its  connexion,  that  they 
degraded  themselves,  and  were 
to  ’be  shunned  as  false  at*l 
corrupt. 

CONCUBINE.  (2  Sam.  xvi. 
22.)  By  the  Jewish  law,  a 
law  fid  wife,  of  a  secondary  or 
Inferior  rank ;  and,  conse¬ 
quently  neither  regarded  nor 


CON 

treated  as  the  matron  or  mis¬ 
tress  of  the  house.  Concubines 
were  not  betrothed  or  wedded 
with  the  usual  solemnities  and 
ceremonies  which  attended 
marriage.  They  had  no  share 
in  the  family  government,  and 
the  children  of  the  wife  were 
preferred  to  the  child  of  the  con¬ 
cubine,  in  the  distribution  of 
the  inheritance.  Where  poly¬ 
gamy  was  tolerated,— as  it  was 
among  the  Jews,— the  permis¬ 
sion  ot  concubinage  would  not 
seem  so  much  at  war  with  the 
interests  and  preservation  of 
society,  as  we  know  it  to  be 
The  gospel  restores  the  sacred 
institution  of  marriage  to  i.s 
original  character,  (Gen.  ii.  24. 
Matt.  xix.  5.  1  Cor.  vii.  2,)  and 
concubinage  is  ranked  with 
fornication  and  adultery.  (See 
Biblical  Antisuiitils,  by  Am. 
S.  S.  Union,  vol.  i.  ch.  vi.  §  1.) 

CONDEMNATION.  (John 
iii.  ID.)  This  term,  in  its  ordi¬ 
nary  acceptation,  describes  the 
state  of  a  man  who  is  not  only 
adjudged  to  be  guilty,  but  has 
had  passed  on  him  the  sentence 
of  the  law.  In  modern  prisons, 
there  is  often  found  a  ward 
or  apartment,  appropriated  to 
such  prisoners  as  have  received 
their  sentence,  and  are  await¬ 
ing  its  execution;  and  it  is 
called  the  condemned  ward. 
The  gospel  regards  all  man¬ 
kind  as  offenders  against  God’s 
law.  Their  guilt  is  unquestion¬ 
able,  and  the  sentence  is  per¬ 
manent  and  universally  the 
same.  The  soul  that  sinneth, 
it  shall.die.  (Ezek.  xviii.  20.) 
There  may  be  pardon  or  re¬ 
prieve,  under  human  law, 
in  consequence  of  the  imper¬ 
fection  of  all  human  govern, 
ments  and  laws ;  but  every 
thing  in  the  condemnation  of 
the  sinner  is  perfectly  jusl 
and  right ;  and  injustice  would 
be  done,  if  he  were  not  pun¬ 
ished  just  according  to  law. 
If  his  guilt  can  be  removed, 
or  cancelled,  oi  taken  from 


CON 

him,  it  must  be  by  a  process 
which  no  finite  mind  could 
anticipate  or  conceive.  This 
process  the  gospel  makes 
known  to  us;  and  well  is  it 
called  good  tidings  of  great 
joy.  (Comp.  John  iii.  19,  and 
v.  24.  Rom.  v.  16. 18,  andviii.l.) 
The  effect  of  faith  in  Christ  on 
the  believer  himself,  is  to  place 
him  in  a  stale  of  justification 
before  God.  Nothing  of  this 
kind  can  possibly  occur  under 
human  governments,  nor  can 
it  be  illustrated  by  any  analo¬ 
gy.  It  is  the  great  mystery  of 
godliness.  The  believer  feels 
it,  and  rejoices  and  triumphs  in 
it.  To  him,  of  course,  Christ  is 
precious.  (1  Pet.  i.  19;  ii.  4. 7.) 
It  is  because  of  the  absence  of 
all  resemblance  or  analogy 
between  the  divine  dispensa¬ 
tion,  in  this  case,  and  human 
laws  and  proceedings,  that  we 
find  the  wards  justify,  justified, 
and  justification,  opposed  to 
the  terms  condemn,. condemn¬ 
ed,  and  condemnation.  (Ex. 
xxiii.  7..  Dent.  xxv.  1.  1  Kings 
viii.31,32.  Prov.  xvii.  15.  Matt, 
xii.  37.  Rom.  ii.  13;  iii.  4;  v. 
17,  18;  viii.  30.  33,  34.) 

CONDUIT,  (Isa.  xxxvi.  2,) 
or  aqueduct,  of  the  upper  pool 
in  the  highway  of  the  fuller’s 
field.  (Comp.  2Kings  xx.  20. 
Neh.  iii.  16-  Isa.  vii.  3,  and 
xxii.  9, 11.)  We  know  that  the 
fountain  of  Siloah,  or  Gihonp 
which  rises  at  the  foot  of 


CON 

mount  Moriah,  formed  two 
pools,  called  the  upper  pooh 
(Isa.  vii.  3,)  or  king’s  pool , 
(Neh.  ii.  14,)  and  the  lower 
pool.  (Isa.  xxii.  9.)  One  of 
these  pools  is  mentioned  John 
ix.  7.  The  aqueduct,  which 
connected  the  upper  pool  with 
the  fountain,  or  with  the  lower 
pool,  or  with  the  city,  is  called 
the  conduit  of  the  upper  pool ; 
and,  to  make  Rabshakeh’s 
position  still  more  certain,  it 
is  added,  that  he  stood  in  the 
highway  or  street  that  led  to 
the  fuller’s  field.  This  was 
doubtless  an  enclosure  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  soft  water  of 
the  Gihon,  appropriated  to 
the  drying  and  bleaching  of 
clothes.  (See  Siloam.) 

CONEY.  (Deut.  xiv.  7.)  Pro¬ 
bably  the  animal  now  known 
as  tiie  ashkoko.  Instead  of 
holes,  these  animals  seem  to 
delight  in  the  clefts  of  the 
rock.  They  are  gregarious; 
and  frequently  several  dozens 
of  them  sit  upon  the  great 
stones  at  the  mouths  of  cavps, 
and  warm  themselves  in  tno 
sun,  or  come  out  and  enjoy 
the  freshness  of  the  evening. 
They  do  not  stand  upright 
upon  their  feet,  but  seem  to 
steal  along  as  in  fear,  their 
belly  being  close  to  the  ground ; 
advancing  a  few  steps  at  a 
time,  and  then  pausing.  They 
have  something  very  mild, 
feeble-like,  and  timid  in  their 


175 


CON 

deportment ;  are  gentle,  and 
easily  tamed. 

The  celebrated  traveller 
Bruce  says :  “  The  coney  is 
above  all  other  animals  so 
much  attached  to  the  rocks, 
that  I  never  once  saw  him  on 
the  ground,  or  from  among 
large  stones  in  the  mouth  of 
caves,  where,  is  his  constant 
residence.  He  lives  in  families 
or  flocks.  He  is  fouhd  in  Judea, 
Palestine, andArabia, and  con¬ 
sequently  must  have  been  fa¬ 
miliar  to  Solomon.  David  de¬ 
scribes  him  very  pertinently, 
and  joins  him  to  other  animals 
perfectly  known:  ‘the-  hills 
are  a  refuge  for  wild  goats, 
and  the  rocks  for  the  suphan.’ 
And  Solomon  says.  1  that  they 
are  exceeding  wise,’  that  they 
are  ‘  but  a  feeble  folk,  yet 
make  their  houses  in  the 
rocks.’  Now  this,  I  think,  very 
obviously  fixes  the  coney  to  be 
the  animal;  for  this  weakness 
seems  to  allude  to  his  feet,  and 
how  inadequate  these  are  to 
dig  holes  in  the  rock,  where 
yet,  however,  he  lodges.  F rom 
theirtenderness,  these  are  very 
liable  to  be  excoriated  or  hurt ; 
notwithstanding  which,  they 
build  houses  in  the  rocks,  more 
inaccessible  than  those  of  the 
rabbit,  and  in  which  they 
enjoy  greater  safety ;  not  by 
exertion  of  strength,— for  they 
have  it  not,— but  by  their  own 
sagacity  and  judgment.” 

CONIAH.  (See  Jehoiachin.) 

CONSCIENCE  (Acts  xxiv. 
16)  is  that  within  us  which 
judges  of  the  moral  character 
of  our  actions,  and  approves  or 
censures,  condemns  or  justi¬ 
fies  us  accordingly.  (Rom.  ii. 
15.)  This  universal  tribunal 
is  established  in  the  breast  of 
every  man.  It  may  be  weak¬ 
ened,  perverted,  stupified,  de¬ 
filed,  and  hardened,  in  various 
ways;  and  its  decisions  are 
more  or  less  clear,  just,  and 
imperative,  according  to  the 
degree  of  improvement  in  the 


CON 

understanding  and  heart,  and 
especially  according  to  the 
degree  in  which  its  purity  and 
sensitiveness  have  been  pre¬ 
served  and  cultivated.  (John 
viii.  9.  Acts  xxiii.  1 ;  xxiv.  16. 
Rom.  ix.  1,  and  1  Tim.  i.  5.) 

CONSECRATE,  CONSE¬ 
CRATION.  (Ex.  xxxii.  29. 
Lev.  vii.  37.)  The  tribe  of 
Levi  was  consecrated  to  the 
priesthood  with  the  most  so- 
lemn  and  imposing  ceremo¬ 
nies.  (See  Biblical  ANTiaui- 
ties,  vol.  ii.  ch.  i'v.  §  1,  by  Am. 
S.  S.  Union.)  Vessels,  (Josh. vi. 
19,)  profits,  (Mic.  iv.  13,) 
fields,  (Lev.  xxvii.  28,)  cattle, 
(2  Chron.  xxix.  33,)  individu¬ 
als,  (Num.  vi.  9—13.  1  Sam.  i. 
11. 28,)  and  nations  (Ex.  xix.  6) 
were  anciently  consecrated  or 
set  apart  to  sacred  purposes. 
(See  Peiest.) 

CONVERSION,  (Acts  xv.  3,) 
or  turning  from  one  state, 
pursuit,  inclination,  or  direc¬ 
tion,  to  another.  In  the  gospel 
use  of  the  term,  and  apart 
from  technical  theology,  it 
denotes  that  change  in  the 
dispositions,  thoughts,  desires, 
ana  objects  of  affection,  which 
takes  place  in  the  heart  of  the 
sinner,  when  the  Holy  Spirit 
convinces  him  of  his  sinful¬ 
ness,  and  leads  him,  by  His 
sacred  influences,  to  hate  sin, 
and  to  forsake  every  evil  and 
false  way,  and,  at  the  same 
time,  persuades  him  to  yield 
to  the  claims  which  God  his 
Saviour  justly  and  graciously 
makes  to  his  heart  and  life. 
The  same  thing  is  signified  by 
the  term  new  birth,  or  regene¬ 
ration.  The  Scriptures  de¬ 
scribe  mankind  as  alienated 
from  God ;  as  having  the 
understanding  darkened  and, 
blinded,  and  as  being  dead  in 
trespasses  and  sins.  Hence 
the  corresponding  force  and 
pertinency  of  the  terms  by 
which  the  change  is  described ; 
such  as  created,  renewed, 
1  (Eph.  iv.  23,  24,)  restored  to 
176 


COR 

sight ,  (Eph.  i.  18.  Rev.  iii.  18,) 
and  raised  from  the.  dea/i. 
(Jotin  v.  21.  24,  and  Eph.  ii.  1.) 

COOS.  (Acts  xxi.  1.)  The 
name  of  a  small  island  and 
city  of  Greece,  twenty-five 
miles  long  and  ten  broad.  It 
lies  near  the  south-west  point 
of  Asia  Minor,  and  about  forty 
miles  north-west  of  Rhodes.  It 
was  formerly  noted  for  its  fer¬ 
tility,  and  lor  its  wines  and 
silk-worms,  as  well  as  for  being 
the  birth-place  of  two  eminent 
men,  Apelles  and  Hippocrates. 
It  is  now  called  Slunckio,  and 
is  still  famous  for  lemons  and 
maples.  .  .  . 

COPING.  (1  Kings  vii.  SL) 
The  top  course  or  finish  of  a 
wall.  It  is  usually  of  flat  or 
semi-circular  bricks  or  hewn 
stone,  projecting  beyond  the 
face  of  the  wall,  and  forming 
an  ornament  similar  in  effect 
to  the  capital  of  a  column. 

COPPER.  (Ezra  viii.  27.) 
A  well  known  metal,  but  not 
now  (as  it  was  once)  precious 
as  gold.  The  word  translated 
copper  in  this  passage  is  else¬ 
where  rendered  brass;  and 
coppersmith  (2  Tim.  iv.  14) 
signifies  a  worker  in  brass. 
Perhaps  the  same  name  was 
given  to  both  substances.  (See 
Brass.) 

COR.  (See  Measures.) 

CORAL  (Ezek.  xxvn.  16) 
was  an  article  of  Tyrian 
merchandise,  and  is  well 
known  as  a  marine  production, 
found^in  almost  every  variety 
Of  shape  and  size,  and  some¬ 
times  increasing  to  such  an 
extent  as  to  form  the  basis  of 
islands,  or  to  stretch  out  in 
dangerous  reefs  for  many  miles. 
It  is  capable  of  being  worked 
up  into  beads,  and  other  orna¬ 
ments  ;  for  which  use  the  red 
species  is  the  most  valuable. 
Job  menvions  it  in  connexion 
with  pearls.  (Job  xxviii.  18.) 

CORBAN  (Mark  vii.  ID 
signifies  a  gift  or  thing  conse 
crated  to  God  or  his  service. 


COR 

It  seems  the  Jews  permitted 
such  an  abuse  to  be  made  of 
this  ceremony  of  consecration, 
that  a  child  was  permitted  to 
deny  the  request  of  his  parents, 
or  withhold  assistance  from 
them  in  their  distress,  merely 
on  the  pretence  that  what  they 
asked  or  needed  was  conse¬ 
crated  to  God.  It  would  seem 
they  sometimes  exempted  their 
whole  substance  from  any  con¬ 
tribution  to  the  support  of  their 
parents ;  and  said,  concerning 
any  thing  and  every  thing  that 
could  assist  them,  it  is  corbati^ 
or  devoted  to  God. 

CORDS.  (See  Ropes.) 

CORIANDER  SEED.  (Ex. 
xvi.31.)  The  coriander  plant 
is  a  native  of  China  and  the 
south  of  Europe,  but  natu¬ 
ralized  in  England  and  the 
United  States.  The  seeds  are 
globular,  and,  when  dry,  are 
pleasant  to  the  taste  and 
smell,  and  are  often  sold  by 
confectioners  incrusted  with 
sugar.  We  are  told  that  the 
particles  of  manna  were 
shaped  like  coriander  seed. 

CORINTH.  (Acts  xviii.  1.) 
A  renowned  and  voluptuous 
city  of  Greece,  about  twenty- 
five  miles  west  of  Athens,  in 
which  Paul  resided  a  year  and 
a  half,  and  where  he  founded 
the  church  to  which  he  after¬ 
wards  addressed  two  of  his 
epistles.  (See  Life  of  Paul, 
by  Am.  S.  S.  Union,  ch.  xi.) 
Situated  on  the  isthmus  that 
separates  the  Egean  from  the 
Ionian  sea,  and  possessing 
singular  advantages  for  com¬ 
merce,  as  it  was  a  mart  for 
the  exchange  of  Asiatic  and 
Italian  goods,  it  became  cele¬ 
brated  for  its  wealth  and 
magnificence,  as  well  as  the 
learning  and  ingenuity  of  its 
inhabitants.  Profane  histori¬ 
ans  speak  of  it  as  the  light 
and  ornament  of  all  Greece. 
It  was  not  less  remarkably 
however,  for  its  corruption  and 


COR 


COR 


ficentiousness.  Indeed,  so  pro¬ 
verbially  profligate  did  the  city 
become,  that  the  very  name  of 
Corinthian,  applied  to  a  fe¬ 
male,  was  .nfamous. 

This  was  its  corrupt  state 
when  Paul  arrived  there,  not 
far  from  a.  D.  52,  as  a  Christian 
missionary.  (SeeMAP, p.488-9.) 

A  traveller,  who  visited  Co¬ 
rinth  in  1821,  says  it  had  hardly 
any  occupants  except  soldiers ; 
and  that,  though  a  few  ruins 
remain  to  attest  the  ancient 
magnificence  of  the  city,  they 
are  rapidly  disappearing.  The 
fragments  of  capitals  and  co¬ 
lumns  are  employed  to  build 
the  houses  of  the  Turks ;  and 
the  wrought  side  of  the  richest 
specimens  of  architecture  are 
found  turned  inwards  I  The 
story  that  Corinthian  brass 
originated  here,  from  the  ac¬ 
cidental  fusion  of  different 
metals,  when  the  city  was 
taken  and  destroyed  by  fire,  is 
fabulous.  The  composition  so 
called  was  known  long  before 
that  event.  . 

CORINTHIANS,  epistles 
to.  These  were  both  written 
by  Paul.  The  first  was  proba¬ 
bly  written  at  Ephesus,  (comp. 
1  Cor.  xvi.  19.  Acts  xviii.  18. 
26.  1  Cor.  xvi.  8, 9.  Acts  xix.  20. 
26,)  in  the  beginning  of  a.  d.  57, 
or  aoout  four  years  after  the 
church  was  organized.  During 
that  intervalj  it  would  seem 
that  some  false  teacher  had 
appeared  among  them,  and 
had  succeeded  in  exciting 
strong  prejudices  against  the 
apostle.  To  vindicate  his  own 
ministerial  character  and  of¬ 
fice  from  the  aspersions  and 
calumnies  that  were  heaped 
upon  him  by  his  opposers,  to 
answer  some  inquiries  they 
had  put  to  him,  (1  Cor.  vii.  1,) 
and  to  furmsh  them  with  rules 
of  conduct  adapted  to  their 
peculiar  circumstances,  temp¬ 
tations,  and  faults,  (1  Cor.  i.  10 
—31,)  seem  to  have  been  the 
main  design  of  this  first  letter. 


It  contains  also  the  most  per¬ 
fect  and  triumphant  argument 
for  the  doctrine  of  the  resur¬ 
rection. 

The  second  epistle,  written 
probably  from  Macedonia,  less 
than  a  year  after  the  first, 
seems  designed  to  continue  the 
good  influence  which  the  for¬ 
mer  letter  had  exerted,  and 
to  furnish  grounds  of  comfort 
and  confidence  to  the  steadfast 
believers. 

CORMORANT  (Lev.  xi.  17) 
was  of  the  unclean  class  of 
birds;  and  its  presence  is  used 
in  the  prophetic  writings  as  an 
emblem  of  ruin  and  desolation, 
(Isa.  xxxiv.  11.  Zeph.  ii.  14,) 
though  the  original  word  in 
these  passages  is  elsewhere 
translated  pelican.  . 

CORN.  (Mark  iv.  28.)  This 
word,  in  the  United  States,  is 
generally  applied  to  maize,  or 
Indian  corn,  but  the  Scriptures 
use  it  as  the  general  name  for 
all  sorts  of  grain.  A  corn  of 
wheat  is  a  kernel  of  wheat. 
The  figurative  use  of  the  word 
corn,  usually  in  connexion 
with  wine  and  oil,  is  very  fre¬ 
quent;  as  grain,  and  wine,  and 
olives  were  the  leading  pro¬ 
ductions  of  the  country.  (Deut. 
xi.  14;  xviii.  4;  xxviii.  51.  2 
Chron.  xxxii.  28.  Hos.  ii.  22. 
Joel  ii.  19.) 

It  is  probable  that  grain  was 
commonly  used  in  its  crude 
state  in  the  early  ages  of  the 
world.  It  was  sometimes  done 
in  later  times,  (Matt.  xii.  1 ;) 
and  even  now  it  is  no  uncom¬ 
mon  thing,  in  passing  a  field 
of  wheat,  to  pluck  an  ear, 
and  after  rubbing  the  husk  or 
beard  off,  by  rolling  it  be¬ 
tween  the  hands,  to  eat  the 
grain,  which,  even  in  that 
state,  is  very  palatable.  The 
Jewish  law  permitted  standing 
corn  to  be  plucked  by  any  one 
passing  through  it,  (Deut.  xxiii. 
25 ;)  and  this  custom,  or  right, 
is  still  respected  in  some  parts 
of  the  eaBt.  (See  Mills.) 


COR 

CORNELIUS.  (Actsx.  1-3.) 
k.  Roman  officer  residing  at 
Cesarea.  He  was  a  Gentile  by 
birth,  and,  though  the  highest 
character  is  given  of  him  as  a 
religious  man,  he  was  regarded 
by  the  Jews  as  an  unclean 
person.  (Acts  x.  28, 29 ;  xi.  3.) 
His  prayers,  being  offered  in 
the  faith  of  a  promised  Mes¬ 
siah,  were  heard ;  and  God 
was  pleased  to  send  Peter  to 
make  known  to  him  the  plan 
of  salvation  through  a  crucified 
and  risen  Redeemer.  Thus 
the  door  of  faith  was  opened  to 
the  Gentiles;  Cornelius  and 
his  family  became  converts  to 
the  Christian  religion,  and 
were  baptized  in  the  name  of 
the  Lord  Jesus. 

CORNER.  (2Chron.  xxvm. 
24.)  The  corner  of  the  house¬ 
top  (Prov.  xxi.  9)  is  a  narrow 
place  exposed  to  sun  and  rain, 
contrasted  with  the  wide  room 
or  house  below.  The  “  corner* 
ofMoab,”  or  any  other  country, 
(Num.  xxiv.  17.  Jer.  xlviii.  45,) 
mean  its  capital,  cities,  &c.,  or 
the  strength  and  substance  ot 
the  country.  Corner  of  a  bed , 
(Amos  iii.  12,)  the  corner  of  a 
room,  was  on  the  elevated  part, 
(used  by  night  for  a  bed,  or 
couch,)  and  contained  the  most 
honourable  seat.  (See  Bed.) 
In  the  passage  last  cited  it 
figuratively  denotes  the  most 
proud  and  luxurious  o i_  the 
Israelites  in  Samaria.  InZech. 
x.  4,  the  word  comer  is  used  to 
denote  either  the  corner-stone 
or  the  most  conspicuous  part 
of  a  building,  and  evidently 
refers  to  Christ,  (Matt,  xxi.  42,) 
where  he  is  mentioned  as  the 
head  ( or  chief )  of  the  comer , 
though  the  Jews,  in  erecting 
the  temple  of  their  faith,  re¬ 
jected  nim  as  unfit  for  so 
important  a  place.  If  God  is 
true,  they  must  find  their  error 
eoo ner  or  later ;  for  other  foun¬ 
dation  can  no  man  lay  than 
that  is  laid,  which  is  Jesus 
Christ.  (I  Cor.  iii.  11.  See 


COU 

also  Isa.  xxviii.  16.)  The  ^ 
comers  is  figuratively  employ-, 
ed  to  denote  the  whole  length 
and  breadth  of  a  country, 
(Ezek.  vii.  2,)  or  the  world. 
(Isa.  xi.  12.  Rev.  vii.  1.)  ... 

Corner-stone.  (Jobxxxvnu 
6.)  Christ  is  called  a  comer - 
stone>  (1.)  In  reference  to  his 
being  the  foundation  of  the 
Christian  faith,  (Eph.  ii.20;) 
(2.)  In  reference  to  the  import- 
ance  and  conspicuousness  of 
the  place  he  occupies,  (1  Pet> 
ii.  6;)  and,  (3.)  As  a  projecting 
comer-stone  is  likely  to  be 
stumbled  against,  so  it  is  not 
surprising  that  the  doctrine  of 
Christ  and  him  crucified  would 
prove  an  offence  and  a  stone 
of  stumbling  to  unbelievers,  a a 
it  ever  has  been.  (Comp.  lBa. 

viii.  14.  Matt.  xxi.  44.  Rom. 

ix.  32,33.  1  Cor.  i.  23.  lPet 

H  CORNET.  (1  Chron.  xv.  28.) 
An  instrument  of  music  about 
eighteen  inches  long,  shaped 
like  the  flute ;  used  by  the 
priests,  and  giving  a  loud, 
smooth  sound. 

CORRUPTION,  mount  of. 
(See  Olives,  mount  of.) 

COTTAGE.  (Isa.  xxiv.  20) 
The  same  with  tent. 

COUCH.  (See  Bed.) 

COUNCIL  (Matt.  x.  17)  de¬ 
notes  a  judicial  tribunal,  and 
generally  the  Sanhedrim.  It  is 
supposed  by  some  to  be  the 
same  tribunal  which  was  in¬ 
stituted  under  Moses.  (Num. 
xi.  16.)  This  is  the  opinion  of 
the  Jews.  It*  is  evident  that 
this  tribunal  existed  in  the 
time  of  our  Saviour,  as  it  js 
expressly  named.  (Mark  xiil 
9 ;  xiv.  55 ;  xv.  1.)  It  was  be¬ 
fore  this  tribunal  that  our  di¬ 
vine  Saviour  was  arraigned 
The  interior  tribunals  were 
very  numerous,  and  variously 
constituted.  (See  Omar,  by 
Am.  S.  S.  Union,  p.  181.) 

COUNSELLOR.  (Luke  xxiiL 
50.)  An  officer  connected  with 
the  royal  camp  of  the  Jew! 

179 


cov 

supposed  to  be  referred  to  in 
1  Kings  xii.  6—12. 

COURSE.  (See  Abia.) 

COURT.  (See  Temple, 
Dwellings.) 

COVENANT  (Gen.  ix.  12) 
usually  means  an  agreement 
or  mutual  obligation,  contract¬ 
ed  deliberately,  and  with  so¬ 
lemnity.  The  scriptural  sense 
is  peculiar.  God’s  covenant 
with  men  signifies  his  solemn 
promise  or  engagement.  (Gen. 
xvii.  14,  Ex.  xxxiv.  10.  Deut. 
iv.  13.  Isa.  lix.  21.)  It  also 
denotes  the  established  order 
and  constitution  of  nature,  (Jer. 
xxxiii.  20;)  and,  again,  a  pre¬ 
cept.  (Jer.  xxxiv.  13.)  It  is 
remarked,  that  where  the  par¬ 
ties  are  equal, — so  that  either 
may  accept  or  reject  the  pro¬ 
posal  of  the  other, — the  word 
used  denotes  a  proposition ;  but 
where  the  party  proposing  is 
greatly  exalted  above  the 
•ther,  the  term  used  signifies 
appointment,  or  institution ; 
whereby  the  proposer  pledges 
himself,  but  the  other  party  is 
neither  entitled  to  the  privi¬ 
leges  nor  benefits  of  the  obli¬ 
gator,  until  he  accepts. 

The  Hebrew  word  for  mak¬ 
ing  a  covenant  signifies  cutting 
off,  because  covenants  were 
often  made  by.  cutting  off  or 
slaying  sacrifices.  (Gen.  xv. 
9 — 19.  Jer.  xxxiv.  18.) 

The  term  the  covenants 
(Rom.  ix.  4)  refers  to  the  va¬ 
rious  promises  made  to  Abra¬ 
ham.  (See  Abraham.) 

The  chief  and  most  important 
use  of  the  word,  however,  is  in 
relation  to  the  two  great  dis- 

Iiensations  under  which  men 
lave  lived,  and  which  are 
distinguished  as  the  old  and 
new  dispensation,  or  covenant. 
(Hell.  viii.  8.)  The  former  was 
made  with  the  children  of  Is¬ 
rael,  and  rested  much  in  the 
outward  ceremonies  and  ob¬ 
servances  which  the  law  by 
Moses  enjoined,  (meats  and 
drinks,  and  divers  washings 


COW 

and  carnal  ordinances;)  by 
strict  obedience  to  which,  with 
full  faith  in  the  promises  and 
declarations  of  Jehovah,  they 
became  interested  in  the  bless¬ 
ings  of  that  new  and  better 
covenant  which  was  thereafter 
to  be  revealed,  (Gal.  iii.,)  and 
which,  by  way  of  distinction, 
is  called  the 'new  or  second 
covenant.  (Heb.  viii.  7.  13. 
Comp.  Ex.  xx.— xxiv.  with 
Heb.  viii.) 

The  sign  of  the  covenant 
was  its  seal  or  memorial. 
Thus  the  rainbow  was  a  sign 
or  memorial  of  God’s  covenant 
with  Noah,  respecting  a  second 
deluge.  So  of  the  “Sabbath, 
(Ex.  xxxi.  16, 17,)  and  circum¬ 
cision.  (Gen.  xvii.  11.) 

The  new  covenant,  of  which 
Christ  is  the  Mediator,  was 
confirmed  “or  sealed  by  his 
own'  blood,  and  secures  to 
every  true  believer  the  bless¬ 
ings  of  salvation  and  eternal 
life. 

Covenant  op  Salt.  (Num. 
xviii.  19.  2  Chron.  xiii.  5.) 
This  term  is  supposed  to  de¬ 
note  a  covenant,  in  the  sealing 
or  ratification  of  which  salt 
was  used.  (Lev.  ii.  13.  See 
Salt.) 

COVET,  (Ex.  xx.  17,)  CO- 
VETOUSNESS,  (Ex.  xviii.  21. 
Luke  xii.  15.)  To  covet  is  to 
desire  strongly.  (1  Cor.  xii. 
31.)  When  such  a  desire  is  felt 
for  that  which  we  cannot  law¬ 
fully  possess,  it  is  sinful,  and 
becomes  covetousness,  which 
is  idolatry,  (Col.  iii.  2;)  for  it 
is  placing  the  heart  and  affec¬ 
tions  onuhe  creature  rather 
than  on  the  Creator.  Covet¬ 
ousness  has  relation  commonly 
to  riches,  and,  in  the  scriptu¬ 
ral  sense,  includes  the  desire 
of  accumulating,  whatever 
may  be  the  means.  (Prov. 
xxviii.  16.  Eccl.  v.  10.  Luke 
xii.  15-34.  1  Tim.  vi.  9, 10.) 

COW.  (Isa.  vii.21.)  In  this 
remarkable  prophecy,  the 
event  foretold  is,  that  the  face 
180 


ORE 

of  the  land  of  Judah  should  be 
eo  completely  changed,  and 
the  inhabitants  so  greatly  re¬ 
duced  in  number,  that,  with 
only  a  single  young  cow,  and 
two  sheep,  a  family  should  be 
supplied  with  an  abundance 
of  milk  and  butter;  and  vine¬ 
yards,  which  before  command¬ 
ed  a  high  rent,  should  be  over¬ 
grown  with  briers  and  thorns. 

By  the  Levitical  law,  (Lev. 
xxii.  28,)  a  cow  and  her  calf 
were  not  to  be  killed  on  the 
Same  day.  A  similar  precept 
is  found  in  Ex.  xxiii.  19;  and 
another  in  Deut.  xxii.  6,  7. 
Whether  they  were  designed 
to  prevent  inhumanity,  or  re¬ 
ferred  to  some  heathen  custom, 
is  uncertain.  The  cow  is  es¬ 
teemed  holy  by  the  Hindoos. 

CRACKNELS.  (1  Kings xiv. 
3.)  A  kind  of  thm  hard  bread, 
not  unlike  .  crackers  or 
sea-biscuit  of  modern  days, 
spread,  as  some  say,  with  aro¬ 
matic  seed. 

CRANE.  (Jer.  viii.  7.)  A 
large  bird  of  passage,  measur¬ 
ing  three  or  four  feet  in  Height, 
and  living  on  worms  and  in¬ 
sects,  or  (if  these  cannot  be 
had)  on  grain.  Its  cry  is  hoarse 
and  melancholy;  hence  the 
allusion,  Isa.  xxxviii.  14.  The 
regular  return  of  this  and 
other  birds  from  their  annual 
migrations,  discovered  a  re¬ 
gard  to  their  instinctive  know¬ 
ledge  which,  in  the  passage  of 
Jeremiah,  is  used  to  repro'-e 
the  ignorance  and  ’wayward¬ 
ness  of  God’s  people,  in  not 
regarding  the  judgments  of  his 
hand.  (For  illustngivp  cut,  see 
Bible  Natural  HiStory,  by 
Am.  S.  S.  Union,  art.  Crane.) 

CREATE,  (Ps.  li.  10,)  CRE¬ 
ATOR,  (Eccl.  xii.  1,1  CREA¬ 
TION.  (Mark  x.  6.)  The  word 
creation  sometimes  denotes  all 
living  things,  (Rom.  viii.  22,) 
and  at  others  the  great  era  or 
event  of  the  creation.  (2 Pet. 
iii.  .4.)  To  create  is  to  cause 
any  thing  to  exist  that  never 


CRE 


existed  !n  any  form  or  manner 
before.  (Gen.  i.  1.  Col. :.  1G-) 
It  is  to  make ,  without  material® 
to  make  of.  Thus,  God  said r 
Let  there  be  light,  and  there- 
tons  light.  (Gen.  l.  3.) 

And  with  respect  to  the  na» 
ture  and  duration  of  those  six 
days,  so  particularly  defined 
in  the  record,  which  it  pleased 
the  Creator,  for  an  obviously 
wise  and  beneficent  end,  to 
occupy  in  this  incomprehensi¬ 
ble  work  of  creation,  we  can 
have  no  reasonable  doubt  tha 
they  were  such  day®  as  are 
now,  and  ever*  have  been, 
occasioned  by  .one  revolution 
of  the  earth  on  its  axis;  be¬ 
cause  a  perfect  creation  may 
be  as  easily  the’  work  of  one 
day,  or  of  one  moment,  as  of 
thousands  of  years;  and  be¬ 
cause  that  record,  on  the  evi¬ 
dence  of  which. our  confidence 
rests,  on  the-  subject  of  the 
creation,  hasdistinctly  defined 
each  of  these  days  by  its  even- 
ning  and  its  morning;  which 
terms, -so  often  repeated,  can 
be  in  no  way  applicable  to 
any  indefinite  periods. 

CRETE,  (Acts  xxvii.  7,) 
(CRETIANS,  Tit.  i.  12,)  now 
called  Canclia,  Kirid,  or  Kriti, 
is  an  island  of  the  Mediterra¬ 
nean,  one  hundred  and  seventy 
miles  long  and  fifty  broad;  po¬ 
pulation  250,000,  about  equal 
numbers  of  Greeks  and  Turks. 
Constantinople  lies  five  or 
six  hundred  miles  north- east 
of  it,  and  Syria  six  or  seven 
hundred  miles  east.  It  was 
formerly  a  rich  and  powerful 
kingdom,  and  is  still  remark¬ 
able  for  its  delightful  climate 
and  fertile  soil.  Oil,  corn, 
fruit  trees, and  vinesare among 
its  principal  productions.  The 
cityofCandia, which  isalsothe 
fort  and  capital  of  the  island, 
lies  on  the  northern  coast.  A 
Christian  mission  is  already 
established  there. 

Crete  was  settled,  as  It  is 
generally  supposed,  by  Philis- 


CRl 

•iinesfram  Ecypt,  part  of  whom 
afterwards  passed  over  to  Pa¬ 
lestine,  and  are.  called  Caph- 
torim,  (Gen.  x.  14,)  Chere- 
thims,  (Ezek.  xxv.  16,)  and 
Cherethites.  (1  Sam.  xxx.  14. 
Zeph.ii.5.)  Some  suppose  that 
Crete  itself  is  the  Caphtor  of 
the  Scriptures.  (Jer.  xlvii.  4.) 

Salmone  (Acts  xxvii.  7)  was 
a  cape  on  the  eastern  ex¬ 
tremity  of  the  island ;  the  Fair 
Havens  (Acts  xxvii.  8)  was  the 
name  of  a  harbour,  roads,  or 
anchorage,  near  I.asea,  on  the 
southern  shore  The  apostle, 
sailing  from  the  la3t  named 
[dace  to  Phenice,  (Acts  xxvii. 
12,)  on  the  western  coast,  was 
driven  under  an  island  called 
Clauda,  (Acts  xxvii.  16,)  (now 
Gozzo.  See  Map  to  art.  Paul.) 

Probably  Paul  visited  this 
island  after  his  first  imprison¬ 
ment  at  Rome,  and  establish¬ 
ed  a  Christian  church  there, 
which  he  left  under  the  over¬ 
sight  of  Titus.  (Tit.  i.  5.) 

The  Cretans  were  once  noted 
for  vicious  habits.  This  charac¬ 
ter  was  given  them  by  many 
profane  historians;  and  among 
them  was  one  of  their  own  na¬ 
tion,  who  was  also  a  prophet 
or  poet,  (which  terms  were  sy- 
nony  mous  among  the  Romans,) 
and  who  says  they  were  liars, 
evil  beasts,  that  is,  brutal  and 
ferocious  as  wild  beasts,  and 
glow  bellies,  or  addicted  to 
voluptuousness  and  gluttony, 
as  in  Phil.  iii.  19.  (See  Life 
of  Paul,  ch.  xviii.,  by  Am. 

S.  S.  Union,  and  map  prefixed 
to  that  volume.) 

CRIMSON.  (Jer.  iv.  30.)  A 
beautiful  variety  or  shade  of 
red.  Stuffs  lor  the  drapery  of 
Solomon’s  temple  were  em¬ 
broidered  in  tnis  colour.  (2 
Chron.  ii.  14  ;  iii.  14.)  Crimson 
is  a  deeper  dye  than  scarlet; 
and  hence  tlio  force  of  the 
figure  in  Isa.  i.  18,  where  the 
mast  free  anil.]>erfect  forgive¬ 
ness  is  offered  to  guilt  of  the 
deepest  dye  [ 


CRO 

CRTSPUS  (Acts  xviii.  8)  waB 
an  oflicer  of  the  Jewish  syna¬ 
gogue  at  Corinth.  He  and  his 
family  were  converted  under 
Paul’s  preaching,  and  he  re¬ 
ceived  the  ordinance  of  bap¬ 
tism  at  the  apostle’s  hands. 
(1  Cor.  i.  14.) 

CROSS,  CRUCIFY.  (Malt, 
xxiii.  34;  xxvii.  32.)  Crucifix¬ 
ion  is  a  mode  of  execution  of 
great  antiquity,  and  still  pre¬ 
vails  among  the  Hindoos  and 
Chinese.  It  was  regarded  by 
tile  Romans  as  the  basest  and 
most  ignominious  death,  de¬ 
served  only  by  traitors.  (Luke 
xxiii.  2.)  It  was  an  accursed 
death.  (Deut.  xxi.  23.  Gal.iii. 
13.)  Hence  the  force  of  the 
expressions,  1  Cor.  i.  23.  Phil, 
ii.  8.  Heb.  xii.  2.  As  soon  as 
the  sentence  was  pronounced, 
“  Thou  shall  be  crucified,”  the 
person  was  stripped  entirely 
naked,  (or  leaving  at  most  a 
narrow  strip  around  the  loins,) 
and  fastened  to  a  post  about  as 
high  as  the  waist,  and  was  then 
terribly  scourged  with  rods  or 
whips  made  of  leather  strips, 
(Isa.  liii.  5,)  armed  witli  small 
bits  of  lead  or  bone ;  and  often 
so  severely  as  to  occasion 
death.  After  the  scourging, 
the  person  was  compelled  to 
bear  his  own  cross  to  the 
place  of  execution.  This  was 
usually  an  elevated  place  with 
out  the  city,  and  near  the  high- 
way. 

The  simplest  fonn  of  the 
cross  was  the  following : 


182 


CKO 


Ulto 


Other  forms  of  the  cross,  and 
modes  of  execution,  as  seen 
above,  illustrate  the  nature  of 
the  punishment. 

The  cross  was  fixed  into  the 
earth,  and  was  so  high  (say  ten 
to  fifteen  feet)  that  the  feet  of 
the  sufferer  were  usually  about 
four  feet  from  the  ground. 
The  transverse  piece  was  usu¬ 
ally  seven  or  eight  feet  in 
length.  Ill  or  near  the  middle 
of  the  upright  post  there  was 
a  projection,  to  which  he  was 
raised  by  cords;  and,  being 
previously  divested  of  his  cloth¬ 
ing,  he  was  first  bound  to  the 
cross-beam,  and  then  nailed 
by  his  hands,  with. strong  iron 
spikes,  to  its  extremities. 
There  is  conclusive  evidence, 
from  profane  history,  that  the 
hands  and  feet  were  pierced 
in  this  way,  and  that  it  was 
peculiar  to  the  punishment  of 
crucifixion ;  but  whether  the 
feet  were  nailed  separately,  or 
whether  a  single  nail  transfix¬ 
ed  them  both,  is  doubtful.  In 
order  to  lessen  the  pain,  it 
was  customary  to  give  the 
sufferer  wine  medicated  with 
myrrh,  See.  Our  Redeemer  re¬ 
jected  this  draught,  (Mark  xv. 
23,)  choosing, probably, to  suffer 
to  the  full  extent  the  pains  of 


that  painful  death.  Vinegar, 
too,  was  a  refreshing  and  sus¬ 
taining  drink  of  the  Italian 
soldiery ;  and  this  also  was 
offered  to  him.  (Matt,  xxvii. 
48.)  The  criminal  was  fasten¬ 
ed  to'  the  cross  by  four  soldiers 
appointed  for  the  purpose,  who 
were  allowed  the  apparel  of 
the  sufferer  as  the  perquisite 
of  their  office.  (Matt,  xxvii. 
35.)  Hence  the  passage,  Ps. 
xxii.  18,  was  prophetic  of  the 
mode  of  death  to  be  endured 
by  Christ. 

Over  the  cross  was  commonly 
placed  a  writing  or  superscrip¬ 
tion. i  indicating  the  offence  for 
which  the  individual  was  put 
to  death.  It  was  called  by  the 
Romans  titulus ,  or  the  title. 
(John  xix.  19,  20.) 

Among  the  Romans,  the  pri¬ 
soner  remained  upon  the  cros3 
often  till  his  body  fell  to  the 
earth  by  its  own  weight:  but 
in  the  province  of  Judea,  the 
Jews  were  permitted,  in  obe¬ 
dience  to  the  precept  of  their 
law,  (Deut.  xxi.  22,  23,)  to  ter¬ 
minate  the  sufferings  of  th. 
malefactor  before  sunc-owr. 
This  was  effected  in  various 
ways :  sometimes  by  setting 
fire  to  the  foot  of  the  cross; 
and,  at  others,  by  breaking 
183 


I 


CEO 

-he  limbs  with  a  hammer,  or 
piercing  the  body  with  a  lance. 
(John  xix.  31 — 37.)  It  is  to  be 
observed,  that  the  agonies  of 
this  death  were  so  extreme 
that  it  was  regarded  as  the 
utmost  torment.  Cicero  him¬ 
self  says:  “The  executioner, 
the  covering  of  the  head,  the 
very  Dame  of  the  cross,  should 
be  removed  afar,  not  only  from 
the  body,  but  from  the  thoughts, 
the  eyes,  the  ears,  of  Roman 
Citizens;  for  of  all  these  things, 
not  only.the  actual  occurrence 
and  endurance,  but  the  very 
contingency  and  expectation, 
nay,  the  mention  itsell,  is 
unworthy  of  a  Roman  citizen 
and  a  free  man.”  Even  the 
judges  denominated  it  ‘  the  ut¬ 
most  torment,  the  extremest 
•punishment.'' 

The  extension  of  the  limbs, 
just  after  so  severe  ascourging, 
and  the  impossibility  of  mak¬ 
ing  the  slightest  change  or 
motion  without  occasioning 
suffering  rather  than  relieving 
it ;  the  piercing  of  the  hands 
and  feet,  in  the  parts  most 
susceptible  of  acute  and  ago¬ 
nizing  pain;  the  exposure  of 
the  wounded  and  lacerated 
flesh  to  the  action  of  the  sun 
and  air  hour  after  hour;  the 
loss  of  blood,  and  the  sense  of 
indignityand  contempt,  which, 
in  our  Saviour’s  case,  was  the 
most  bitter,  malicious,  and  un¬ 
sparing  that  can  be  conceived  : 
all  conspired  to  make,  to  the 
very  last  degree,  a  death  of 
pain.  Often  the  strength  of 
the  malefactor  lingered  for 
three  days,  and  even  longer. 
Hence  the  surprise  of  Pilate, 
(Mark  xv.  44.) 

The  cross  is  often  used  figu¬ 
ratively  for  those  reproaches, 
self-denials,  and  sacrifices 
which  the  true  followers  of 
Christ  must  be  expected  to 
endure,  if  they  faithfully  main¬ 
tain  their  profession.  (Matt, 
acvi.  24.) 

CROWN.  (2  Kings  xi.  12.) 


CRO 


Anciently  the  crown  or  dia 
dem  was  only  a  head  band 
(Ezek.  yvi.  12,)  or  a  riband  or 
fillet,  made  of  silk  or  linen, 
surrounding  the  head,  and 
probably  connected  behind. 
(Ex.  xxviii.  36,  37;  xxix.  6.) 
We  find  it  represented  on 
ancient  medals.  Newly  mar¬ 
ried  persons  of  both  sexes  wore 
crowns.  (Comp. Sol. Song  iii.li, 
with  Ezek.  xvi.  12.)  It  was  usu¬ 
ally  a  badgeof  royaltyor  prince¬ 
ly  distinction.  It  was  sometimes 
of  pure  gold,  and  was  worn  by 
kings, (2Chron.xxiii.  11.  Matt, 
xxvii.  29,)  and  sometimes  in 
battle.  (2Sam.  i.  10;  xii.  30.) 
The  weight,  in  the  last  pa3- 
sage,  denotes  the  value,  and 
not  the  gravity  of  the  crown. 
Afterwards  the  shape  and  size 
were  changed,  and  costly  or¬ 
naments  appended  to  it.  (2 
Sam.  xii.  30.)  It  was  worn  by 
queens.  (Esth.  ii.  17.)  It  was 
customary  for  a  king  to  wear 
as  many  crowns  as  he  had 
kingdoms.  (Rev.  xix.,12.)  The 
word  is  figuratively  used  by 
the  sacred  writers  to  denote 
honour,  (Prov.  xii.  4,)  prosperi¬ 
ty,  (Lam.  v.  16,)  eternal  life 
and  blessedness.  (1  Pet.  v.  4) 
The  inscription  on  the  crown 
of  the  high-priest  (Ex.  xxxix. 
30)  was  significant  of  his  sa¬ 
cred  office  and  functions. 
Such  inscriptions  have  some¬ 
times  been  placed  on  the 
crowns  of  princes  and  heroes, 
to  indicate  some  splendid  ac¬ 
tion  or  service.  In  Rev.  xvii. 
5,  allusion  seems  to  be  made 
184 


C  BU 

to  the  crown  of  the  Jewish 
high-priest,  whose  raiment  is 
described  as  having  the  colours 
and  ornaments  of  the  sacred 
vestments.  It  is  said  that 
the  word  mysterium  (mystery) 
was  formerly  engraven  on  the 
papal  crown,  and  was  erased 
in  the  time  of  Julius  III. 

CRUCIFY.  (See  Cross.) 

CRUSE.  (1  Kings  xvii.  12.) 
A  small  vessel  for  liquids,  used 
by  the  Jews.  The  following 
are  given  as  representations 
of  vessels  now  used  for  like 
purposes  in  the  east: 


No.  1  represents  a  kind  of 
flask,  common  at  the  present 
day  in  the  east;  ,and  which, 
on  journeys,  is  covered ^with  a 
wicker  case,  as  in  2.  Figure  3 
is  also  a  travelling  cruse  or 
flask ;  and  others  are  also 
found  in  the  east  of  the  form  4. 
Figures  2  and  3  represent  the 
vessels  which  they  take  when 
on  pilgrimages  and  other  long 
journeys. 


CCC 

CRYSTAL.  (Ezek.  i.  22.) 
Tire  Scriptures  use  this  term 
to  denote  what  is  now  known 
as  rock  crystal, — one  of  the 
most  beautiful  of  precious 
stones, — perfectly  transparent, 
and  resembling  the  purest 
glass.  It  is  ranked  with  gold 
in  value,  (Job  xxviii.  17,)  and 
its  transparency  is  alluded  to 
in  Rev.  iv.  G;  xxi.  11 ;  xxii.  1. 
In  the  passage  in  Ezekiel,  first 
above  cited,  reference  may  be 
had  to  the  peculiar  dazzling 
effect  of  light  reflected  from 
the  surface  of  crystal.  The 
same  word,  which  is  translated 
crystal  in  some  passages,  is 
translated frost,  (Gen.  xxxi.  40. 
Job  xxxvii.  10.  Jer.  xxxvi.  30 ;) 
and  ice,  (Job  vi.  16;  xxxviii. 
29.  Ps.  cxlvii.  17.) 

CUBIT.  (See  Measures.) 
CUCKOO.  (Lev.  xi.  16.) 
There  is  some  uncertainty 
whether  the  bird  known  to  us 
by  this  name  was  the  unclean 
bird  mentioned  in  this  verse. 
The  prevailing  opinion  is,  that 
it  was  what  we  call  the  sea- 
mew,  or  gull. 

CUCUMBER.  (Num.xi.5.) 
A  garden  vegetable  well 
known  in  this  country.  Cu¬ 
cumbers,  melons,  and  onions 
are  now  among  the  leading 
productions  of  Egypt ;  and  the 
first  is  found  in  many  varieties, 
some  of  which  are  highly  va¬ 
lued  for  their  medicinal  pro¬ 
perties  :  and  others  are  much 
larger  and  more  palatable,  re¬ 
freshing,  and  wholesome,  as  a. 
melon, "than  the  same  fruit  is 
among  us. 

These  plants  grow  in  the 
open  country;  and,  to  protect 
the  fruit  from  thieves  and 
beasts,  a  mound  is  erected  in  a 
central  place,  overlooking  the 
plantation ;  with  a  small  hut 
for  shelter  of  the  guard.  For 
two  or  three  months,  this  poor 
watchman  fulfils  his  painful 
trust,  through  storms  and  tem¬ 
pests:  and  we  find  in  Isa.  l.  d, 
a  striking  allusion  to  this  cus- 


CUP 

tom.  The  prophet  likens  the 
city  of  Jerusalem,  figuratively 
called  the  daughter  of  Zion, 
(see  Zion,)  standing  alone,  in 
the  midst  of  desolation,  and 
itself  soon  to  yield  to  its  ene¬ 
mies,  to  a  cottage  or  temporary 
shed,  in  which  the  person  was 
sheltered  who  guarded  a  vine¬ 
yard  when  the  grapes  were 
ripening;  or  the  same  kind  of 
structure  put  up  for  the  same 
purpose  in  a  field  of  cucum¬ 
bers.  As  soon  as  the  fruits 
were  gathered,  these  booths  or 
“  lodges”  were  abandoned.  In 
like  manner,  the  great  capital 
stood  for  a  momentary  purpose, 
i  ut  soon,  like  them,  was  to  be 
destroyed  and  removed.  This 
prophecy  was  fulfilled  in  the 
various  calamities  of  Jerusa¬ 
lem,  especially  when  the  Jew's 
were  taken  captive  to  Baby¬ 
lon.  (2Chron.  xxxvi.  19.)  A 
similar  illustration  is  employed 
inJobxxvii.  18.  (See  Youth’s 


ctrp 

Friend,  vol.  v..  also  same  work 
for  April,  1836,  by  Am.  S.  S. 
Union,  for  ill  ustrative  remarks 
and  cuts.  See  Garden.) 

CUMMIN.  (Matt,  xxiii.  23.) 
An  herb  abounding  in  Syria, 
which  produces aromaticseeds. 
In  Isa.  xxviii.  25. 2",  reference 
is  made  to  the  manner  of  sow¬ 
ing  and  threshing  it.  The  same 
method  is  observed  in  Malta 
at  this  day.  It  was  one  of 
the  things  of  less  consequence 
which  the  Pharisees  strictly 
tithed.  (See  Mint.) 

CUP.  (1  Kings  vii.  26.)  The 
horns  of  animals  W'ere  ancient¬ 
ly  used  by  some  nations  as 
drinking  vessels;  but  the  Jews 
had  cups  and  goblets  at  a  very 
early  period,  (Gen.  xliv.  2,) 
though  they  used  horns  for 
anointing  oil.  (1  Sam.  xvi.  13.) 
Some  of  their  cups  were. highly 
ornamented,  (1  Kings  vii.  26^ 
and  inshapewere  probably  not 
unlike  the  following,  which  are 


186 


CUR 

The  simplest  forms  of  these  I 
vessels  may  be  inferred  from  | 
the  following  cuts.  (See  Cbuse,  | 


rally,  however,  it  represents 
the  blessings  or  the  judgments 
of  Heaven,  or  the  allotments 
Of  God’s  providence.  (Ps.  xxiii. 
5;  lxxv.  8;  cxvi.  13.  Isa.  li. 
17—2-2.  Comp.  Jer.  xxv.  lo, 
and  li.  7,  with  Rev.  xiv.  10, 
and  xvi.  19.)  The  sufferings 
of  our  Saviour  are  also  repre¬ 
sented  by  a  similar  figure. 
(Matt.  xx.  22,  and  xxvi.  39.) 

CUP-BEARER.  (See  But- 
LEK.) 

CUP  OF  BLESSING.  (See 
Blessing.)  ..  ... 

CURSE.  (Gen.  xxvii.  12.) 
In  the  scriptural  use  it  is  the 
opposite  oi  bless.  To  curse 
is  to  imprecate  evil  upon  any 
one.  (Gen.  ix.  25.  Comp.  Gen. 
xxvii.  12.  Neh.  xiii.  2.  Matt, 
v.  44.  John  vii.  40.  James 
iii.  9.)  The  curses  which  are 
recorded  in  the  Bible  as  be¬ 
ing  pronounced  by  Noah,  Mo¬ 
ses,  Joshua,  and  others,  are 
poi  to  be  regarded  as  the 


CUR 

and  cuts  under  it.)  The  figu¬ 
rative  use  of  this  word  in  the 
Scriptures  is  frequent.  Gene- 


effects  of  passion  or  revenge. 
They  were  either  pronounced 
under  the  immediate  influ¬ 
ence  of  God’s  Spirit,  or  are  to 
be  viewed  as  only  predictions 
of  evil,  uttered  in  the  form  of 
imprecation.  . 

The  words  curse  and  cursed 
are  the  opposite  of  bless  and 
blessed,  and  are  often  so  con¬ 
trasted.  (Deut.  xxviii.  See 
Bless.)  The  curse  of  the 
ground,  and  of  the  serpent, 
(Gen.  iii.  14.  17,)  is  to  be  re¬ 
garded  as  the  doom  or  judg¬ 
ment  of  God  upon  them. 

The  curse  of  the  law  is 
the  sentence  of  condemnation 
which  it  pronounces  on  the 
transgressor,  (Gal.  iii.  10,)  and 
from  which  Christ  redeems  us 
by  being  made  a  curse  for  us. 
(Gitl.  iii.  13.  Comp.  Rom.  vui. 
1,  and  Gal.  iii.  13,  with  Rorn. 
v.  16,  and  2  Cor.  iii.  7—9.) 

curse ,  in  an  evil  or  blas¬ 
phemous  sense,  is  to  affirm  or 


C  YP 

deny  any  thing  with  thought¬ 
less  or  rash  imprecations  of 
divine  vengeance.  (Matt.xxvi. 
74.) 

CUSH.  (Gen.  x.  6— S.)  I.  (A 

S’.rson.)  The  eldest  son  of 
am,  and  father  of  Nimrod. 

2.  (A  place.)  It  is  believed 
there  are  three  distinct  coun¬ 
tries  mentioned  in  the  Bible 
under  this  name :  one  of  them 
was  probably  the  same  with 
Midian.  (Comp.  Ex.  ii.  1G.  21. 
Num.  xii.  1.)  Cuth,  or  Cutha, 
2  Kings  xvii.  24.  30,)  was  evi¬ 
dently,  from  the  connexion,  a 
province  of  Assyria;  and  Cush 
is  the  marginal  reading  for 
Ethiopia ,  in  Gen.  ii.  13.  Hab. 
iii.  7,  and  elsewhere.  (See 
Ethiopia.) 

CUSHAN.  (See  Ethiopia.) 
CYMBALS.  (IChron.  xvi. 
5.)  There  is  an  instrument 
of  music  now  common  in  the 
east,  which  consists  of  metallic 
plates  about  the  size  ofadollar, 
two  of  which  are  held  in  each 
hand,  one  upon  the  thumb, 
and  the  other  upon  the  middle 
finger,  and,  being  struck  toge¬ 
ther  skilfully,  make  an  agree¬ 
able  sound.  Some  have  de¬ 
scribed  the  cymbals  as  two 
broad  convex  plates  of  brass, 
the  concussion  of  which  pro¬ 
duced  a  shrill  piercing  sound, 
like  clattering,  rather  than 
tinkling.  -(I  Cor.  xiii.  i.) 

The  follow. ng  are  given  as 
the  figures  of  the  ancient  cym¬ 
bals;  but,  in  some  respects, 
they  are  unlike  both  the  above 
descriptions. 


CYPRESS.  (Isa.  xliv.  14.) 
A.  tall  evergreen,  the  wood  of 


CYU 

which  is  heavy,  aromatic,  and 
remarkably  durable.  Its  foliage 
is  dark  and  gloomy,  and  its 
form  close  and  pyramidal.  Cof¬ 
fins  were  made  of  it  in  the  east, 
and  the  mummy-cases  of  Egypt 
are  found  at  this  day  of  the  cy¬ 
press-wood.  The  timber  has 
been  known  to  suffer  no  decay 
by  the  lapse  of  eleven  hundred 
years.  It  was  used  and  culti¬ 
vated  for  Idol  timber,-  though 
some  have  thought  that  a  spe¬ 
cies  of  oak  was  Intended  in  the 
passaee  tram  Isaiah. 

CYPRUS.  (Acts  iv.  36.)  A 
large,  fertile,  and  salubrious 
island  of  the  Mediterranean. 
It  is  of  a  triangular  form, 
two  hundred  miles  long,  and 
sixty  in  its  greatest  breadth. 
Population  120,000,  of  whom 
40,000  are  Greeks.  Some  sup¬ 
pose  it  to  be  the  same  with 
Chittim.  (Num.  xxiv.  24.  Dan. 
xi.  30.  See  Chittim.)  The 
chief  productions  of  Cyprus  are, 
as  formerly,  wines,  oil,  honey, 
and  wool.  It  is  a  famous  place 
in  mythological  history,  and 
was  distinguished  for  the  li¬ 
centiousness  of  its  inhabitants. 

Salamis  (Acts  xiii.  6)  was 
the  principal  city,  and  was 
situated  on  the  eastern  coast, 
and  Paphos  (Acts  xiii.  6)  was 
another  large  town  on  the  op¬ 
posite  extremity  of  the  island 
which  is  new  called  Paphos,  or 
Baffa.  In  Paphos,  and  its  vici¬ 
nity,  25,000  Greeks  were  mas- 
sacred  in  the  late  revolution; 
and  it  is  said  that,  upon  the 
whole  island,  not  less  than 
seventy-four  villages,  contain¬ 
ing  18,000  Christians,  were  de¬ 
stroyed  by  the  Turks.  Several 
interesting  incidents  of  apos¬ 
tolic  history  occurred  on  this 
island.  (See  Life  of  Paul, 
ch.  iv.,  by  Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

CYRENE.  (Acts  xi.  20.)  A 
province  and  city  of  Libya. 
There  was  anciently  a  Pheni- 
cian  colony  called  Cyrenaica, 
or  “ Libya  about  Cijrenc.n 
(Acta  ii.  10.)  It  was  in  the 
188 


C  YR 


CYR 


north  of  Africa,  west  of  Egypt, 
and  comprised  five  cities;  one 
of  which  was  Cyrene.  (See 
Lybia.)  The  ancient  city  of 
Cyrene  is  now  called  Cyreune, 
Vairoan,  or  Cayran ,  and  lies 
in  the  dominion  of  Tripoii. 
This  district  of  the  earth  has 
lately  occasioned  much  inte¬ 
rest  among  the  Italian  and 
french  geographers. 

Great  numbers  of  Jews  re¬ 
sided  here.  (Matt,  xxvii.  32. 
Mark  xv.  21.  Luke  xxiii.  26.) 
Some  of  the  Cyrenians  were 
among  the  earliest  Christians, 
(Acts  xi.  20 ;)  and  one  of  them, 
it  is  supposed,  was  a  preacher 
at  Antioch.  Gfctts  xiii.  1.)  We 
find  also^that  among  the  most 
violent  opposers  of  Christiani¬ 
ty,  were  the  Cyrenians  who 
had  a  place  of  worship  at  Jeru¬ 
salem.  (Actsvi.9) 

CYRENIANS.  (See  Cv- 


BENE.) 

C.YRENIUS  (Luke  ii;  2)  be¬ 
came  the  governor  or  proconsul 
of  Syria,  eight  or  ten  years 
after  the  birth  of  our  Saviour. 
The  taxing  or  enrolment  which 
led  Joseph  and  Mary  to  go  up 
to  Bethlehem,  is  said  to  pave 
been  “  first  made  when  Cyre- 
nius  was  governor  of  Syria. 
Various  constructions  of  this 
passage  have  been  proposed, 
lo  remove  the  supposed  chro- 
nological  difficulty.  We  have 
no  doubt  of  the  historical  truth 
of  the  statement,  whatever 
perplexity  may  attend  it.  If 
here  is  nothing  in  profane  his- 
ory  to  corroborate  it,  neitner 
s  there  anv  thing  to  contradict 
t.  It  may  be  that  Cyrenius 
was  associated  in  the  govern¬ 
ment  of  Syria  during  the  pro- 
gress  of  the  enrolment,  and  had, 
in  some  sense,  the  superin¬ 
tendence  of  it.  It  may  be  that 
the  enrolment  was  made  at 
one  period,  and  the  levy  o. 


taxes  (of  which  that  enrolment 
was  the  basis)  was  not  made 
till  a  subsequent  period.  We 
know  that  such  a  tax  was  im¬ 
posed,  and  occasioned  great 
popular  discontents.  (Acts  v. 
37.)  And  it  may  be  also,  that 
the  phraseology  employed  by 
the  sacred  writer  is  susceptible 
of  a  construction  which  would 
remove  every  difficulty, though 
critics  are  not  agreed  in  such  a 
construction.  At  any  rate,  the 
occurrence  of  such  passages  is 
strong  presumptive  evidence 
of  the  truth  of  the  narrative  ; 
for  it  would  have  been  ail  easy 
matter  to  avoid  til  appearance 
of  difficulty,  if  the  object  of  the 
writers  had  been  simply  to 
make  a  book  that  should  be 
believed. 

CYRUS.  (Isa.  xlv.  1.)  A 
prince,  statesman,  and  con¬ 
queror,  of  great  renown,  and 
an  instrument  or  agent  em 
ployed  by  Jehovah  in  the  exe¬ 
cution  of  his  designs  of  mercy 
towards  the  Jews.  (Isa.  xiii. 
xiv.  xxi.  xliv.  28 ;  xlv.— xlvii. 
Jer.  xxv.  12;  li.  54.  Dan.  vii. 
viii.)  The  early  life  of  Cyrus 
is  involved  in  obscurity.  It  is 
generally  agreed  that  he  was 
the  son  of  Cambyses,  king  ol 
Persia.  His  chief  biographers 
(Xenophon  and  Herodotus; pre¬ 
sent  his  history  and  exploits  in 
very  different  aspects.  His  con¬ 
quests  extended  over  all  west¬ 
ern  Asia,  but  the  most  brilliant 
of  them  was  that  of  Babylon, 
which  took  place  b.  c.  536. 
After  this  event,  he  ordered  a 
return  of  the  jews,  who  had 
been  seventy  years  in  cr  privi¬ 
ty,  to  their  own  land,  and  fur¬ 
nished  them  very  lib  .'.-ally 
with  the  means  of  rebuilding 
their  temple.  (See  Lr>  .  op 
Daniel,  ch.  xiii.  xiv.  xv  in 
xviii..  by  Am.  S.  S.  Unb  «  < 


DAG 


DAM 


DABERATH.  (Josh.  xix. 

12.  1  Chron.  vi.  72.)  A 
town  on  the  borders  of  ls- 
flachar  anil  Zebuion.  The 
description  of  the  sacred  his¬ 
torian  leaves  it  uncertain  to 
which  tribe  it  belonged,  and 
perhaps  there  was  a  town  of 
this  name  in  pach  tribe;  and, 
according  to  the  most  authen¬ 
tic  modern  maps,  such  was  the 
fact.  It  was  situated  in  the 
plain  of  Jezreel,  at  the  foot  of 
mount  Tabor,  and  probably 
where  modern  travellers  have 
found  the  village  of  Dabira,  or 
Debora,  or  Dabury. 

DAGGER.  (Judg.  iii.16.21, 
22.)  A  short  sword,  usually 
made  with  a  double  edge,  and 
suspended  from  the  girdle. 
(See  Arms.) 

DAGON.  (1  Sam.  v.  2.)  This 
was  the  name  of  a  celebrated 
idol  of  the  Philistines,  wor¬ 
shipped  at  Gaza,  (Judg.  xvi. 
.S3,)  at  Ashdod,  (1  Sam.  v.  1—3,) 
at  Beth-dagon,  (the  house  or 
temple  of  Dagon,)  inthe bounds 
of  Judah,  (Jush.  xv.  41,)  in  a 
town  of  Asher,  (Josh.  xix.  27,) 
and  elsewhere.  There  are  va¬ 
rious  opinions  as  to  the  ap¬ 
pearance  of  this  idol ;  but  it  is 
usually  represented  with  the 
head,  hands, and  face  of  a  man, 
and  the  body  like  that  of  a  fish. 
The  name  wars  probably  de¬ 
rived  from  dag,  .signifying  a 
large  fish.  One  of  the  incar¬ 
nations  of  the  Hindoo  God 
Vishnu  was  of  the  same. form. 
(See  Scripture  Illustra¬ 
tions,  vol.  ii.  pp.  57—59,  by  Am. 
S.S.  Union,  fir  description  and 
cut  of  Dagon.)  The  fall  and 
destruction  of  this  idol,  when 
the  ark  was  brought  into  the 
same  apartment  with  it,  is  one 
of  the  most  remarkable  pas¬ 
sages  of  Jewish  history;  and 
we  are  told  that  the  ruins  of 
the  temple  of  Dagon  at  Gaza, 
whicn  was  pulled  down  by 
Samson,  are  still  visible. 


DALMANUTHA,  the  parts 
of,  (Mark  viii.  10,)  or  THE 
COASTS*  OF  MAGDALA, 
(Matt.  xv.  39,1  as  Matthew  de¬ 
scribes  it  in  his  account  of  the 
same  transaction;  were  pro¬ 
bably  small  towns  on  the  shore 
of  Tiberias ;  and  the  vicinity 
of  either  of  them  would  em¬ 
brace  the  same  district  of 
country. 

DALMATIA.  (2  Tim.iv.  10.) 
Originally  part  of  niyricum , 
but  at  present  a  province  of 
Austria,  lying  on  the  north¬ 
east  of  the  Adriatic  shore,  or 
gulf  of  Venice.  Population 
300,000.  The  towns  on  the 
coast  are  inhabited  chiefly  by 
Catholics,  who  speak  Italian. 
The  inhabitants  oAhe  interior 
are  of  the  Greek  church.  It  is 
supposed,  from  the  passage 
above  cited,  that  the  gospel 
was  planted  here  by  Titus. 
(See  Illyricum.) 

DAMASCUS.  (Gen.  xv.  2.) 
The  capital  of  ancient  Syria, 
for  three  centuries  the  resi¬ 
dence  of  the  Syrian  kings,  ami 
the  oldest  city  which  now 
exists.  Its  modern  name  is 
El-shams.  It  is  situated  on 
the  river  Baradi,  about  two 
hundred  miles  south  of  Anti¬ 
och,  and  a  hundred  and  twenty 
north-east  of  Jerusalem.  The 
country  around  it,  within  a 
circuit  of  twenty  or  thirty 
miles,  is  well  watered,  and 
exceedingly  fertile.  The  city 
itself  is  about  two  miles  in 
length,  and  surrounded  by  a 
wall.  The  streets  are  narrow, 
but  well  paved ;  and  it  is  said 
that  one  of  them,  which  runs 
through  the  breadth  of  the  city 
and  suburbs,  from  two  to  three 
miles,  is  still  call  ed  “ straight.” 
(Acts  ix.  11.)  The  adjoining 
country  is  so  beautiful  in  sce¬ 
nery,  and  so  rich  in  soil,  that 
the  orientals  regard  it  as  a 
paradise  on  earth;  and  such  is 
its  commanding  situation,  that 


DAM 

*ne  of  the  Roman  emperors  1 
called  it  the  Eye  of  the  East. 

It  is  said  that  when  Moham¬ 
med  viewed  the  city  from  a 
distant  elevation,  lie  was  so 
much  enchanted  with  the  pros¬ 
pect,  that  he  would  not  enter  it; 
saying  that  there  was  but  one 
heaven  for  man,  and  he  was 
determined  not  to  have  his 
upon  earth. 

The  first  notice  we  have  of 
Damascus,  in  the  Old  Testa¬ 
ment  history,  except  that  it 
was  the  residence  of  Eliezer, 
(Abraham’s  steward,)  is,  that 
the  Syrian  army,  which  came 
to  succour  an  ally,  was  de¬ 
feated  by  David  with  a  loss  of 
twenty-two  thousand  men;  that 
the  Syrian  nation  became  tri¬ 
butary  to  Israel ;  and  David 
“  put  garrisons  in  Syria  of 
Damascus,”  or  in  Syria,  of 
which  Damascus  was  the  ca¬ 
pital.  After  this  we  find  many 
of  the  most  interesting  pas¬ 
sages  of  history  and  pro¬ 
phecy  connected  with  Syria 
and  its  splendid  capital.  (1 
Kings  xi.  24;  xv.  18.  2 Kings 
xiv.  25—28;  xvi.  9.  Isa.  ix.  11.) 
Since  a.  n.  1517,  it  has  been 
under  the  Turkish  dominion, 
and  is  the  capital  of  one  of 
their  pashalics;  hence  called 
The  Pashalic  of  Damascus. 

Mr.  King,  an  American  mis¬ 
sionary,  visited  Damascus  in 
182-1.  We  learn,  from  his  de- 
scriution  of  it,  that  it  is  situated 
in  a  large  plain,  and  is  sur¬ 
rounded  by  several  considera¬ 
ble  villages.  The  plain  is 
covered  with  wardens  of  chest¬ 
nut,  olive,  anil  fi*r  trees,  apri¬ 
cots  ami  vines.  No  Christian 
is  allowed,  under  any  cir¬ 
cumstances,  to  ride  within  the 
city.  Even  the  French  consul 
was  compelled  by  force  to  dis¬ 
mount  as  soon  as  he  entered 
the  city.  In  the  room  of  a 
convent,  where  Mr.  K.  lodged, 
was  a  picture  of  the  apostle 
Paul. 

Without  the  city  are  four 


DAM 

streams  of  water,  which  run 
close  to  each  other.  On  their 
beautiful  shady  banks  were 
great  numbers  of  Turks  drink¬ 
ing,  smoking,  and  playing. 
On  an  eminence,  at  the 
distance  of  two  or  three 
miles,  the  city  appears  thick¬ 
ly  set  with  houses  of  a  dusky 
white. 

“  The  minarets,  of  which 
there  may  be  seventy  or  eighty, 
with  here  and  there  a  tall  cy¬ 
press  rising  above  the  houses, 
are  the  only  things  which 
break  in  upon  the  uniformity. 
This  whitish  city  we  see  in  the 
midst  of  a  large  wood,  about 
fifty  miles  in  circumference, 
with  little  variety,  except  what, 
arises  from  the  dark  green  of 
the  chestnuts,  and  the  dark, 
mournful  appearance  of  the 
olives  and  poplars.  . 

“  In  the  skirts  of  the  wood  is 
to  be  seen  here  and  there  a 
little  village,  with  a  mosque. 
This  wooa,  which  actually 
consists  of  an  immense  num¬ 
ber  of  gardens  and  orchards, 
lies  in  a  great  plain,  having, 
on  the  south-by-west,  a  hill,  or 
rather  a  chain  of  little  hills, 
which  skirt  the  northern  part 
of  the  Hau ran.  On  the  north¬ 
west,  north,  and  north-east, 
stretches  along  a  part  of  the 
eastern  range  of  Anti-Libanus. 
On  the  south-east  and  east  we 
see,  at  a  great  distance,  rising 
in  the  horizon,  a  chain  of  hills, 
or  mountains,  which  divide 
this  Mohammedan,  paradise 
from  the  hot  regions  of  the 
desert.  These  mountains  are 
not  seen  very  distinctly,  on 
account  of  the  clouds,  mist, 
and  smoke  which  seem  to 
cover  them.” 

According  to  the  best  in¬ 
formation,  Damascus  contains 
about  one  hundred  and  fifty 
thousand  souls,  about  ten  thou¬ 
sand  of  whom  are  Christians. 
The  Christians  are  divided 
nearly  as  follows:  Greeks, o.Uub; 
Greek  Catholics,!. ,000;  Maron- 


DAM 

Ites,  100;  Syrians,  Armenians, 
and  Catholic  Armenians,  900. 
Of  Jews,  there  are  about  400 
houses,  and  3,000  souls. 

Malte  Brun  informs  us  that 
Damascus  has  a  manufacture 
of  soaps,  and  of  stuffs  made  of 
a  mixture  of  cotton  and  silk. 
The  cabinet  work  of  fine  wood, 
adorn*!  with  ivory  and  mother 
of  pearl,  has  excited  the  admi¬ 
ration  of  Europeans.  This  city 
is  enlivened  by  the  bustle  of 
commerce,  and  the  passage  of 
the  caravans  to  Mecca.  The 
great  street  straight,  which 
is  two  miles  long,  from  east  to 
west  presents  two  rows  of 
shops,  in  which  the  riches  of 
India  glitter  along  with  those 
of  Europe.  The  private  houses 
of  Damascus,  simple  in  exter¬ 
nal  appearance,  exhibit  in  the 
interior  all  the  splendour  and 
olegance  of  refined  luxury. 
The  floors  are  of  marble;  ala¬ 
baster  and  gilding  are  display¬ 
ed  on  every  side.  In  every 
great  house  there  are  several 
fountains  playing  in  magnifi¬ 
cent  basins.  The  smallest 
house  has  three  water  pipes; 
one  for  the  kitchen,  another 
for  the  garden,  and  a  third  for 
washing.  The  same  magni¬ 
ficence  is  displayed  rh  the 
mosques,  churches,  and  coffee- 
houses.  The  environs  of  the 
city,  watered  by  the  Barrady 
ana  other  streams,  present,  at 
all  seasons  of  the  year,  a 
pleasing  verdure,  and  contain 
an  extensjve  series  of  gardens 
and  villas. 

The  art  of  inlaying  iron  or 
steel  with  other  metals,  es¬ 
pecially  gold  and  silver,  to 
make  them  elastic  and  yet 
very  hard,  was  formerly  so 
extensively  carried  on  in  this 
city,  as  to  give  its  name  to  the 
substance.  Hence  Damascus 
razors,  swords,  Ac.  Silks,  lea¬ 
ther,  dried  fruits,  and  sweet¬ 
meats  are  among  the  chief 
exports.  The  fabric  which  is 
Called  Damask  is,  by  some, 


DAM 

supposed  to  have  been  once 
manufactured  chiefly  in  this 
city,  and  hence  to  have  de¬ 
rived  its  name.  The  guides  of 
travellers  show  the  house,  and 
the  very  room,  in  which,  they 
say,  Paul  lodged  during  the 
three  days  of  his  blindness,  and 
where,  they  tell  us,  he  had  his 
wonderful  vision.  <2  Cor.  xii. 
2.)  Here,  too,  th ey  poi nt  out  the 
grave  of  Ananias,  the  spot  on 
the  Jerusalem  road  where  Paul 
was  converted,  and  the  wall 
by  which  he  escaped ;  the 
house  of  Naaman  the  Syrian, 
now  a  hospital  for  lepers,  and 
the  tomb  of  Gehazi,  Elisha's 
servant 

Th?  commerce  of  Damascus 
is  still  very  extensivg,  and  is 
carried  on  by  caravans.  The 
place  is  regarded  with  interest 
as  the  theatre  of  missionary 
labours.  The  (London)  Church 
Missionary  Society,  and  the 
British  and  f'oreign  Bible  So¬ 
ciety,  have  had  encouraging 
success  in  their  efforts,  in 
Damascus  and  its  vicinity. 
The  hope  has  been  entertain¬ 
ed,  that  the  immense  conflu¬ 
ence  of  merchants  and  pilgrims 
there  may  be  made  the  means 
of  dispersing  the  Scriptures 
through  all  the  countries  of 

DAMNATION.  (Mark  iii. 
29.)  This  term,  in  its  common 
scriptural  use,  denotes  the 
final  and  endless  perdition  of 
the  ungodly,  —  a  doctrine  as 
clearly  taught  as  the  resurrec¬ 
tion  of  the  dead.  (Dan.  xii.  2. 
Matt,  xxiii.  35  ;  xxv.  41.  46. 
Mark  xvi.  16.  John  v.  28,  29. 
2  Pet.  ii.  3.)  In  some  passages 
this  word  is  used  where  con¬ 
demnation  or  judgment  would 
more  properly  express  the 
sense.  The  same  word  which 
is  rendered  damnation  i n  1  Cor. 
xi.  29,  is  rendered  judgment 
in  1  Pet.  iv.  17.  So  in  Rom.  xiv. 
23,  the  word  damned  would 
better  read,  is  self-coTulemnccl, 
(See  Eternal.) 


192 


DAN 

DAN.  1.  A  person.  (Gen. 
XXX.  6.)  The  fifth  son  of  Jacob. 
The  prediction  utteredbyJacob 
respecting  Dan,  (Gen.  xlix.  16, 
17,)  is  variously  interpreted. 
It  is  probable  that  the  eleva¬ 
tion  of  his  tribe  to  an  equal 
rank  with  the  others,  notwith¬ 
standing  he  was  born  of  a  con¬ 
cubine,  was  foretold  in  v.  16 ; 
and  the  residue  of  the  predic¬ 
tion  may  allude  to  the  subtle 
and  crafty  disposition  of  his 
descendants.  Indeed,  we  know 
that  Samson  (who  was  among 
the  most  noted  of  them)  was 
remarkably  successful  in  stra¬ 
tagem,  (Judg.  xiv.  xv.;)  and 
perhaps  the  same  trait  was 
characteristic  of  their  tribe. 
(Judg.  xviii. 26, 27.  See  Adder.) 

2.  Tribe  of,  (Ex.  xxxi.  6,) 
had  its  portion  between  the 
possessions  of  Judah  and  Eph¬ 
raim,  on  one  side,  and  between 
Benjamin  and  the  sea  shore  on 
the  other.  They  were  never  in 
quiet  possession  of  their  pro¬ 
vince,  (comp.  Josh.  xix.  43. 
Judg.  i.  34,  36,  and  xviii.  1. 

1  Sam.  v.  10.  2  Kings  i.  2,) 
and  were  much  annoyed  by 
the  native  inhabitants.  Their 
tract  was  pleasant  and  fer¬ 
tile,  though  abounding  with 
winding  vales  and  bluff  hills, 
but  it  was  by  far  the  smallest 
portion,  (Josh.  xix.  47.  Judg. 
xviii.  1 ;)  and  hence  they 
sought  some  place  for  the 
planting  of  a  colony.  To  this 
end,  they  sent  five  of  their 
most  enterprising  men  to  ex¬ 
plore  the  country  ;  and  they 
found  a  place  on  the  northern 
frontier,  called  Laish,  (Judg. 
xviii.  7,)  or  Leshem,  (Josh.  xix. 
47,)  which  seemed  easy  of  ac¬ 
quisition,  and  in  every  respect 
suited  to  their  purpose.  (Judg. 
xviii.  10.)  They  accordingly 
took  measures  at  once  to  obtain 
it;  and  a  very  succinct  and 
interesting  history  of  the  pro¬ 
ceeding  is  given  us  by  the 
sacred  historian.  The  place 
17 


DAN 

was  captured  and  destroyed  by 
fire ;  but  the  Danites  rebuilt  it, 
and  called  it  Dan.  (See  Beeb- 

SHEBA.) 

3.  Town  of,  was  built  up 
as  mentioned  in  the  preceding 
paragraph.  It  lay  at  the  north¬ 
ern  extremity  of  the  land  of 
Israel,  in  the  tribe  of  Naphtali, 
at  the  foot  of  mount  Lebanon, 
near  the  source  of  the  Jordan, 
and  (as  some  suppose)  gave 
the  name  to  that  river,  ( Jor , 
the  spring .)  The  town  was 
captured  by  the  king  of  As¬ 
syria.  (1  Kings  xv.  20.)  It 
was  here  that  Jeroboam  esta¬ 
blished  the  worship  of  one 
of  the  golden  calves,  (1  Kings 
xii.  29.  Amos  viii.  14,)  though 
idolatry  prevailed  there  before 
Jeroboam  introduced  it.  (Judg. 
xviii.  17—19. 24—31.)  It  seems 
to  have  been  a  place  of  some 
commercial  importance,  (Eze. 
xxvii.  19,)  and,  being  a  border 
town,  is  frequently  tne  subject 
of  prophecy.  (Jer.  iv.  15 ;  viii. 
16.)  Probably  the  word  Dan 
(Gen.  xiv.  14)  was  inserted  for 
Laish,  by  Ezra,  or  some  other 
collector'of  the  Jewish  Scrip¬ 
tures,  as  Hebron  is  for  Kirjath- 
Arba ;  for  it  is  certain  that 
neither  Dan  nor  Hebron  were 
known  to  Moses  by  those  ■ 
names.  „ . 

DANCE.  (Ps.  cxlix.  3.)  The 
Jewish  dances  were  generally 
expressions  of  religiouB  joy  and 
gratitude;  sometimes  they  were 
practised  in  honour  of  a  con¬ 
queror,  (Judg.  xi.-34.  1  Sam. 
xviii.  6,%)  and  sometimes  on 
occasions  of  domestic  joy .  (Jer. 
xxxi.  4.  13.  Luke  xv.  25.)  In 
the  religious  service,  the  tim¬ 
brel  was  employed  to  direct 
the  dance,  and  it  was  led  by 
some  individual,  whom  the  rest 
followed  with  measured  step 
and  devotional  songs.  Thus, 
David  is  supposed  to  have  led 
such  a  band.  (Ps.  cl.  4,  5.  See 
also  Ex.  xv.  20.  Judg.  xxi.  20 
—23.)  Individuals  often  exs 


DAN 

pressed  feelings  of  joy  in  the 
same  way.  (Luke  vi.  23.  Acts 
iii.  8.) 

Dancing  was  doubtless  known 
from  a  very  early  period  as 
a  mere  worldly  amusement. 
(Job  xxi.  11—13.  Mark  vi.  22.) 
It  is  worthy  of  remark,  how¬ 
ever,  that  the  mingling  of 
males  and  females,  which  is 
so  common  in  modern  dances, 
was  unknown  to  the  Jews;- 
unless,  as  it  has  been  well 
observed,  a  precedent  may  be 
found  in  the  scene  of  idolatrous 
confusion  and  madness  when 
the  children  of  Israel  bowed 
themselves  before  the  image 
of  a  calf.  (Ex.  xxxii.  6.  19.) 

DANIEL.  (Ezek.  xiv.  14.) 
The  name  of  a  distinguished 
prophet,  whose  history  is  given 
us  with  unusual  minuteness. 
He  was  a  descendant  of  the 
family  of  David,  and,  while 
quite  a  youth,  was  carried, 
among  other  Jewish  captives, 
to  Chaldea.  He  was  there 
instructed  in  the  language 
and  arts  of  the  Chaldeans, 
and,  with  three  other  Jew¬ 
ish  youths,  was  appointed  to 
be  trained  specially  for  the 
royal  service,  and  to  reside 
in  the  palace.  (Dan.  i.  1 — 
4.  See  Harvey  Boys,  chap, 
xi.,  by  Am.  S.  S.  Union.)  He 
was  very  early  distinguished 
for  his  piety  and  wisdom,  as 
we  are  informed  by  a  contem- 
rary  writer,  (Ezek.  xiv.  14. 

;  xxviii.  3,)  and  was  ulti¬ 
mately  raised  to  a  very  exalted 
■station  in  the  court  of  the  king 
of  Babylon.  Daniel  interpret¬ 
ed  several  remarkable  dreams 
which  the  king  had;  and  was 
himself  favoured  with  repeated 
yisions,  in  which  were  dis¬ 
closed  to  him  some  of  the 
most  important  and  interest¬ 
ing  events ;  some  of  which  are 
yet  to  take  place.  (See  next 
paragraph.)  It  is  uncertain 
where  Daniel  died,  though  it  is 
generally  supposed  that  it  was 
m  some  part  of  Chaldea.  (For 


DAN 

a  full  and  complete  history  of 
this  prophet, accompanied  with 
a  map  of  all  the  places  mention¬ 
ed  i  n  h  is  history,  a  view  of  Tyre, 
and  of  the  celebrated  Hanging 
Gardens,  a  fine  picture  of  Bel¬ 
shazzar’s  Feast,  and  other  il¬ 
lustrations,  see  Life  of  Daniel 
and  Elisama,  both  by  Am.  S. 
S.  Union.) 

Daniel,  book  of,  is  the 
twenty-seventh  in  the  order  of 
the  books  of  the  Old  Testament. 
It  is  a  mixture  of  history  and 
prophecy,  and  contains  (espe¬ 
cially  the  last  six  chapters)  the 
most  extraordinary  and  com¬ 
prehensive  predictions  that  are 
to  be  found  in  the  prophetical 
writings.  So  explicit  are  they 
respecting  the  advent  of  the 
Messiah,  that  the  Jews  were 
formerly  unwilling  to  admit 
their  genuineness;  but  this 
cannot  be  contested.  (Matt, 
xxiv.  15.)  Josephus,  the  Jewish 
historian,  regards  him  as  the 
chief  of  the  prophets.  (Lib.  x. 
ch.  xi.  §  7.)  They  were  uttered 
during  the  captivity  of  the 
Jews,  and  both  before  and 
after  the  time  of  Ezekiel.  The 
Life  of  Daniel,  above  men 
tioned,  contains  a  succinct 
view  of  these  prophecies. 

There  are  one  or  two  re¬ 
markable  incidental  proofs  of 
the  genuineness  of  this  book, 
which  ought  not  to  be  passeti 
over.  The  first  twelve  chap¬ 
ters  of  the  book,  and  indeed 
all  the  narrative  part,  were 
originally  written  in  Hebrew  ; 
but  when  the  prophet  relates 
the  conversation,  or  uses  the 
language  of  others,  (as  from 
ch.  ii.  4,  to  the  end  of  ch.  vii.) 
he  employs  the  very  words  of 
those  who  spoke,  whatever 
tongue  they  used.  This  shows 
his  unusual  accuracy.  The 
title,  dissolver  of  doubts,  (Dan. 
v.  12,)  (or  untier  of  knots,  as 
the  marginal  reading  is,)  by 
which  the  queen  described 
Daniel,  is  still  used  in  the 
east  as  a  title  of  honour.  SU 

uu 


D  AR 

Isaac  Newton  regards  Daniel 
as  the  most  distinct  of  all  the 
prophets,  in  the  order  of  time, 
and  the  least  difficult  to  be 
understood,  and  therefore,  in 
the  things  relating  to  the  last 
times,  he  is  to  be  regarded  as 
a  key  to  the  rest  of  the  pro¬ 
phets.  The  prophecy  of  Da¬ 
niel,  and  the  Revelation  of 
John,  are  supposed  by  some- to 
be  illustrative  of  each  other. 

DARIUS.  (Ezra  iv.  5.)  There 
are  several  princes  of  this 
name  in  ancient  history.  The 
one,  who  is  distinguished  as 
the  Median,  (Dan.  v.  31,)  or 
Mede,  (Dan.  xi.  1,)  called  the 
son  of  Ahasuerus,  (Dan.  ix.  1,) 
or  Astyages  by  the  apocryphal 
writers,  was  the  successor  of 
Belshazzar.  (Dan.  v.  30,  31.) 
Another  was  the  last  of  the 
Persian  kings,  who  adopted 
this  name  on  his  accession  to 
the  throne.  Alexander  the 
Great  conquered  him,  and 
ended  the  Persian  monarchy ; 
thus  fulfilling  the  prophecies 
of  Daniel.  (Dan.  ii.  39,40;  vii. 
5,  6  ;  viii.  5,  6.  20.  22.)  A  third 
prince  of  this  name  was  the 
son  of  Hystaspes.  It  was  under 
his  reign  that  the  Jews  return¬ 
ed  to  Jerusalem,  and  renewed 
the  work  of  rebuilding  the 
temple.  The  city  of  Babylon, 
dissatisfied  with  some  of  the 
edicts  of  Cyrus,  revolted  ;  and 
Darius,  after  a  siege  of  nearly 
two  years,  in  which  the  pro¬ 
phecy  of  Isa.  xlvii.  7 — 9,  was 
literally  fulfilled,  obtained  pos¬ 
session  of  the  city  by  a  base 
•tratagem,  though  historians 
tpeak  of  it  as  an  heroic  sacri¬ 
fice.  Herodotus  tells  us  that 
Darius  ordered  the  hundred 
gates  of  brass  to  be  taken 
away.  (Jer.  li.  58.) 

DARKNESS.  (Gen. i.2.)_  It 
is  said  of  the  darkness  which 
constituted  one  of  the  plagues 
of  Egypt,  that  “  it  might  be 
fell.”  (Ex.  x.  21.)  This  might 
have  been  occasioned  by  a 
thick,  heavy  vapour,  or  other 


DA  V 


sensible  change  in  the  atmo 
sphere,  which  caused  an  en¬ 
ure  interception  of  the  sun’s 
rays.  It  was  evidently  miracu¬ 
lous;  and  the  dread  and  terror 
it  inspired  is  vividly  described. 
(Ex.  x.  22, 2-3.)  So  of  the  dark¬ 
ness  that  shrouded  the  earth 
when  our  Saviour  was  put  to 
death,  (Luke  xxiii.  44,  45;)  it 
was  manifestly  miraculous.  No 
natural  eclipse  of  the  sun  could 
take  placft.  at  that  period  of 
the  moon ;  and  the  heathen 
writers  themselves  acknow¬ 
ledge  that  it  was  a  prodigy. 

DART.  (See  Armour.) 

DATHAN.  (See  Korah.) 

DAVID  (1  Sam.  xvi.  13)  was 
the  son  of  Jesse,  of  the  tribe  of 
Judah.  He  . was  born  in  Beth¬ 
lehem  b.  c.  1085,  and  was,  both 
in  his  prophetical  and  regal 
character,  an  eminent  type  of 
the  Messiah.  While  he  was 
employed  as  a  shepherd  in  his 
father’s  fields,  God  sent  Sa¬ 
muel  to  Bethlehem,  with  in¬ 
structions  to  anoint  David  as 


king  of  Israel,  in  the  place  of 
Saul,  who  had  incurred  the 
divine  displeasure,  and  was 
therefore  to  be  deposed.  He 
was  then  about  twenty-two 
years  old.  He  did  not  succeed 
at  once  to  the  throne,  but  first 
became  Saul’s  armour-bearer. 
(1  Sam.  xvi.  14—23.)  Then  he 
retired  to  Bethlehem,  but,  soon 
appeared  as  the  champion  of 
the  Israelites,  against  Goliath, 
a  famous  giant  of  the  Philis¬ 
tines,  whom  he  slew.  (1  Sam. 
xvii.)  This  victory  greatly 
advanced  his  reputation,  and 
secured  him  a  high  place  in 
the  court  and  camp  of  the 
king.  In  this  situation,  he 
formed  a  friendship  with  Jona¬ 
than,  the  king’s  son,  which  is 
memorable  for  its  strength  and 
sacredness.  (ISam.xviii.  1—5.) 
Soon,  however,  Saul  found  that 
his  own  fame  was  likely  to  be 
eclipsed  by  that  of  the  young 
man  from  Bethlehem ;  he  be¬ 
came  jealous  of  him,  and  from 


DAY 


DAY 


that  time  to  the  end  of  his  own 
life  pursued  him  with  a  most 
malignant  hostility,  (1  Sam. 
jtviii.  10,  11;)  and  he  even 
gave  hi3  daughter  Michal  in 
marriage  to  him,  with  the  se¬ 
cret  hope  that  she  would  prove 
a  snare  to  him. 

After  a  series  of  military 
successes,  in  which  his  wisdom 
and  valour  were  conspicuous, 
and  after  several  narrow  es¬ 
capes  from  the  malice  of  the 
king,  which  are  minutely  de¬ 
tailed  by  the  sacred  histori¬ 
an,  and  which  David  himself 
celebrates  in  his  Psalms,  he  at 
length  received  succours  from 
the  tribes  of  Judah  and  Ben¬ 
jamin,  at  least  sufficient  to 
protect  himself  in  his  exile. 
(1  Chron.  xii.)  This  only  ren¬ 
dered  Saul  still  more  implaca¬ 
ble,  for  he  regarded  it  as  an 
open  act  of  rebellion,  and  per¬ 
secuted  him  with  increased 
malignity.  Two  or  three  times 
the  king  was  completely  at 
David’s  mercy,  but  he  forbore 
to  take  his  life.  (1  Sam.  xxiv. 
xx  vi.) 

In  process  of  time,  Jonathan 
and  his  two  brothers  were  kill¬ 
ed,  in  a  battle  with  the  Philis¬ 
tines,  on  mount  Gilboa,  (ISam. 
xxxi.  2  Sam.  i. ;)  and  Saul, 
finding  himself  defeated,  and 
his  army  completely  routed, 
fell  upon  his  own  sword  ana 
died.  Then  David,  by  divine 
direction,  removed  to  Hebron, 
where  the  chief  men  of  Judah 
met  him,  and  offered  him  the 
government  of  their  tribe, 
which  he  accepted,  and  ad¬ 
ministered  it  for  upwards  of 
seven  years ;  but  at  the  end  of 
that  period,  and  when  every 
other  claim  to  the  throne  had 
been  extinguished,  David  as¬ 
cended  the  throne  of  Israel, 
for  which  he  had  long  before 
been  designated.  Soon  after  he 
assumed  the  government,  he 
obtained  possession  of  Jerusa¬ 
lem,  reduced  the  fortress  which 
the  Jebusites  had  maintained, 


and  established  the  seat  of  his 
government  there.  U nder  his 
wise  and  liberal  policy,  the 
place' was  greatly  enlarged; 
magnificent  edifices  rose  up 
on  every  side.;  fortifications 
were  erected,  and  the  ark, 
which  had  been  before  without 
a  fixed  abode,  was  brought  into 
the  new  city  with  religious  ce- 
remoniespeculiarly  joyful  and 
solemn.  Thenceforward,  Jeru¬ 
salem  became  the  capital  of 
the  kingdom,  the  residence  of 
the  royal  family,  and,  more 
than  all,  the  city  of  God.  (Ps. 
xlviii.  2.  Matt.  v.  35.)  To  it 
the  tribes  repaired  from  every 
quarter  of  the  land  to  cele¬ 
brate  their  annual  festivals; 
and  its  growth  in  population, 
wealth,  and  splendour  was 
very  rapid. 

David  now  formed  the  design 
of  building  a  magnificent  tem¬ 
ple  for  the  worship  of  Jehovah, 
to  take  the  place  of  the  taber¬ 
nacle,  which  was  but  a  tempo- 
rary  and  moveable  structure. 
He  was  informed,  however,  by 
God’s  direction,  that  this  sen- 
vice  would  be  reserved  for  his 
son  Solomon. 

After  several  contests  with 
the  nations  that  bordered  on 
Israel,  in  which  David  was  uni  • 
formly  victorious,  there  broke 
out  a  war  with  the  Ammon¬ 
ites,  (see  Ammonites,)  during 
the  progress  of  which  David 
fell  into  those  most  aggravated 
sins,  of  murder  and  adultery, 
which  brought  disgrace  and 
distress  on  his  family  and  go¬ 
vernment,  and  involved  him 
in  trouble  during  the  remnan 
of  his  days.  (2  Sam.  xii.  9.) 
His  domestic  peace  was  de¬ 
stroyed  by  the  sin  of  Amnon 
and  Tamar.  Then  came  the 
cruel  and  unnatural  rebellion 
of  Absalom,  which  compelled 
the-king  to  flee  from  his  capi¬ 
tal,  and  exile  himself,  to  avoid 
being  cut  off  by  a  parricidal 
hand.  Then  the  death  of  Ab 
salom,  though  it  brought  reliel 


4 


DA  V 

to  the  kingdom,  inflicted  a 
deep  wound  on  the  father’s 
heart.  The  insurrection  un¬ 
der  Sheba,- and  the  murder  of 
Amasa  by  Joab,  followed  in 
quick  succession.  And,  to 
close  the  melancholy  cata¬ 
logue,  was  the  terrible  judg¬ 
ment  which  he  brought  upon 
himselfand  the  nation  by  num¬ 
bering  the  people,  for  some 
purpose  which  was  sinful  in 
the  sight  of  God,  though  not 
explained  to  us.  David  was 
now  seventy  years  old,  and 
had  reigned  forty  years  over 
the  tribe  of  Judah,  and  thirty- 
three  over  the  whole  kingdom 
of  Israel.  J ust  before  his  death, 
his  son  Adonijah  made  a  bold 
attempt  to  usurp  the  throne; 
out  his  purpose  was  defeated, 
and,  to  secure  the  kingdom 
against  any  pretender,  David 
resigned  the  crown  to  Solo¬ 
mon  ;  put  into  his  hands  the 
plan  and  Model  of  the  tem¬ 
ple,  and  the  treasure  he  had 
accumulated  for  the  erection 
of  it;  summoned  the  influ¬ 
ential  men  of  the  nation,  and 
delivered  his  farewell  address. 
And  then,  in  the  year  b.c.  1014, 
exchanged,  as  we  have  every 
reason  to  believe,  a  corruptible 
crown  for  an  incorruptible  one, 
and  a  state  of  severe  probation 
and  discipline  for  tne  glory 
and  blessedness  of  the  hea¬ 
venly  world.  (For  a  full  and 
lucid  history  of  this  eminent 
monarch,  with  a  map  adapted 
expressly  to  the  sacred  narra¬ 
tive;  interesting  illustrations 
of  several  scenes  in  his  life; 
an  appendix  of  references ;  a 
complete  analysis  of  his  tra¬ 
vels;  and  a  table,  indicating 
the  date  and  occasion  of  the 
most  remarkable  psalms,— see 
Life  of  David,  by  Am.  S.  S. 
Union.) 

The  term  David  is  sometimes 
applied  to  the  Messiah.  (Ezek. 
xxxiv.  23,  24.  Hos.  iii.  5.) 

When  David  is  spoken  of  as 
the  man  after  God’s  own  heart, 
17* 


DAT 

(1  Sam.  xiii.  14.  Acts  xiii.  22,) 
reference  is  obviously  intended 
to  his  general  character  and 
conduct,  a  ml  not  to  every  par¬ 
ticular  instance  of  it.  As  Ije 
was  human,  he  was  imperfect; 
and,  when  he  sinned,  God 
punished  him,  and  that  with 
great  severity.  But  he  was  re¬ 
markable  for  his  devotion  to 
God’s  service,  and  he  kept 
himself  from  idols.  He  esta¬ 
blished  the  government  of  Is¬ 
rael,  and  extended  its  domi¬ 
nions  to  the  full  extent  of  the 
promise  to  Abraham,  and  left 
a  compact  and  united  empire, 
stretching  from  Egypt  to  Leba¬ 
non,  and  from  the  Euphrates 
to  the  Mediterranean.  His 
Psalms  place  him  among  the 
most  eminent  of  prophets  and 
holy  men.  It  has  been  well 
said,  that  in  sublimity  and 
tenderness  of  expression,  in 
loftiness  and  purity  of  reli¬ 
gious  sentiment,  they  are  with¬ 
out  parallel.  They  imbody 
the  universal  language  of  re¬ 
ligious  emotion.  The  songs 
which  cheered  the  solitudes  of 
Engedi,  or  animated  the  He¬ 
brews,  as  they  wound  along 
the  glens  or  hill  sides  of  Judea, 
have  been  repealed  for  ages, 
in  almost  every  part  of  the 
habitable  world  ;  in  the  re¬ 
motest  islands  of  the  ocean  ; 
among  the  forests  of  America, 
and  the  deserts  of  Africa.  How 
many  hearts  have  they  soften¬ 
ed,  purified,  consoled,  and  ex¬ 
alted,  by  the  deep  devotional 
fervour  they  have  kindled, 
and  the  views  of  the  divine 
wisdom,  holiness,  and  love  to 
which  they  have  led  ! 

Key  of  David.  (See  Key.) 

DAY.  (Gen.  i.  5.)  The  na¬ 
tural  day  consists  of  twenty- 
four  hours,  or  one  revolution 
of  the  earth  around  upon  its 
axis.  Three  hundred  and  six¬ 
ty-five  of  such  revolutions 
make  a  year,  or  one  revolution 
of  the  earth  around  the  sun. 
The  artificial  day  is  the  time 


DAY 

during  which  the  sun  is  above  i 
the  horizon.  Both  these  uses 
of  the  term  occur,  Gen.  i.  5. 
The  civil  day  is  reckoned  dif¬ 
fidently  by  different  nations : 
sSne  from  sunrise  to  sunrise ; 
others  from  sunset  to  sunset ; 
others  still  from  noon  to  noon, 
or  from  midnight  to  midnight. 
(See  Creation.)  The  Jewish 
day  was  reckoned  from  eve¬ 
ning  to  evening.  Their  Sab¬ 
bath,  or  seventh,  began  on 
^hat  we  call  Friday,  at  sun- 
s  it,  and  ended  on  what  we 
Ci.ll  Saturday,  at  sunset.  (Ex. 
xii.  18.  Eev.  xxiii.  32.)  This 
mode  of  reckoning  days  was 
not  uncommon  in  other  east¬ 
ern  nations.  Some  have 
conjectured  that  this  compu¬ 
tation  was  established  after 
the  children  of  Israel  left 
Egypt,  in  order  to  distinguish 
them  in  this,  as  in  all  other 
respects,  from  the  surrounding 
nations, whose  day  commenced 
in  honour  of  their  chief  god, 
the  sun,  at  the  time  of  his 
rising.  If  we  suppose  this  was 
the  origin  of  the  practice,  it 
was  not  confined  to  the  Jews, 
but  extended  to  the  Pheni- 
cians,  Numidians,  and  others. 
The  day  was  originally  di  vided 
into  morning,  noon,  and  night. 
The  word  day,  in  John  xi.  9, 
is  used  in  contradistinction 
from  night,  or  darkness.  The 
term  hour  is  first  introduced 
into  the  sacred  writings,  Dan. 
iii.  6;  but  it  is  very  doubtful 
whether  any  definite  term  is 
denoted  by  it.  In  our  Saviour’s 
time,  the  division  of  the  day 
into  twelve  hours  was  known. 
(John  xi.  9.)  In  Europe  and 
America,  and  most  civilized 
countries,  the  day  begins  at 
midnight.  (See  Watch.)  The 
word  day  is  often  used  by  the 
sacred  writers  to  denote  an 
indefinite  time.  (Gen.  ii.  4. 
Isa.  xxii.  5.  Acts  xvii.  31.)  So 
also  it  may  be  remarked,  that 
the  term,  “  three  days  and  three 
nights ,”  (Matt.  xii.  40,)  de- 1 


DEA 

notes  the  same  space  of  time  a* 

“  three  days."  (Malt,  xxvii. 
63,64.  See  on  the  whole  subject 
of  the  division  of  time,  Bibli¬ 
cal  Antiq.uities,  by  Am.  S.  S. 
Union,  vol.  i.  ch.  viii.  §  4.) 

Daysman.  (Job  ix.  33.)  An 
arbitrator,  or  person  to  juoge 
between  contending  parties. 

Dayspring.  (Job  xxxviii. 
12.  Luke  i.  78.)  The  first 
dawning  of  light.  (Comp.  Isa. 
lx.  1, 2,  and  Rev.  xxii.  16.) 

Day-stab, or  Morning-star, 

(2  Pet.  i.  19,)  in  the  figurative 
language  of  the  apostle,  is  sup¬ 
posed  to  mean  the  light  which 
shines  on  the  soul  of  the  be¬ 
liever,  and  cheers  him  with 
tiie  expectation  of  a  perfect 
day  of  holiness  and  joy. 
Lord’s-day.  (See  Sabbath.) 
DEACON.  (I  Tim.  iii.  10.) 
This  name,  as  a  title  of  office, 
was  first  given  to  seven  men 
of  honest  report  h  full  of  the 
Holy  Ghost  and  wisdom,  who 
were  appointed  over  the  busi¬ 
ness  of  serving  tables,  in  order 
that  the  apostles  might  be  at 
liberty  to  give  themselves  con¬ 
tinually  to  prayer  and  the  mi¬ 
nistry  of  the  word.  They  were 
.set  apart  by  prayer  and  the 
layingonoftheapostles’ hands. 
(Acts  vi.  1—4.)  The  qualifi¬ 
cations  and  duties  of  deacons 
are  particularly  set  forth  in 
Acts  vi.  1 — 6,  and  1  Tim.  iii. 
8—12.  The  female  ministers, 
or  deaconesses,  were  probably 
employed  in  attending  upon 
those  of  their  own  sex,  in  some 
of  the  same  offices  and  duties 
which  the  deacons  performed 
for  their  brethren. 

DEAD,  DEATH.  (Gen.xxv. 
11.  Ex.  iv.  19.)  Death  is  the 
destruction  or  extinction  of 
life.  By  the  transgression  of 
God’s  commandment,  our  first 
parents  became  liable  to  death. 
The  threatening  was,  “  in  the 
day  that  thou  eatest  thereof 
thou  shalt  surely  die."  (Gen. 
ii.  17.  Rom.  v.  12-14.  1  Cor- 
xv.  21, 22.  Heb.  ix.  27  )  This 


DEB 

expression  does  not  mean  to 
define  the  time  of  actual  disso¬ 
lution,  but  rather  to  denote  an 
inevitable  liability  or  exposure 
to  death,  which,  in  that  day, 
and  by  that  act,  they  should 
surely  incur. 

The  sacred  writers  sipeak  of 
a  death  which  affects  the  body 
only, (Gen.  xxv.  11;)  of  another 
which  describes  the  condition 
of  the  soul  under  the  power  of 
sin,  (Eph.  ii.  1;)  and  a  third, 
whicli  denotes  the  everlasting 
perdition  of  the  wicked.  (James 
v.  20.)  In  each  of  these  senses, 
our  divine  Redeemer  may  be 
regarded  as  having  virtually 
destroyed  death,  and  deliver¬ 
ed  them  who,  through  fear  of 
death,  were  all  their  lifetime 
subject  to  bondage.  (Heb.  ii. 

14,  15.)  To  avail  ourselves, 
however,  of  the  benefits  of  his 
perfect  triumph,  we  must  be¬ 
lieve,  trust,  love,  and  obey  him. 
(See  Bury,  Resurrection, 
Christ.) 

DEBIR.  or  KIRJATH-SE- 
PHER,  (Jude.  i.  11,)  or  KIR- 
JATH-SANNAH.  (Josh.  xv. 
49.)  A  stronghold  of  the  sons 
of  Anak,  which  was  conquered 
by  Joshua,  (Josh.  x.  38, 39,)  and 
assigned  to  the  tribe  of  Judah. 
It  was  afterwards  recaptured 
by  the  Canaanites,  and  again 
subdued  by  the  Israelites  un¬ 
der  Othniel.  (Josh.  xv.  15— 
17.)  It  afterwards  became  a 
dty  of  the  Levites.  (Josh.  xxi. 

15. )  There  was  another  town 
of  this  name  among  the  pos¬ 
sessions  of  Gad,  east  of  the 
Jordan,  (Josh.  xiii.  26,)  and  a 
third  on  the  border  of  Judah 
and  Benjamin.  (Comp.  Josh, 
xiii.  26,  and  xv.  7.) 

DEBORAH.  1.  (Judg.iv.  4.) 
A  woman  of  eminent  wisdom 
and  holiness,  (called  a  pro¬ 
phetess,)  and  a  judge  of  the 
people  of  Israel.  She  was  the 
wife  ofEapidoth,  (though  some 
think  the  passage  should  read, 
a  woman  of  Lapidoth ,)  and 
had  her  judgment-seat  under 


DEC 

a  palm  tree,  which  is  hence 
called  by  her  name.  (Judg.  iv 
5.)  Israel  was  suffering  at  that 
time  a  most  oppress'!  ve  bondage 
under  Jabin,  a  CanaanitiSh 
king,  to  which  they  were 
doomed  in  consequence  of 
their  sin.  Deborah,  by  divine 
direction,  called  upon  Barak, 
who  had  probably  signalized 
himself  in  some  way,  and  com¬ 
manded  him,  as  from  God,  to 
station  himself  upon  mount 
Tabor,  with  a  prescribed  num¬ 
ber  of  men,  and  she  would  see 
to  it  that  Sisera,  the  command¬ 
er  of  the  tyrant’s  army,  should 
be  there,  and  should  fall  into 
Barak’s  hands.  Barak  en¬ 
gaged  to  undertake  the  enter¬ 
prise,  if  Deborah  would  ac 
company  him.  To  this  she 
consented ;  intimating,  how 
ever,  that  if  she  went,  the 
honour  of  the  victory  would 
be  her’s,  and  not  his,  and  that 
Sisera  would  be  regarded  as 
having  fallen  by  the  hands 
of  a  woman.  (Judg.  ix.  54.) 
The  two  armies  met,  and  the 
event  was  as  Deborah  pre¬ 
dicted.  Sisera  fled,  though  his 
army  was  cut  off,  and  every 
man  slain.  The  triumphal 
song,  composed  or  dictated  by 
Deborah  on  that  occasion,  is 
regarded  as  a  fine  specimen  of 
oriental  poetry.  (See  Barak, 
Jael.)  _ 

2.  (Gen.  xxxv.  8.)  The 
nameofRebekah’s  nurse,  who 
died  and  was  buried  near 
Bethel. 

DECAPOLIS.  (Matt.  iv.  25.) 
Usuallydescribed  as  a  province 
or  canton  of  Judea,  within  the 
half  tribeof  Manasseh,  east  of 
the  Jordan  ;  but  probably  the 
name  is  applied  to  ten  detach¬ 
ed  cities  of  Persia,  that  might 
have  been  united  in  some  alii 
ance  or  confederacy,  not  ex¬ 
tending  to  the  residue  of  the 
the  district  within  which  they 
were  situated.’  Geographers  ge¬ 
nerally  agree  that  Scythopolis 
was  the  chief  of  these  cities, 
199 


DED 

and  was  the  only  one  of  them 
west  of  the  Jordan;  that  Hippo, 
(Hippos,)  Gadara,  Dion,  (or  Di¬ 
os,)  Pelea,  (or  Pella,)  Gerasa, 
(or  Gergesa.)  Philadelphia  and 
Eaphana,  (or  Raphanse,)  were 
seven  of  the  remaining  nine, 
and  the  other  two  were  either 
Kanatha  and  Capitolias,  or 
Damascus  and  Otopos.  These 
cities  were  inhabited  chiefly 
by  foreigners  (Greeks)  in  the 
days  of’our  Saviour,  and  not 
by  Jews.  Hence  the  keeping 
of  swine  by  the  Gergesenes, 
(Matt.  viii.  30 — 33,)  which  was 
forbidden  by  the  Jewish  law. 

DED  AN.  1.  (Jer.  xxv. 
23;  xlix.  8.  Ezelc.  xxv.  13.) 
A  district  of  Arabia  Petraea, 
south  of  Idumea,  or  Edom,  set¬ 
tled  by  the  descendants  of 
Dedan,  son  of  Jokshan,  son  of 
Abraham  and  Keturah.  (Gen. 
xxv.  3.) 

2.  A  country  of  Arabia,  on 
the  Persian  gulf,  which  traded 
with  Tyre  in  ivory  and  ebony. 
(Ezek.  xxv.  13;  xxvii.  15 — 20; 
xxxviii.  13.)  It  was  inhabited 
by  the  posterity  of  Dedan ,  son 
of  Raamah,  (Gen.  x.  7,)  son  of 
Cush ;  and  long  after  the  ruin 
of  Tyre,  there  was  a  city  Da- 
den  in  this  region,  which  car¬ 
ried  on  an  extensive  trade, 
part  of  which  was  in  those  ar¬ 
ticles  mentioned  by  Ezekiel. 
The  location  of  these  places  is 
uncertain.  The  Dedanim,  (Isa. 
xxi.  13,)  or  Dodanim,  (Gen.  x. 
4,)  were  probably  the  people 
ofDedau. 

DEDICATE,  DEDICATION. 
(Num.  vii.  84.  2  Sam.  viii.  11.) 
A  religious  ceremony,  by  which 
any  person,  place,  or  thing  is 
set  apart  for  the  service  of  God, 
or  to  some  sacred  use.  (Ex.  xl. 
Num.  vii.  1  Kings  viii.  Ezra 
vi.  Neh.  xii.)  Cities,  walls, 
gates,  and  private  houses  were 
thus  dedicated.  The  practice 
of  consecration  was  very  com¬ 
mon  among  the  Jews,  and  was 
suited  to  the  peculiar  dispen¬ 
sation  under  which  they  lived. 


DEG 

The  persons,  places,  and 
things  consecrated  were,  how¬ 
ever,  for  the  most  part  designed 
to  serve  as  patterns,  examples, 
or  shadows  of  better  things  in 
reserve ;  and  now  that  the 
Messiah,  —  the  true  temple, 
altar,  priest,  and  sacrifice, — 
(John  li.  19—22.  Heb.  ix.  10,) 
has  come ;  that  which  was 
figurative  and  typical  is  done 
away ;  the  presence  of  the  di- 
vi  neRedeemer  in  all  theassera- 
blies  of  his  people,  even  where 
only  two  or  three  are  met  in 
his  name,  may  be  regarded 
as  consecrating  every  place 
where  itisenjoyed.  (Matt.xviii. 
20.  Acts  vii.  48.  Heb.  iii.  6.) 

Dedication,  feast  of  the. 
(See  Feast.) 

DEFILE.  (Lev.xi.44.)  Un¬ 
der  the  Jewish  law,  many  ble¬ 
mishes  of  person  and  conduct 
were  regarded  as  defilements 
or  pollutions,  rendering  those 
upon  whom  they  were  found 
unclean,  and  subjecting  them, 
for  the  time  being,  to  many 
civil  and  religious  disabilities. 
(Mark  vii.  2.)  The  term  is 
most  frequently  used  by  the 
sacred  writers  in  a  figurative 
sense. 

DEGREE.  (Ps.  cxx.  title.) 
This  word  is  used  to  signify 
rank  or  station.  (Ps.  lxii.  9.) 
The  phrase,  “  song  or  psalm 
of  degrees,”— which  forrvls  the 
title  to  psalms  cxx.  to  cxxxiv. 
inclusive,— has  been  variously 
interpreted :  some  suppose  it 
has  reference  to  the  elevated 
voice  in  which  they  were  sung ; 
others  to  the  time  when  they 
were  sung,  viz.  at  the  annual 
festivals,  when  the  Jews  went 
up  to  Jerusalem,  and  that,  in 
this  sense,  they  were  called 
odes  of  ascension.  (See  Se- 
lumiel,  p.  21,  by  Am.  S.  S. 
Union.)  Others  suppose  they 
were  sung  by  the  Levii.es  as 
they  ascended  the  steps  of  the 
temple ;  and  others  again  sup¬ 
pose  that  it  denotes  the  pecu¬ 
liarly  climacteric  style  of  these 


DEM 

Psalms,  viz  that  the  thought  or 
expression  of  one  verse  is  re¬ 
sumed  and  carried  forward  in 
the  next  succeeding  verse,  as 
in  Ps.  cxxi. 

DEHAVITES.  (Ezraiv.9.) 
Supposed  by  Herodotus  to  be  a 
Persian  tribe,  and,  as  some 
think,  the  same  who  are  men¬ 
tioned  as  from  Ava.  (2  Kings 
xvii.  24.) 

DELILAH.  (.Tudg.  xvi.  4.)  A 
licentious  woman,  of  the  val¬ 
ley  of  Sorelr,  in  the  tribe  of 
Judah,  and  near  the  borders 
o:  the  Philistines,  whom  Sam¬ 
son  loved,  and  who  was  the 
instrument  of  betraying  him  to 
his  enemies.  (See  Samson.) 

DE1VIAS.  (Col.  iv.  14.)  A 
zealous  disciple  and  fellow 
labourer  of  Paul,  (Phile.  24,) 
who'  afterwards  apostatized 
from  the  faith,  through  inordi¬ 
nate  love  of  the  world.  (2  Tim. 
iv.  10.  1  John  ii.  15.) 

DEMETRIUS.  1.  (Acts 
xix.  24.)  A  silversmith  who  re¬ 
sided  at  Ephesus,  and  manu¬ 
factured  silver  shrines, or  small 
portable  temples  and  images 
of  Diana.  (See  Diana.)  This 
was  a  very  lucrative  business 
in  that  city,  where  her  worship 
was  chiefly  maintained;  and 
hence,  when  the  gospel  began 
to  make  an  impression,  and 
the  people  to  forsake  their 
vain  idols  for  the  service  of  the 
living  God,  Demetrius  saw  that 
he  should  lose  his  business, 
unless  he  could  still  keep  the 
people  in  sin.  So  he  called  a 
meeting  of  those  who  worked 
at  that  trade,  and  made  a 
speech  to  them,  charging  the 
apostle  Paul  with  having 
taught  that  the  gods  which 
they  made  were  no  gods,  and 
with  persuading  the  people  not 
to  purchase  the  images  by  the 
manufacture  of  which  they  ob¬ 
tained  their  living;  and  be¬ 
sides  this,  (or  rather  as  a  cover 
to  their  selfish  and  avaricious 
motives,)  he  showed  them  that 
the  worship  of  Diana,  which 


DEU 

they  had  maintained  so  long, 
and  with  so  much  magnifi¬ 
cence,  and  probably  to  the 
great  pecuniary  advantage  ot 
the  city,  would  be  brought  into 
contempt,  if  the  apostle’s  doc¬ 
trine  should  prevail.  By  this 
harangue,  he  inflamed  the  pas¬ 
sions  of  his  fellow  craftsmen, 
and  they  excited  the  multitude, 
until  the  whole  city  of  Ephesus 
was  thrown  into  an  uproar, 
which  was  finally  quelled  by 
the  politic  and  seasonable  ad¬ 
vice  of  the  town-clerk. 

2.  (3  John  12.)  A  disciple 
of  high  reputation,  and,  as 
some  suppose,  (though  without 
warrant,)  the  Demetrius  of 
Ephesus,  converted  to  the  faith 
of  the  gospel. 

DERBE.  (Acts  xiv.  6.)  A 
town  of  Lycaonia,  east  of  Ico 
nium,  whither  Paul  and  Bar 
nabas  fled  when  expelled  from 
Lvstra,  and  where  they  preach 
ea  the  gospel  with  success. 
(Acts  xi  v.20.)  Derbe  was  the  na¬ 
tive  place  of  Gaius.  (Actsxx.4.) 

DESERT.  (Ex.  v.  3.)  This 
word  is  nearly  synonymous 
with  wilderness.  It  signifies 
generally  a  waste  or  unculti¬ 
vated  territory,  as  pastures 
and  forests.  The  modern  ac¬ 
ceptation  of  the  word  always 
'  implies  barrenness ;  not  so  the 
ancient.  (Ps.  lxv.  12.)  The 
different  tracts  mentioned  un¬ 
der  this  name  in  the  Bible,  as 
Shur,  Sin,  Paran,  & c.,  will  be 
found  particularly  noticed  in 
their  proper  places.  (See  Ev. 
Recreations,  by  Am.  S.  S. 
Union,  vol.  ii'.  pp.  101 — 110.) 

DESOLATION,  abomina¬ 
tion  of.  (See  Abominable.) 

DEUTERONOMY,  or  the 
second  law.  (so  called  from 
its  repeating  the  law,)is  thefifih 
book  of  the  Bible,  and  (except 
the  last  chapter)  was  evidently 
written  by  Moses.  (Deut.  i. 
5,  comp,  with  Deut.  xxxiv.  1. 
2  Chron.  xxv.  4.  Dan.  ix.  13. 
Mark  xii.  19.  Acts  iii.  22.) 
This  book  embraces  a  period 


DE  V 

of  about  five  or  six  weeks, 
of  the  fortieth  year  of  the 
journeyings  of  the  children 
of  Israel ;  and  for  tho  benefit 
of  those  who  were  born  after 
the  giving  of  the  law  from  Si¬ 
nai,  it  recites  that  law,  with 
some  unessential  variations  of 
language,  and  enforces  its  ob¬ 
servance  by  many  powerful 
motives  and  pathetic  exhorta¬ 
tions.  Moses  directed  that  it 
should  be  read  every  seven 
years,  and  appointed  the  time 
and  manner  of  doing  it.  (Deut. 
xxxi.  9—13.)  It  is  the  last  of 
the  five  books  of  Moses,  and 
was  written  a  little  before  his 
death ;  probably  A.  M.  2552. 
The  portions  of  this  book 
which  are  not  substantially 
found  in  other  parts  of  the 
Pentateuch,  are  treated  of  in 
Union  Questions,  vol.  iv.  less, 
xxvi.  to  xxx.,  and  Teacher's 
Assistant  to  the  same  vol., 
pp.  205  to  224,  both  by  Am.  S. 
S.  Union. 

DEVIL.  (1  Pet.  v.  8.)  This 
word,  which  originally  means 
traduc.er,  or  false  accuser,  is 
sometimes  applied  to  very 
wicked  men  or  women,  (John 
viii.  44.  Acts  xiii.  10.  2  Tim. 
iii.  3.  Tit.  ii.  3,)  but  usually  it 
denotes  the  one  most  subtle 
and  malignant  of  the  evil  spi¬ 
rits,  and  the  great  enemy  of 
God  and  man. 

That  there  are  wicked  an¬ 
gels  or  spirits,  and  that  there 
is  one  more  eminently  evil 
than  all  others,  who,  in  some 
form,  was  instrumental  in  the 
temptation  and  fall  of  man, 
and  who,  for  purposes  un¬ 
known  to  us,  has  now  power 
to  seduce  and  destroy  men,  and 
who  goeth  about  in  our  world 
as  a  raging  lion  ranges  the 
forest  in  search  of  prey,  seek¬ 
ing  in  every  place,  and  at  all 
times,  whom  he  may  destroy  ; 
that  such  a  malignant  and 
powerful  being  exists,  none  can 
doubt,  unless  it  is  those  whose 
minds  are  “  spoiled  by  philoso- 


DEW 


phy  and  vain  deceit.”  That 
there  are  difficulties  attending 
every  attempt  to  define  the 
character  and  relations  of  this 
prince  of  evil,  none  will  de¬ 
ny;  but  the  difficulties  are 
much  greater  if  we  attempt  to 
reconcile  the  expressions  of 
the  sacred  writers  with  the 
opinion  that  they  merely  per¬ 
sonify  the  principle  of  evil.  If 
we  compare  the  passages  in 
which  his  name,  character,  or 
power  is  introduced,  we  shall 
find  they  can  only  apply  to  a 
living,  active,  and  malicious 
being,  who  has  exalted  himself 
against  God,  and  who  is  striv¬ 
ing  to  frustrate  all  his  purposes 
of  mercy  towards  man.  (Job 
i.  and  ii.  Matt.  iv.  1.  John  viii. 
44;  xii.  31.  2  Cor.  iv.  4;  xi.  14, 
15.  Eph.  ii.  2,  3.  1  John  iii.  8; 
v.  18.  Rev.  xx.  2.)  And  we 
are  also  taught  that  this  chief 
apostate  has  under  his  control 
angels  or  ministers  that  exe¬ 
cute  his  malicious  designs,  and 
that  both  are  finally  to  be  de¬ 
stroyed  with  an  everlasting 
destruction.  (Matt.  xxv.  4L 
Jude  G.  Rev.  xx.  10.)  It  is  im¬ 
portant  to  guard  against  those 
subtle  errors  which  deprive  the 
prominent  and  essential  truths 
of  the  gospel  of  all  their  force 
and  character,  bv  turning  the 
expressions  in  which  they  are 
conveyed  to  us  into  fables,  oi 
mere  figures  of  speech.  East¬ 
ern  travellers  have  furnished 
very  curious  accounts  of  people 
who  worship  the  devil,  and  of 
other  heathen  nations  who  will 
not  have  the  name  of  the  devil 
spoken,  because,  they  say,  it 
may  seem  like  taking  part  in 
a  controversy  between  God  and 
a  fallen  angel. 

DEW.  (2  Sam.  i.  21.)  A 
dense  vapour  which  falls  on 
the  earth  during  the  night,  and 
which,  in  Judea,  was  so  copious 
as  in  a  great  measure  to  supply 
the  absence  of  showers.  It  thus 
became  a  beautiful  emblem  of 
spiritual  blessings, (Deut.  xxxii. 

202 


DIA 


Dl  A 


2.  Has.  xiv.  5—7,')  as  well  as  of 
temporal  prosperity.  (Jobxxix. 
19.)  Travellers  inform  us  that 
the  heat  and  dryness  of  the  air 
are  such,  that  if  it  were  not  for 
the  dews,  the  earth  would 
be  parched,  and  all  its  fruits 
withered ;  and  they  state  that 
the  dews  are  so  heavy  as  to 
soak  the  earth  like  a  heavy 
shower.  The  same  fact  may 
be  inferred  from  Judg.  vi.  37— 
40  2  Sam.  xvii.  12.  Job  xxix. 
19.  Sol.  Song  v.  2.  The  psalm¬ 
ist  (Ps.  cxxxiii.  3)  mentions 
particularly  the  dew  of  Her- 
mon  as  emblematical  of  the 
rich  and  abundant  blessings 
of  spiritual  communion.  So 
Hos.  xiv.  5 — 7.  And  Maun- 
drell  tells  us  that  their  tents, 
when  pitched  on  Tabor  and 
Hermon,  “  were  as  wet  with 
dew  as  if  it  had  rained  on 
them  all  night;”  and  others 
speak  of  their  cloaks,  in  which 
they  wrapped  themselves  while 
they  slept,  as  being  completely 
wet,  as  if  they  had  been  im¬ 
mersed  in  the  sea. 

Dr.  Shaw,  in  his  travels, 
speaking  of  Arabia  Petrsea, 
says :  “  The  dews  of  the 

night,  as  we  had  the  heavens 
only  for  our  covering,  would 
frequently  wet  us  to  the  skin ; 
but  no  sooner  was  the  sun 
risen,  and  the  atmosphere  a 
little  heated,  than  the  mists 
were  quickly  dispersed,  and 
the  copious  moisture  which  the 
dews  had  communicated  to  the 
sands  would  be  entirely  evapo¬ 
rated.”  (Hos.  vi.  4.) 

DIADEM.  (See  Crown.) 

DIAL  (2  Kings  xx.  11.  Isa. 
xxxviii.  1—9)  is  an  instrument 
employed  by  the  Hebrews  to 
measure  time,  or  to  determine 
the  apparent  progress  of  the 
sun  by  the  shadow  which  he 
casts  on  the  dial.  It  is  a  mat¬ 
ter  of  much  speculation,  but 
little  importance, what  was  the 
form,  &c.  of  the  dial  mentioned 
in  these  passages. 

Hezekiah,  king  of  Judah, 


was  sick  and  near  to  death. 
He  prayed,  with  great  earnest¬ 
ness,  that  his  life  might  be 
prolonged.  Isaiah  was  sent  to 
inform  him  that  God  would 
relieve  his  disease,  and  that  in 
three  days  he  should  be  able  to 
go  up  to  the  temple.  The  asto¬ 
nished  king  asked  a  sign  from 
the  Lord,  that  a  thing  so  incre¬ 
dible  should  be  done  to  him. 
The  prophet  gave  him  his 
choice  of  two  signs,  viz.  that 
the  shadow  of  the  sun,  on  the 
dial  of  Ahaz,  should  go  forward 
or  backward  ten  degrees.  The 
king,  supposing  that  it  would 
be  a  more  wonderful  token 
of  ihe  divine  interposition, 
(2  Kings  xx.  10,)  preferred  that 
the  shadow  should  go  back, 
and,  in  answer  to  the  prophet’s 
prayers,  the  sun,  or  the  shadow 
of  it  upon  the  dial,  was  brought 
back  or  returned  ten  degrees. 
It  is  a  question  of  inconsidera¬ 
ble  importance  whether  this 
miracle  was  wrought  upon  the 
rays  of  the  sun,  by  which  they 
were  deflected  in  an  extraordi¬ 
nary  manner,  so  as  to  produce 
this  retrograde  motion  of  the 
shadow,  while  the  sun  itself 
seemed  to  go  on  its  way,— as 
contended  by  bishop  Lowth  and 
others, — or  whether  thei  motion 
of  the  earth,  or  the  position  ot 
the  sun,  were  so  changed  as  to 
produce  this  result,  as  held  by 
archbishop  Usher  and  the  great 
body  of  the  Jews.  It  was  this 
miracle  to  which  reference  i? 
made  ill  2  Chron.  xxxii.  31. 

DIAMOND.  (Ex.  xxviii.  18.) 
The  hardest  and  most  valuable 
of  gems,  and  found  chiefly  in 
the  East  Indies  and  Brazil.  It 
is  mentioned  among  the  jewels 
of  the  king  of  Tyre,  (Ezek. 
xxviii.  13;)  and  the  expression 
in  Jer.  xvii.  1,  denotes  the  deep 
and  indelible  record  which  was 
made  of  the  sin  of  Judah.  (See 
Adamant.) 

DIANA.  (Acts  xix.  28.)  A 
heathen  goddess  of  great  ce¬ 
lebrity,  (ver.  27,)  and  whose 
203 


DIA 

worship  was  attended  with 
peculiar  splendour  and  mag¬ 
nificence  at  Ephesus.  Her 
temple  in  that  city  was  so 
vast  and  beautiful,  as  to  be 
ranked  among  the  seven  won¬ 
ders  of  the  world.  Pliny  tells 
us  that  it  was  four  hundred 
and  twenty-five  feet  long,  and 
two  hundred  and  twenty  in 
breadth,  and  that  it  was  adorn¬ 
ed  with  one  hundred  columns, 
each  sixty  feet  high  ;  twenty- 
seven  of  which  were  curiously 
carved,  and  the  rest  polished. 
Little  silver  models  of  the 
temple,  with  the  image  of  the 
goddess  enshrined  in  them, 
were  made  for  sale,  and  sold  in 
such  quantity  as  to  afford  pro¬ 
fitable  work  for  many  hands. 
(ver.24,25.  See  Demetrius.) 

The  following  cut  represents, 
In  miniature,  a  front  view  of 
this  famous  temple.  The  in¬ 
scription  below  signifies—  Of 
the  Ephesians. 


Paul  made  himself  offensive 
to  the  idolatrous  Ephesians  by 
preaching  the  very  plain  and 
sensible  doctrine,  “that  they 
be  no  gods  which  are  made 
with  hands.”  Hence  the  silver¬ 
smiths,  who  depended  on  the 
manufacture  of  images  for  their 
living,  were  greatly  excited  by 
the  fear  that  their  craft  was  in 
danger;  and  so  they  moved 
l^ie  people  to  suppose  that  the 
temple  itself,  with  all  its  mag- 


DIN 

nificence,  would  be  destroyed, 
and  the  city  cease  to  be  the 
resort  of  worshippers.  (See 
Ephesus,  Paul.) 

DIBON.  (Josh.  xiii.  17.)  A 
city  of  Moab,  a  few  miles  north 
of  the  Arnon,  now  called  Di¬ 
ban.  It  was  built  up  by  the 
tribe  of  Gad,  (Num.  xxxii.  33, 
34,)  and  hence  called  Dibon- 
gad.  (Num.  xxxiii.  45.)  The 
same  place  is  called  Dimon. 
(Isa.  xv.  9.)  At  a  later  day,  it 
returned  again  to  Moab.  (Isa. 
xv.  2.  Jer.  xlviii.  18.  22.)  In 
Neh.  xi.  25,  a  Dibon  in  Judah 
is  mentioned,  which  may  be 
the  same  with  Debir.  (Josh, 
xiii.  26.  See  Debir.)  A  place 
called  Diban  is  mentioned  by 
modern  travellers  as  situated 
about  three  miles  north  of  the 
Arnon,  or  Madieb. 

DIDYMUS.  (See  Thomas.) 
DINAH.  (Gen.  xxx.  21.) 
Only  daughter  of  Jacob  and 
Leah.  When  her  father  was 
on  his  return  from  Padan-aram 
to  Canaan,  he  halted  at  Sha- 
lem,  a  city  of  Shechem.  Here 
she  mingled  with  the  young 
women  of  the  neighbourhood, 
and  fell  a  victim  to  the  seduc¬ 
tive  arts  of  Shechem,  son  of 
Hamor,  who  was  prince  of  the 
country.  He  afterwards  sought 
to  marry  her ;  but  her  brothers 
refused  their  consenttothe  alli¬ 
ance,  unless  the  men  of  She¬ 
chem  would  submit  to  be  cir¬ 
cumcised.  To  this  condition 
they  agreed ;  and  when,  by  the 
effect  of  the  operation,  they 
were  all  disabled  from  defend¬ 
ing  themselves  or  their  city, 
the  sons  of  Jacob  attacked 
them,  slew  Shechem  and  his 
father,  completely  pillaged  the 
place,  and  made  prisoners  of 
the  women  and  children.  Jacob 
severely  reprimanded  them  for 
the  act ;  but  they  were  so  indig¬ 
nant  at  the  abuse  their  sister 
had  suffered,  as  to  justify  heir 
mode  of  revenge.  (Gen.  xxxiv. 
31.)  Dinah  is  mentioned  with 
the  rest  ol  the  family  who  wenl 


DIS 

Into  Egypt.  (Gen.  xlvi.  S. 

DINNER.  (See  Meals). 

DIONYSIUS.  (Actsxvii.34.) 
A  convert  to  the  gospel  under 
the  preachingofPaul  atAthens. 
Why  he  is  called  the  Areopa- 
gite  we  cannot  tell,  unless  he 
was  one  of  the  judges  of  the 
court  of  Areopagus.  Ecclesi¬ 
astical  historians  say  that  he 
became  an  eminent  minister 
of  the  gospel,  and  suffered 
martyrdom  at  Athens,  a.  d.  95. 

DIOTREPHES.  (3  John  9.) 
Probably  a  member,  and  per¬ 
haps  an  officer,  of  the  church 
of  Cori  nth.  John's  third  epistl  e 
is  addressed  to  Gaius  of  this 
church,  (Rom.  xvi.  23.  1.  Cor.  i. 
14 ;)  and  in  the  course  of  it,  a 
severe  rebuke  is  given  to  Dio- 
trephes,  who  seems  to  have 
questioned  the  authority  of  the 
apostle,  and  to  have  exercised 
a  most  officious  and  unwar¬ 
rantable  power  in  the  church 
to  which  he,  belonged.  (See 
art.  John,  epistles  of.) 

DISCERNING  OF  SPIRITS 
(1  Cor.  xii.  10)  was  one  of  the 
miraculous  gifts  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,  by  virtue  of  which  the 
spirits  of  men  were  tried  whe¬ 
ther  they  were  of  God.  (1  John 
iv.  1.)  It  was  a  most  desirable 
gift  in  the  former  ages  of  the 
church,  when  false  prophets 
and  wicked  spirits  abounded 
on  every  side. 

DISCIPLE.  (Matt.  x.  24.) 
One  who  receives,  or  professes 
to  receive,  instruction  from  an¬ 
other.  (Matt.  xi.  2.  Luke  xiv. 
26, 27. 33.  John  ix.  2S.)  In  the 
New  Testament,  it  denotes  the 
professed  followers  of  our  Sa¬ 
viour  ;  but  not  always  his  true 
followers.  (Matt.  xxvi.  20,  21. 
John  vi.  66.) 

DISEASES.  (Deut.  xxviii. 
CO.)  Diseases  come  upon  us 
by  reason  of  sin;  so  that  the 
multiplied  forms  in  which 
sickness  and  suffering  appear 
junong  men,  to  wear  out  their 
frail  bodies  and  hurry  them  to 
13 


DIS 

the  grave,  are  so  many  signs 
of  the  evil  of  sin,  even  in  its 
present  effects.  Reference  is 
made  to  the  interposition  of 
God  in  sending  and  removing 
diseases,  Ps.  xxxix.  9— 11 ;  xc. 
3-12. 

The  plagues,  pestilences, 
and  other  instrumentalities  ty, 
which,  in  former  ages,  a  mul¬ 
titude  of  lives  were  destroyed 
at  once,  were  often  miraculous; 
that  is,  the  natural  causes  and 
progress  of  disease  were  not 
employed,  or  were  not  visible. 
(Ex.  xii.  23. 29.  2  Kings  xix.  35. 
1  Chron.  xxi.  12—15.  Acts  xii. 
23.)  The  plagues  of  Egypt 
were  also  of  this  character. 
From  an  early  period,  we  find 
the  agency  of  evil  spirits  em¬ 
ployed  to  afflict  and  trouble 
men ;  as  in  the  case  of  Saul 
and  Job.  In  the  time  of  our 
Saviour,  they  seem  to  have 
been  permitted  often  to  take 
entire  possession  of  the  human 
frame ;  in  which  case  the  bo¬ 
dily,  and  often  the  mental 
powers,  were  to  a  greater  or 
less  extent  suspended,  and  the 
wretched  sufferer  exposed  to  a 
train  of  the  most  dreadful  dan¬ 
gers  and  calamities.  (Matt. 
xvii.  15.  Mark  v.  11—15.  Luke 
ix.  38 — 40.  See  Possessed.) 

The  diet  and  habits  of  the 
early  Jews  were  so  simple  and 
un  iform,  that  diseases  were  un¬ 
common  ;  but  at  a  later  period, 
we  have  reason  to  believe  they 
became  common  and  severe, 
as  the  manners  and  customs  ol 
the  nation  grew  more  corrupt 
and  luxurious ;  so  that  we  may 
suppose,  in  the  multitudes 
which  resorted  to  our  Saviour 
to  be  healed  of  all  manner  of 
diseases,  there  would  be  found 
a  fearful  list  of  painful  and 
incurable  complaints. 

The  diseases  of  Egypt,  and 
other  countries  of  similar  cli¬ 
mate,  were  ophthalmies,  or  dis¬ 
eases  of  the  eyes ;  leprosies* 
inflammations  of  the  brain, 
consumptions,  pestilential  fe> 


DTV 


DIV 


vers,  &e.  &c.  Palsies  are  often 
mentioned  in  the  New  Testa¬ 
ment.  These  diseases  are  par¬ 
ticularly  noticed  in  the  appro¬ 
priate  place.  (See  Biblical 
ANTiauiTiES,  by  Am.  S.  S. 
Union,  yol.  i.  ch.  vii.  §  1.) 

PISH.  (See  Table.) 
DISPENSATION.  (1  Cor. 
ix.  17.)  This  word,  in  its 
scriptural  use,  generally  de¬ 
notes  a  plan  or  scheme,  or  a 
system  of  precepts  and  princi- 
les  prescribed  and  revealed 
y  God,  for  his  own  glory  and 
£>r  the  advantage  and  happi¬ 
ness  of  his  creatures.  (Epn.  i. 
10;  iii.  2.  Col.  i.  25.)  In  the 
passage  first  above  cited  it  is 
supposed  to  mean  an  authority 
or  commission  to  preach  the 
gospel.  The  dispensation  of 
the'  law  by  Moses,  and  of  the 
gospel  by  Jesus  Christ,  are  ex¬ 
amples  of  the  use  of  the  word 
in  its  former  meaning. 

DISPERSED,  "DISPER¬ 
SIONS.  (Isa.  xi.  12.  Jer.  xxv. 
34.  John  vii.  35.)  These  terms 
are  usually  applied  to  the 
Jews,  who,  after  their  capti¬ 
vity,  and  still  more  emphati¬ 
cally  ,afterlhe  final  destruction 
of  titeir  holy  city,  were  scat¬ 
tered  abroad  through  the  earth. 
(James  i.  1.  1  Pet.  i.  1.) 

DIVINATION  (Deut.  xviii. 
10)  is  the  practice  of  divining 
or  of  foretelling  future  events. 
In  the  passage  cited,  it  is  put 
in  connexion  with  witchcraft, 
necromancy,  and  other  abo¬ 
minations  of  the  heathen ; 
which  the  Jews  were  to 
avoid.  Divination  wap  a  pre¬ 
vailing  sin  among  the  Israel¬ 
ites  and  many  of  the  eastern 
nations.  The  modes,  or  means 
of  divining  were  by  consulting, 
or  being  familiar  with  spirits, 
by  the  motions  of  the  stars, 
clouds,  &c.,  and  by  lots,  rods, 
or  wands,  dreams,  the  flight  of 
birds,  the  entrails  of  animals, 
See.  &c. 

It  ip  said  of  Joseph’s  cup 
(Gen.  xliv.  6)  that  he  divined 


by  it.  It  is  not  to  ue  inierrea. 
however,  that  he  practised 
divination.  He  had  received 
from  God  the  gift  of  interpret¬ 
ing  dreams,  and  he  exercised 
it  with  great  humility,  and- 
always  for  God’s  glory.  It  may 
be  that  Joseph’s  officer  mis¬ 
took  the  gifts  of  his  lord,  and 
supposed  that  he  must  have 
the  power  of  divination.  This 
is  certainly  the  most  obvious 
construtlion.  It  is  said,. how¬ 
ever,  by  a  learned  critic,  that 
the  word  here  rendered  <Ii- 
vineth  elsewhere  signifies  fa 
make  an  experiment";  so  that 
the  passage  may  read  thus :  Is 
not  this  the  cup  wherein  my 
lord  drinketh,  and  whereby  he 
has  made  a  trial  of  your  ho¬ 
nesty,  laying  it  in  your  way  to 
see  whether  you  would  take  it 
or  not? 

The  practice  of  divination 
in  all  its  forms  is  reprobated 
with  marked  severity  by  the 
law  of  Moses  and'by  the  sacred 
writers.  (Lev.  xx.  27.  Deut 
xviii.  9— 14.  Jer.  xiv.  14.  Ezek. 
xiii.  8,  9.)  It  is  a  branch  of 
pagan  idolatry  and  supersti¬ 
tion  ;  and  in  whatever  form  it 
is  practised  or  regarded,  it  is 
reproachful  to  Christianity, 
and  argues  great  folly,  igno¬ 
rance,  and  sin.  (2  Pet.  i.  19.) 

DIVORCE.  (Jer.  iii.  8.)  The 
dissolution  of  the  marriage  re¬ 
lation.  This  was  permitted  by 
the  law  of  Moses,  for  reasons 
of  local  expediency,  and  un¬ 
der  circumstances  peculiar  to 
their  situation  as  a  people.  It 
was  a  mere  civilregulation,and 
seems  to  have  been  so  much 
abused  by  the  licentious  that 
it  became  common  for  a  roan 
to  put  away  his  wife  for  the 
most  trivial  cause ;  and  many' 
of  the  Jewish  doctors  contend¬ 
ed  that  this  was  the  spirit  of 
the  law.  To  tempt  our  Saviour 
to  say  something  offensive, 
they  put  the  question  to  him 
whether  it  was  lawful  to  do 
this ;  and,  in  the  course  of  the 
206 


DOG 


DOG 


conversation  which  ensued,  he 
reproves  their  conduct  in  this 
particular  with  great  severity, 
and  restrains  the  practice  to 
one  class  of  cases.  (Matt.  xix. 

3 — 9.)  j  . 

The  husband  was  required 
to  give  his  wife  a  writing  or 
bill” of  divorcement,  in  which 
was  set  forth  the  date,  place, 
and  cause  of  her  repudiation, 
and  a  permission  was  given  by 
it  to  marry  whom  she  pleased. 
It  was  provided,  however,  that 
she  might  be  restored  to  the 
relation,  at  any  future  time,  if 
she  did  not  meanwhile  marry 
any  other  man. 

The  woman  also  seems  to 
have  had  power,  at  least  in  a 
later  period  of  the  Jewish  state, 
to  put  away  her  husband. 
(Mark  x.  12.)  .. 

DOCTOR.  (Luke  u.  46.) 
Doctors  or  teachers  of  the  law 
were  those  who  made  it  their 
business  or  profession  to  teach 
the  law  of  Moses;  and  they 
were  in  great  repute  among 
the  Jews.  Some  have  distin- 

tuished  the  scribes  from  the 
octors,  by  supposing  that  the 
former  wrote  their  opinions, 
while  the  latter  taught  extem¬ 
poraneously.  The  doctors  were 
generally  of  the  sect  of  the  Pha¬ 
risees  ;  perhaps  always.  (Luke 
v.  17.)  It  is  thought  that  the 
peculiar  office  of  teachers  is 
intended,  1  Cor.  xii.  23.  (1.) 
Apostles  or  public  instructors. 
(2.)  Prophets  or  occasional  in¬ 
structers  ;  and,  (3.)  Doctors  or 
teachers,  i.  e.  private  instruc¬ 
ters. 

DODANIM.  (SeeiDEDAN.) 
DOEG.  (See  Ahimblech.) 
DOG.  (Ex.  xi.  7.)  The  dog 
was  not  only  an  unclean  ani¬ 
mal  by  the  Jewish  law,  but 
was  regarded  with  peculiar 
contempt,  (Ex.  xxii.  31.  Deut. 
xxiii.  18.  1  Sam.  xvii.43;  xxiv. 
14.  2  Sam.  ix.  8.  2  Kings  viii. 
13.  Phil.  iii.  2.  Rev.  xxii.  15;) 
and  he  is  so  regarded  at  the 


present  day  by  the  Turks,  who 
can  find  no  more  abusive  and 
contemptuous  language  to  ap¬ 
ply  to  a  Christian,  than  to  cal* 
him  a  dog. 

Solomon  puts  a  living  dog  in 
contrast  with  a  dead  lion,  to 
show  that  the  meanest  thing 
alive  is  of  more  importance 
than  the  noblest  that  is  dead. 
(Eccl.  ix.  4.)  Abner’s  exclama¬ 
tion,  “  Am  I  a  dog’s  head  V’ 
(2  Sam.  iii.  8,)  has  a  signifies* 
lion  of  the  same  kind.  Isaiah 
expresses  the  necessity  of 
repentance  and  sincerity  to 
make  a  sacrifice  acceptable  to 
God,  by  declaring,  that  without 
them,  “he  that  sacrifices  a 
lamb,  does  nothing  better  than 
if  he  had  cut  off  a  dog’s  neck.” 
(Isa.  lxvi.  3.)  The  only  useful 
purpose  to  which  dogs  appear 
to  have  been  pul  was  to  guard 
the  flocks,  (Job  xxx.  1 ;)  and 
even  in  that  passage  they 
are  spoken  of  with  contempt. 
Isaiah  may  be  understood  to 
allude  to  this  manner  of  em¬ 
ploying  them  in  his  description 
of  the  spiritual  watchmen  of 
Israel.  (Isa.  lvi.  10,  11.) 

Although  dogs  are  numerous 
in  the  Jewish  cities,  they  were 
not  kept  in  their  houses,  but 
wandered  through  the  streets, 
picking  up  whatever  was 
thrown  out  of  the  remains  of 
the  table,  after  the  family  had 
eaten.  So  David  speaks  of  his 
wicked  enemies.  (Pa.  lix.  6. 14, 
15.)  The  Mosaic  law  directed 
the  people  to  throw  to  the  dogs 
the  flesh  that  was  torn  ly 
beasts.  (Ex.  xxii.  31.) 

This  manner  of  living  ac¬ 
counts  for  the  savageness  of 
the  animal  among  that  people. 
They  preyed  upon  human 
flesh,  licked  the  blood  of  the 
slain,  and  sometimes  were 
wild  enough  to  attac k  men,  as 
bloodhounds  do.  (1  Kings  xiv. 
11;  xvi.4;  xxi.  19.  23;  xxii. 
38.  2  Kings  ix.  10.  36.  Ps-  xxii. 
16.20;  Ixviii.  23.  Jer.  xv.  3.) 

207 


DOR 

Their  habits  made  them  dan¬ 
gerous  to  touch.  (Prov.  xxvi. 

17.) 

The  eastern  people  were  in 
the  practice  of  applying  the 
names  of  animals  to  men  who 
resemble  them  in  their  dispo¬ 
sition,  as  we  call  a  cunning 
man  a  fox,  a  brave  man  a  lion, 
&c.  So  our  Saviour  told  his  dis¬ 
ciples,  “  Give  not  that  which 
is  holy  unto  the  dogs,  lest  they 
turn  upon  you,  and  tear  you,” 
after  they  have  eaten  it,  (Matt, 
vii.  6 ;)  meaning  that  they 
should  not  offer  the  sacred 
things  of  the  gospel  to  those 
insolent  and  abominable  men 
who  would  only  heap  abuse  on 
them  for  it:  having  reference 
also  to  the  practice  of  the 
priests  at  the  altar,  who  would 
not  throw  to  the  dogs  any  of 
the  meat  used  in  sacrifice.  He 
told  also  the  Syro-phenician 
woman,  that  it  was  not  proper 
to  give  the  children’s  meat  to 
dogs,  (Matt.  xv.  26 ;)  that  is, 
the  gospel  was  sent  first  to  the 
Jews,  who  are  called  the  child¬ 
ren,  and  was  not  yet  to  be 
given  to  one  of  the  Gentiles,  as 
she  was,  whom  the  Jews  called ' 
dogs;  that  the  children  must 
be  first  fed  before  the  meat 
was  thrown  into  the  street. 
Those  who  are  shut  out  of  the 
kingdom  of  heaven  are  dogs, 
sorcerers,  & c.,  (Rev.  xxii.  15,) 
where  the  word  is  applied  to 
all  kinds  of  vile  persons,  as  it 
is  to  a  particular  class  in  Deut. 
xxiii.  18.  The  comparison  of 
Solomon  illustrating  the  return 
oi  a  fool  to  his  folly,  cited  in 
2  Pet.  ii.  22,  is  taken  from  a 
natural  fact.  Persecutors  are 
called  dogs,  Ps.  xxii.  16.  (See 
Youth’s  "Friend,  vol.  v.,  by 
Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

DOOR.  (See  Dwellings.) 

DOR.  (Judg.i.27.)  This  is 
now  a  small  town  on  the  Me¬ 
diterranean  coast,  about  nine 
miles  north  of  Cesarea.  Its 
present  name  is  Tortura.  It 
U  close  upon  the  beach,  and 


DOV 

contains  about  five  hundred  in¬ 
habitants.  It  was  formerly  a 
royal  city,  or  capital  of  a  dis¬ 
trict  of  Canaan,  (Josh.  xii.  23,) 
and  was  assigned  to  the  halt 
tribe  of  Manasseh. 

DORCAS.  (See  Tabitha.) 

DOTHAN  (Gen.  xxxvii.  17) 
wassituated  near  Jezrpel,  about 
twelve  miles  north  of  Samaria, 
at  a  narrow  pass  in  the  moun 
tains  of  Gilboa.  It  is  memora¬ 
ble  as  the  place  where  Joseph’s 
brethren  sold  him,  and  also 
where  the  Syrian  troops  at¬ 
tempted  to  seize  Elisha.  (2 
Kings  vi.  13—23.) 

DOTING  (1  Tim.  vi.  4)  sig¬ 
nifies  being  excessively  fond 
of,  or  foolishly  and  vainly  bent 
upon,  questions  and  strifes 
about  mere  words. 

DOUGH.  (See  Bread.) 

DOVE.  (Gen.  viii.  9.)  A 
bird  clean  by  the  Mosaic  law, 
and  often  mentioned,  by  the 
sacred  writers.  In  their  wild 
state,  they  dwell  principally 
in  holes  in  the  rocks.  (Sol 
Song  ii.  14.  Jer.  xlviii.  28.) 
They  are  innocent  in  their 
dispositions,  and  make  no  re¬ 
sistance  to  their  enemies. 
(Matt.  x.  16.)  They  are  very 
much  attached  to  tneir  mates ; 
and  when  one  is  absent  or  dies, 
the  other,  or  survivor,  laments 
its  loneliness.  (Isa.  xxxviii. 
14;  lix.  11.  Ezek.  vii.  16. 
Nah.  ii.  7.) 

There  are  various  allusions 
to  the  mildness,  peacefulness, 
and  affection  of  doves.  The 
church  is  called  a  turtle-dove 
and  a  dove,  or  compared  to  it, 
Ps.  lxxiv.  19.  Sol.  Song  i.  15 ; 
ii.  14;  iv.  1 ;  v.  2 ;  vi.  9.  where 
“doves’  eyes”  are  spoken  of 
in  these  passages,  allusion  is 
made  to  the  meekness  of 
their  expression.  It  is  thought 
by  eminent  critics,  that  Sol 
Song  v.  12,  is  wrongly  trans¬ 
lated  ;  that  allusion  is  made  to 
a  deep  blue  coloured  pigeon, 
common  in  the  east,  and  that 
I  it  is  meant  to  compare  the 


DOV 

white  of  the  eye  to  milk,  and 
She  iris  to  a  blue  pigeon ;  and 
that  the  comparison  is,  “His 
eyes  are  like  a  dark  blue 
pigeon,  standing  in  the  middle 
of  a  pool  of  milk.”  It  was  in 
the  manner  of  a  dove  that  the 
Holy  Spirit  descended  upon 
our  Saviour  at  his  baptism. 
(Matt.  iii.  16.  Mark  i. 10.  Luke 
iii.  22.  John  i.  32.)  Hosea 
compares  timid  Ephraim  to 
“  a  silly  dove  without  heart,” 
(vii.  11 ;)  and  says,  that  when 
the  Jews  shall  be  called  to 
their  own  land,  they  Bhall 
“  tremble,”  or  fly,  “  as  a  dove 
out  of  the  land  of  Assyria.”  (xi. 
11.)  David  in.his  distress  wish¬ 
ed  that  he  could  fly  from  his 
troubles  as  the  doves  do  to 
warmer  climates  on  the  ap¬ 
proach  of  winter.  (Ps.  lv.  6— 
8.)  The  appearance  of  the 
dove  is  spoken  of  as  an  emblem 
of  spring,  Sol.  Song  ii.  12. 

The  dove  is  mentioned  in 
an  interesting  part  of  the  early 
•  history  of  the  world,  as  being 
sent  out  by  Noah  from  the  ark 
that  he  might  discover  whether 
the  dry  land  had  appeared. 
(Gen.  viii.  6 — 12.) 

The  dove  was  used  in  sacri¬ 
fices.  It  was,  among  other 
animals,  prepared  by  Abram, 
when  God  manifested  his  in¬ 
tention  to  bless  him,  as  nar¬ 
rated  in  Gen.  xv.  9.  When  a 
child  was  born,  the  mother 
was  required,  within  a  certain 
time,  to  bring  a  lamb  and  a 
young  pigeon,  or  turtle,  for 
offerings;  but  if  she  was  too 
poor  to  afford  a  lamb,  she 
might  bring  two  turtles,  or  two 
young  pigeons.  (Lev.  xii.6 — 8.) 
Thus  we  may  judge  of  the  po¬ 
verty  of  Mary,  the  mother  of 
Jesus,  when,  upon  his  birth, 
she  brought  to  the  temple  at 
Jerusalem  the  two  birds  in¬ 
stead  of  a  lamb.  (Luke  ii.  24.) 
It  was  to  supply  mothers  with 
animals  for  sacrifice  that  those 
persons  sat  in  the  temple  with 
doves  to  sell,  whom  our  Lord 
18* 


DOW  ' 

forced  to  leave  it,  because 
“  the  house  of  prayer”  was  not 
a  fit  place  for  buying  and  sell- 
ins.  (Mark  xi.  15.  John  ii. 
14—16.) 

There  is  some  obscurity  in 
Ps.  lxviii.  13 ;  but  the  natural 
import  of  it  is  most  probably 
the  correct  one.  The  design 
of  the  psalmist  is  to  present  in 
contrast,  the  condition  of  the 
Israelites  (who  were  address¬ 
ed)  at  two  periods  of  their  his¬ 
tory.  In  the  day  of  their  afflic¬ 
tion  and  calamity,  they  were 
covered  as  it  were  with  shame 
and  confusion ;  out  in  the  day 
of  their  prosperity,  they  should 
resemble  the  cleanest  and  most 
beautiful  of  birds. 

The  allusion  in  Isa.  lx.  8, 
may  be  to  the  immense  com¬ 
pact  masses  of  these  birds  that 
eastern  travellers  describe,  as 
they  are  seen  flying  to  their 
houses  or  places  of  general  re¬ 
sort.  They  sometimes  resem¬ 
ble  a  distant  heavy  cloud,  and 
are  so  dense  as  to  obscure  the 
rays  of  the  sun.  (See  Youth’s 
Friend,  vol.  vi.,  by  Am.  S.  S. 
Union.  See  Turtle  Dove.)  _ 

Dove’s  duns.  (2  Kings  vi. 
25.)  There  are  but  two  modes 
of  interpreting  this  passage; 
either  of  which  is  satisfactory. 
The  first  is,  that  this  particular 
substance  was  remarkably  va¬ 
luable  as  a  manure  for  those 
vegetables  which  might  be 
soonest  raised  to  supply  the 
famishing  Samaritans;  and  the 
other  is,  that  a  vegetable  re¬ 
sembling  the  chick-pea,  or 
lentil,  is  intended,  which  re¬ 
sembles  dove’s  dung  in  appear¬ 
ance,  and  is  still  a  common 
article  of  food  at  Cairo,  Damas¬ 
cus,  &c.,  especially  for  eastern 
pilgrims,  and  of  which  the  cab 
would  be ’a  suitable  measure. 
(See  Measures.)  The  pas¬ 
sage  evidently  expresses  Die 
extreme  severity  of  the  famine. 

DOWRY,  (Gen.  xxx.  20,)  in 
the  eastern  acceptation  of  the 
word,  means  that  which  the 

7  r»no 


DRE 

husband  pays  for  his  wife,  in¬ 
stead  of  that  which  the  wife 
receives  from  her  father  and 
brings  to  her  husband.  (Gen. 
xxix.  18;  xxxiv.  12.  1  Sam. 
xviii.  25.)  So  (Ex.  xxii.  16, 1 7. 
Josh.  xv.  18)  a  man  was  re- 
uired  to  pay  a  certain  sum  as 
owry,  or  a  nuptial  present; 
and  this  was  to 'be  according 
to  the  rank  she  sustained,  and 
Buch  as  the  fathers  of  virgins 
of  the  same  rank  were  accus¬ 
tomed  to  receive  for  their 
daughters.  (Hos.  iii.2) 

DRAGON.  (Job  xxx.  29.)  It 
is  quite  uncertain  what  ani¬ 
mal,  if  any,  is  intended  by  this 
name.  It  is  not  improbable 
that  it  is  a  generic  term,  de¬ 
noting  some  class  of  animals, 
distinguished  by  some  common 
characteristic;  and  yet,  from 
Lam.  iv.  3,  and  Mic.  i.  8,  we 
should  infer  that  the  word  is 
applied  to  a  particular  animal 
that  cries  ana  gives  3uck.  The 
word  translated  dragon,  Isa. 
xxvii.  1,  is  translated  whale, 
Gen.  i.  21,  and  Job  vii.  12 ;  and 
serpent,  Ex.  vii. 9;  and  dragon, 
Deut.  xxxii.  33,  and  Fs.  xci. 
13.  In  Isa.  xxxiv.  13,  the  word 
translated  dragons  means 
some  creature  of  the  wilder¬ 
ness,  whose  presence  denotes 
desolation.  '  So  in  Job  xxx.  29. 
Ps.  xliv.  19.  Jer.  ix.  11 ;  in  all 
which  passages,  solitude  and 
desolation  are  intended  to  be 
illustrated.  (Mic.  i.  8.) 

The  figurative  use  of  this 
term  by  the  sacred  writers,  as 
in  Ps.  lxxiv.  13.  Ezek.  xxix.  3. 
Rev.  xii.  3,  and  xx.  2,  is  suffi¬ 
ciently  obvious. 

DRAMS.  (See  Measures.) 

DRAUGHT.  (Matt.  xv.  17.) 
A  vault  or  drain  for  the  recep¬ 
tion  of  filth.  In  this  sense  it 
is  probably  used,  2Kings  x. 
27.  When  applied  to  fishes,  it 
means  those  which  are  caught 
by  one  sweep  or  drawing  of 
the  net. 

DREAM.  (Dan.  vii.  1.)  From 
a  very  early  period,  dreams 


DRE 

have  been  observed  with  su¬ 
perstitious  regard.  God  was 
pleased  to  make  use  of  them 
to  leveal  his  purposes  or  re¬ 
quirements  to  individuals,  and 
he  also  gave  power  to  inter¬ 
pret  them.  (Gen.  xx.  3 — 6 ; 
xxviii.  12 — 14.  1  Sam.  xxviii. 
6.  Dan.  ii.  Joel  ii.  28.)  And 
if  any  person  dreamed  a 
dream  which  was  peculiarly 
striking  and  significant,  he 
was  permitted  to  go  to  the 
high-priest  in  a  particular  way, 
and  see  if  it  had  any  special 
import.  But  the  observance 
of  ordinary  dreams,  and  the 
consulting  of  those  who  pre¬ 
tend  to  skill  .in  their  interpre¬ 
tation,  is  repeatedly  forbidden. 
(Deut.  xiii.  1—5 ;  xviii..  9—14.) 

The  words  dream  and  vision 
are  sometimes  used  indiscri¬ 
minately,  (Gen.  xlvi.  2.  Num. 
xii.  6.  Job  xx.  8;  xxxiii.  14, 15. 
Dan.  ii.  28;  vii.  1,)  though  else¬ 
where  they  would  seem  to  be 
distinguished.  (Joel  ii.  28.)  It 
has  been  suggested,  that  per¬ 
haps  where  any  difference  is 
intended  between  prophetic 
dreams  and  prophetic  visions, 
it  may  be  much  the  same  in 
one  sense  as  between  common 
dreams  and  the  wandering  of 
the  mind  in  a  delirium.  Of  the 
latter  description  might  be  the 
cases  recorded,  2  Kings  vi.  17, 
and  vii.  6.  In  reBpect  to  Paul’s 
vision,  (2  Cor.  xii.  1,  2.  4,)  it 
seems  to  be  doubtful  whether 
his  soul  were  not  separated 
from  the  body,  and  permitted 
to  mingle  for  a  moment  with 
celestial  beings ;  for  we  must 
remember  that  all  our  notions 
of  space  and  distance  between 
this  world  and  the  world  of 
spirits,  are  entirely  fallacious. 
Sometimes  miraculous  revela¬ 
tions  of  God’s  will  are  called 
visions.  (Luke  i.22. 1  Sam.  iii. 
15.  See  Vision,  Trance.) 

The  power  of  interpreting 
dreams  was  of  course  a  super¬ 
natural  gift,  so  far  as  the 
dreams  had  reference  to  future 
310 


DRI 


DRO 


events ;  for  these  are  necessa¬ 
rily  unknown,  except  to  the 
Supreme  Disposer  of  them. 
Of  course  Joseph  was  divinely 
instructed.  (Gen.  xl.  5. 8;  xli. 
16.)  Since  the  fuller  revelation 
of  God’s  will  has  been  made 
to  us  in  the  gospel,  all  confi¬ 
dence  in  dreams,  as  indicative 
of  future  events,  is  presumptu¬ 
ous  and  delusive,  and  all  pre¬ 
tension  to  the  power  of  inter¬ 
preting  them  must  be  regarded 
as  in  the  highest  degree  impi¬ 
ous  and  absurd. 

DRESS.  (See  Clothes.) 

DRINK.  (Gen.  xxi.19.)  The 
use  of  strong  drink,  even  to  ex¬ 
cess,  was  not  uncommon  amon| 
■the  Israelites.  This  is  inferred 
from  the  striking  figures  with 
which  the  use  and  effects  of  it 
have  furnished  the  sacred  wri¬ 
ters,  (Ps.  cvii.  27.  Isa.  xxiv. 
20 ;  xlix.  26 ;  li.  17 — 22.)  and 
also  from  various  express  pro¬ 
hibitions  and  penalties.  (Prov. 
xx.  1.  Isa. v.  11.  Hab.  it.  15,16.) 

Strono  orink.  A  variety  of 
intoxicating  drinks  are  com¬ 
prised  under  the  term  strong 
drink.  (Isa.  xxviii.  7.)  It  indi¬ 
cates  any  intoxicating  drink, 
whether  brewed  from  grain  or 
made  of  honey-combs,  dates, 
or  boiled  fruits.  The  Alexan¬ 
drine  interpreters,  who  were 
doubtless  familiar  with  the 
beer  of  Egypt,  render  this 
word  by  other  terms  simufy- 
Inz  intoxicating  drink.  Pliny 
enumerates  various  vegetables 
which  enter  into  its  compo- 
eition  :  among  the  rest,  figs, 
pomegranates,  apples,  and  par- 
ticularly  dales.  This  date  wine 
was  in  great  request  among  the 
Parthians,  Indians,  and  other 
erientals ;  and  is  saidby  Xeno¬ 
phon  to  have  produced  severe 
headaches.  We  may  naturally 
infer  that  the  strong  drink  in¬ 
cludes  this  liquor  of  dates,  as 
well  as  other  artificial  beve¬ 
rages.  .  .  ., 

The  Pharisees,  it  is  said, 
strained  their  drink  for  fear  of 


swallowing  some  unclean  ani¬ 
mal.  Hence  it  is  believed  that 
in  the  expression,  Matt,  xxiii. 
24,  at  should  be  rendered  out. 
However  proffer  this  construc¬ 
tion  may  be,  the  original  word 
requires  neither  a  different 
rendering  nor  a.  reference  to  a 
doubtful  custom,  to  render  its 
meaning  sufficiently  obvious. 
(See  Wine,  Vinegar.) 

DRINK-OFFERING.  (See 
Offering.) 

DROMEDARY.  (Isa.  lx.  6.) 
A  species  of  the  camel  re¬ 
markable  for  swiftness  of  mo¬ 
tion,  (Jer.  ii.  23,)  which  is  from 
sixty  to  ninety  miles  or  more 
in  a  day.  He  differs  from  the 
ordinary  camel  in  that  he  is 
smaller,  cannot  bear  the  same 
degree  of  heat,  and  has  but 
one  hump  or  protuberance  on 
the  back.  He  is  controlled  by 
a  bridle  fastened  in  a  ring 
which  passes  through  the  nose. 
(2  Kings  xix.  28.) 

DROUGHT.  (Ps.  xxxii.  4.) 
From  the  end  of  April  to  Sep¬ 
tember  the  land  of  Judea  was 
very  dry.  It  was  the  drought 
of  summer.  The  grass  was 
sometimes  completely  wither¬ 
ed,  (Ps.  cii.  4,)  and  the  parched 
earth  broke  into  chasms.  The 
heavens  seemed  like  brass, 
and  the  earth  like  iron,  (Deut, 
xxviii.  23,)  and  all  the  land 
and  the  creatures  upon  it  suf¬ 
fered  ;  and  nothing  but  the 
copious  dews  of  the  night  pre¬ 
served  the  life  of  any  living 
thing.  (Hag.  i.  11.)  The  heat 
was  at  times  excessive.  Dr. 
Clarke  tells  us,  that  when  he 
was  travelling  near  Cana,  in 
Galilee,  in  July,  the  thermo¬ 
meter,  in  a  gloomy  recess  un¬ 
der  ground,  perfectly  shaded, 
stood  at  one  hundred  degrees 
of  Fahrenheit  at  noon. 

It  is  maintained  by  some 
critics  that  the  word  drought, 
in  Deut.  viii.  15,  is  applied  to 
a  serpent  whose  bite  was  poi 
sonous  and  attended  with,  in 
satiable  and  agonizing  thirst 
211 


DUN 

But  the  ordinary  meaning  of 
the  word  is  certainly  appro¬ 
priate  to  the  subject  and  con¬ 
nexion. 

DRUNKENNESS.  (See 
Drink,  Wine.) 

DRUSILI.A.  (Actsxxiv.  24.) 
Third  daughter  of  the  Herod 
who  is  mentioned  Acts  xii.  1 — 
4.  20—23.  She  married  Felix 
the  Roman  governor,  while  she 
had  another  husband  living; 
and  was  present  at  the  hearing 
of  the  apostle  Paul  before  her 
husband  at  Cesarea. 

DUKE  (Gen.  xxxvi.  15) 
means  only  a  chief  or  leader, 
and  is  in  no  sense  a  title  of 
nobility. 

DULCIMER.  (Dan. iii. 5.10.) 
The  instrument  denoted  by 
this  word  was  a  pipe  or  flute  of 
reed,  like  what  the  Italians 
call  zampogna.  The^Rabbins 
describe  it  as  two  pipes  con¬ 
nected  with  a  leather  sack  or 
skin.  The  dulcimer  of  the 
present  day  is  entirely  unlike 
it,  both  in  form  and  in  the 
mode  of  using  it. 

Some  have  supposed  that 
the  word  means  a  strain  or 
chorus,  rather  than  an  instru¬ 
ment  of  music. 

DUMAH.  (Isa.  xxi.  11.) 
There  was  a  city  of  Judah  of 
this  name,  (Josh.  xv.  52,)  but 
the  Dumah  which  is  the  sub¬ 
ject  of  this  prophecy  was  pro¬ 
bably  a  country  settled  by  the 
descendants  of  Dumah,  Ish- 
mael’s  sixth  son.  (Gen.  xxv. 
14.)  It  is  said  that  they  inha¬ 
bited  the  borders  of  the  desert 
of  Syria,  one  hundred  and  fifty 
or  two  hundred  miles  from 
Damascus,  and  a  district  of 
country  is  there  still,  bearing 
the  name  of  Duma  the  stony , 
or  the  Syrian  Duma 

DUNG.  (Ezek.  iv.  12.)  In 
many  countries  of  the  east 
wood  is  so  scarce  and  dear  as 
to  be  sold  by  weight.  Hence 
(as  travellers  inform  us)  ani¬ 
mal  excrements  are  used  as 
fuel.  Le  Bruyn  says  it  is  a 


DWE 

very  common  material  forheat- 
ing  ovens,  even  among  people 
of  comfortable  circumstances. 
Niebuhr  says,  that  in  Arabia, 
the  excrements  of  asses  and 
camels  are  collected  in  the 
streets  by  children,  ana  nixed 
with  cut  straw.  It  is  then  put  in 
the  sun  to  dry,  and  is  thus  fitted 
for  use.  The  effluvia  arising 
from  the  use  of  it  is  very  offen¬ 
sive,  and  penetrates  the  food. 

Dove’s  dung.  (See  Dove.) 

DURA.  (Dan.  iii.  1.)  An  ex¬ 
tensive  plain  in  the  province 
of  Babylon,  where  Nebuchad¬ 
nezzar  caused  the  golden 
image  to  be  erected. 

DUST.  (Jobii.  12.)  To  shake 
off  the  clust  of  one’s  feet  against 
another,  (Matt.  x.  14.  Markvi. 
11.  Acts  xiii.  51,)  was  expres¬ 
sive  of  entire  renunciation. 
The  custom  is  supposed  to 
have  been  common  among  the 
Jews,  when  they  had  set  a 
foot  on  heathen  ground,  to 
shake  off  the  dust,  so  as  to 
carry  nothing  unclean  or  pol¬ 
luting  into  their  own  land. 

Rain  of  dust.  (Deut.xxviii. 
24.)  In  Judea,  or  its  immediate 
vicinity,  are  plains  or  deserts 
of  fine  sand,  which,  when  agi¬ 
tated  by  a  violent  wind,  makes 
most  terrific  and  desolating 
storms.  Eastern  travellers  de¬ 
scribe  them  particularly,  and 
think  them  much  more  dread¬ 
ful  than  storms  at  sea.  This 
fact  affords  us  a  striking  illus¬ 
tration  of  the  nature  and  hor¬ 
rors  of  the  plague,  mentioned 
Ex.  viii.  16. 

DWELLINGS.  (Lev.vii.26.) 
The  most  common  dwellings 
in  the  earlier  ages  of  the  world 
were  tents.  The  simple  habits 
of  life  which  were  then  more 
prevalent,  and  the  climate  of 
the  first  settled  portions  of  the 
globe,  made  these  the  most 
convenient  and  comfortable 
dwellings;  and  tents  of  various 
sizes  and  shapes  were  formed 
by  setting  poles  in  the  ground, 
and  stretching  over  them  a 
212 


rwE 


CWE 


covering  of  cloth  or  skin,  which 
was  fastened  to  stakes  by 
means  of  cords.  (Isa.  liv.  2.) 

One  mode  of  tent  building 
is  seen  in  the  preceding  cut. 
Sometimes  they  were  divided 
into  apartments  by  means  of 
curtains,  and  the  ground  was 
covered  with  mats  or  carpets. 
The  door  was  formed  of  a  fold 
of  cloth,  which  was  dropped  or 
raised.  The  fire  was  kindled 
in  an  excavation  in  the  middle 
of  the  tent  ground,  and  the 
cooking  utensils,  which  were 
■very  few  and  simple,  were 
easily  moved  from  place  to 
place.  (Isa.  xxxviii.  12.)  Some¬ 
times  tents  were  expensively 
adorned  and  furnished ;  and 
they  are  very  common  dwell¬ 
ings  at  this  day  among  many 
nations.  The  form  of  modern 
tents  in  the  east  is  said  to  re¬ 
semble  the  hull  of  a  ship  turned 
upside  down. 

When  the  habits  of  mankind 


changed,  and  their  pursuits 
fixed  them  to  one  spot,  their 
dwellings  were  built  with  a 
view  to  permanency,  and  we 
may  suppose  that  tne  science 
of  building  was  well  under¬ 
stood  at  a  very  early  period. 
The  skill  required  to  build  the 
ark,  independently  of  inspired 
directions,  must  have  been 
considerable.  The  attempt  to 
build  the  tower  of  Babel  would 
not  have  been  made  by  those 
who  had  only  a  mere  ele¬ 
mentary  knowledge  of  archir 
tectural  principles. 

That  large  and  costly  houses  - 
were  often  built  in  Judea  we 
have  scriptural  evidence,  (Jer. 
xxii.  14.  Amos  iii.  15.  Hag. 
i.  4,)  though  doubtless  those 
which  were  occupied  by  the 
mass  of  the  people  were  rude 
and  inconvenient  when  corn-* 
pared  to  the  middling  or  even 
the  very  ordinary  class  of  our 
houses. 

213 


D  WE  DWE 


The  above  cut  represents 
the  ground  plan  of  an  eastern 
house  :  A  A  A  A  is  the  house, 
built  in  the  form  of  a  cloister, 
surrounding  the  area  or  open 
court.  The  entrance  is  by  a 
door  which  was  commonly 
locked,  and  attended  by  some 
one  who  acted  as  porter.  (Acts 
xii.  13.)  This  door  opens  into 
a  porch,  which  is  furnished 
with  the  conveniences  of  sit¬ 
ting,  and  through  which  we 
pass,  both  to  the  flight  of  stairs 
which  leads  up  to  the  cham¬ 
bers  and  also  to  the  open 
quadrangular  court. 

We  will  first  examine  the 
court  and  its  uses.  It  is  called 
the  middle  of  the  house,  or 
“  midst,”  (Luke  v.  19,)  and  is 
designed  to  admit  light  and 
air  to  the  apartments  around 
it.  It  is  covered  with  a  pave¬ 
ment,  more  or  less  costly, which 
receives  and  sheds  rain,  and 
is  often  supplied  with  foun¬ 
tains  or  wells  of  water.  (2  Sam. 
xvii.  18.)  In  Damascus,  every 
house  has  a  court  of  this  kind, 
and  the  wealthier  citizens 
spare  no  expense  in  making 
them  places  of  delightful  re¬ 


sort  in  the  hot  season.  (For 
description  and  cut,  see  Ha- 
dassah,  pp.  13.  16,  by  Am.  S. 
S.  Union,)  A  colonnade  a  a  a  a 
(such  as  is  often  seen  in 
modern  houses)  surrounds  the 
court,  and  supports  a  gallery 
or  piazza  above.  In  this  court, 
large  companies  assembled  on 
festive  and  other  occasions, 
(Esth.  i.  5;)  and  it  is  then  fur¬ 
nished  with  carpets,  mats,  and 
settees  or  sofas,  and  an  awning 
or  roof  of  some  suitable  mate¬ 
rial  is  stretched  over  the  whole 
area.  It  was  probably  such  a 
roof  which  was  uncovered  for 
the  accommodation  of  the  pa¬ 
ralytic.  (Mark  ii.4.)  And  it  is 
also  alluded  to  in  the  beautiful 
figure  of  the  psalmist.  (Ps.  civ. 
2-)  As  to  the  case  of  the  paraly¬ 
tic,  it  may  be  proper  to  observe 
that  our  Saviour  was  probably 
in  the  court  or  area  surround¬ 
ed  by  a  dense  crowd,  through 
which  it  was  impossible  to 
pass  with  the  diseased  man. 
They  therefore  ascended  to  the 
roof,  and  after  removing  the 
veil  or  covering  which  was 
stretched  over  the  court,  they 
let  him  down  over  or  by  the 
214 


DWE 

way  of  the  roof  into  the  midst 
before  Christ.  Around  the 
court,  over  the  doors  and  win¬ 
dows  of  the  house,  each  apart¬ 
ment  has  a  door  opening  into 
the  court  or  gallery,  ana  the 
communication  with  each  is 
only  on  the  oulside ;  so  that  to 
go  from  room  to  room  it  is  ne¬ 
cessary  to  come  out  into  the 
court  or  gallery.  These  galle¬ 
ries  are  guarded  by  a  balus¬ 
trade  or  lattice  work  in  front, 
to  prevent  accidents. 

The  rooms  of  the  ground 
floor  often  include  a  whole 
side  of  the  court,  and  are  en¬ 
tered  by  spacious  doors  from 
the  piazza.  The  rooms  on  the 
farther  side  of  the  court,  both 
above  and  below,  are  assigned 
to  the  females  of  the  family, 
and  upon  them  is  bestowed 
the  greatest  expense.  Hence, 
as  some  suppose,  these  rooms 
are  sometimes  called  palaces. 
(1  Kings  xvi.  18.  2  Kings  xv. 
25.  Isa.  xxxii.  14.)  The  “house 
of  the  women ”  (Esth.  ii.  3)  was 
probably  peculiar  to  the  royal 
residence,  and  might  be  like 
that  referred  to,  1  Kings  vii.  8 

_ 12.  It  is  supposed  that  in 

the  houses  of  Judea,  as  in  those 
of  Aleppo  at  the  present  day, 
the  ground  floor  was  appro¬ 
priated  principally  to  domestic 
uses,  such  as  storing  provi¬ 
sions,  oil,  baggage,  lodgings  for 
servants,  & c.  &c. 

Ifwe  ascend  to  thesecond  story 
by  the  stairs  before  mentioned, 
we  find  the  chambers  are  large 
and  airy,  and  often  finished 
and  furnished  with  much  ex¬ 
pense  and  elegance,  with  mats, 
curtains,  and  divans.  (Mark 
xiv.  15.)  This  room  or  story  is 
higher  and  larger  than  those 
below,  projecting  over  the  low¬ 
er  part  of  the  building,  so  that 
the  window  of  the  apartment, 
if  there  is  one,  considerably 
overhangs  the  street.  Secluded, 
spacious^  and  commodious,  as 
such  a  room  must  have  been, 
Faul  would  be  likely  to  preach 


l)  WE 

his  farewell  sermon  there.  And 
in  a  large  company,  it  is  com¬ 
mon  to  have  two  circles  or 
ranks,  the  outer  circle  being 
next  to  the  wall,  and  elevated 
on  cushions,  so  as  to  be  on  a 
level  with  the  lower  part  of 
the  window-casement.  In  this 
situation,  we  may  suppose  Eu- 
tychus  fell  asleep,  and  was 
tnence  precipitated  to  the 
street. 

To  most  of  the  eastern 
houses  a  structure  is  attached 
called  oleah.  It  is  sometimes 
built  over  the  porch  or  gate¬ 
way,  and  has  two  or  three 
apartments ;  and,  in  other  in¬ 
stances,  it  consists  only  of  one 
or  two  rooms,  and  often  rises 
one  story  above  the  main 
house.  The  oleah  is  used  to 
entertain  strangers;  also,  for 
wardrobes  and  magazines,  or 
for  places  of  retirement, repose, 
and  meditation.  (Matt.  vi.  6  ) 
There  is  an  entrance  to  it  from 
the  street,  without  going  into 
the  house;  but  there  is  also  a 
communication  with  the  gal¬ 
lery  of  the  house,  when  it  is 
needed.  It  is  observed  that  the 
terrace  of  the  oleah  afforded  a 
much  more  retired  place  for 
devotional  exercises  than  the 
roof  of  the  main  house,  which 
was  liable  to  be  occupied  at 
all  times  and  for  various  pur¬ 
poses  by  the  whole  family. 
The  little  chamber  for  Elisha, 
(2  Kings  iv.  10,)  the  summer 
chamber  of  Eglon,  from  which 
Ehud  escaped  by  a  private 
stairway,  (Judg.  iii.  20 — 23,)  the 
chamber  over  the  gate ,  (2  Sam. 
xviii.  33,)  the  upper  chamber, 
(2  Kings  xxiii.  12,)  the  inner 
chamber,  (1  Kings  xx.  30,— see 
Chamber,)  may  designate  the 
oleah.  (For  description  and 
illustrative  cut,  see  Omar,  pp. 
17—19,  and  Hebrew  Customs, 
np.  33,  31,  both  by  Am.  S.  S. 
Union.) 

The  upper  room,  (Acts  l 
13,)  called  the  upper  ctomber 
(Acts  xx.  8,)  is  supposed  by 
215 


irwE 


DWE 


Jowett  to  have  resembled  the 
upper  room  in  modern  houses 
of  the  east.  He  minutely  de¬ 
scribes  a  house  in  which  he 
resided.  The  first  or  ground 
floor  was  appropriated  entirely 
to  storing  oil  and  other  arti¬ 
cles;  the  second  floor  was 
occupied  by  the  family  for 
common  daily  use,  and  the 
third  floor  or  loft  was  fitted 
up  for  social  meetings,  & c. 
(Acts  i.  13 ;  ix.  37 ;  xx.  8.) 

But  the  roof  is  one  of  the 
most  important  parts  of  an 
eastern  house.  We  ascend  to 
it  by  a  flight  of  steps,  as  al¬ 
ready  mentioned,  which  are 
entirely  unconnected  with  the 
interior  of  the  house.  (Matt, 
xxiv.  17.)  It  is  made  nearly 
flat,  allowing  only  sufiicient 
elevation  to  carry  off  the  water, 
and  is  surrounded  by  a  para¬ 
pet,  battlement,  or  balustrade, 
lest  one  should  heedlessly  or 
unwittingly  fall  from  it.  This 
was  a  matter  of  divine  com¬ 
mand.  (Deut.  xxii.  8.)  A  wall 
en  the  roof  designates  the  li¬ 
mits  of  contiguous  houses,  but 
it  is  so  low  that  a  whole  range 
of  buildings,  and  even  a  street, 


may  be  passed  over  without 
coming  down.  The  roof  is 
covered  with  a  kind  of  cement, 
which  hardens  by  exposure  to 
the  weather,  and  forms  a  clean, 
smooth,  and  very  agreeable 
floor  or  terrace.  Sometimes 
clay,  or  earth  of  some  kind, 
sufficient  for  vegetation,  was 
used,  and  hence  the  frequent 
allusion  to  grass  upon  the 
housetops,  ( 2Kingsxix.  26.  Ps. 
cxxix.  6 ;)  a,nd  sometimes  tiles 
or  broad  bricks  were  used. 
The  roof  was  a  place  of  repose, 
(Neh.  viii.  16,)  and  of  resort. 
(2  Sam.  xi.  2.  Isa.  xv.  3 ;  xxii. 
1.  Jer.  xlviii.  38.  Luke  xii.  3.1 
It  was  also  used  for  drying 
linen  and  flax.  (Josh.  ii.  6.) 
Sometimes  a  tent  was  spread 
to  protect  the  sleeper  from  the 
cold  and  damp  of  the  night. 
(2  Sam.  xvi.  22.)  It  was  a 
place  of  conference  (1  Sam.  ix. 
25)  and  worship.  (2Kingsxxiii. 
12.  Jer.  xix.  13.  Zeph.  i  5. 
Acts  x.  9.) 

The  following  cut  represent! 
the  roof  of  a  house,  with  the 
battlement,  and  a  person  going 
down  for  water. 

The  windows  of  eastern 


tDWE 

houses,  as  already  intimated, 
open  into  tiie  court.  Hence 
the  appearance  of  eastern  ci- 
tffes.  in  passing  through  the 
streets,  is  very  gloomy  and  in- 
hospitable.  Sometimes  latticed 


D  WEl 

windows  or  balconies  are  open 
upon  the  street,  but  they  were 
used  only  on  some  public  day. 
(2  Kings  ix.  3U.  See  1  Iebrew 
Customs,  pp.  33— 3.’.  before 
mentioned.  (See  Window.) 


The  above  representation 
of  an  Arabian  house  shows 
the  external  appearance  of  an 
Eastern  dwelling,  and  the  ole- 
o h,  or  one  kind  of  upper  chant- 
her,  rising  above  the  roof  of  the 
mam  building. 

The  doors  of  eastern  houses 
are  not  hung  with  hinges.  The 
jamb,  or  inner  side-piece  of 
the  door,  projects,  in  the  form 
of  a  circular  shaft,  at  the  top 
and  bottom.  The  upper  pro¬ 
jection  is  received  into  a  socket 
in  the  lintel  or  head-piece,  and 
the  lower  projection  falls  into 
19 


a  socket  in  the  threshold  oi  sill, 
thus. 


fjl 

1 

1 

i£] 

217 


DWE 

Chimneys  were  probably  un¬ 
it  nown,lhoughlhe  word  occurs, 
Hos.  xiii.  3.  What  we  call 
chimneys  were  not  invented 
till  the  fourteenth  century. 
The  smoke  of  ancient  houses 
escaped  through  apertures  in 
the  wall. 

The  hearth  (Jer.  xxxvi.  22) 
was  a  fireplace  or  portable 
furnace,  such  as  is  still  used 
in  eastern  countries. 

The  materials  for  building 
were  abundant.  Stone-  and 
brick,  and  the  best  species  of 
timber,  for  the  strong  and 
heavy  as  well  as  the  light  and 
ornamental  work,  were  easily 
obtained.  Hewn  stone  was 
often  used,  (Amos  v.  11,)  and 
marble  of  the  richest  vein  and 
polish.  (1  Chron.  xxix.  2.  Esth. 
i.  0.)  Cedar  was  used  for  wain¬ 
scots  and  ceilings,  (Jer.  xxii. 

14.  Hag.  i.  4,)  which  were 
of  carved  panel-work,  with 
mouldings  of  gold,  silver,  or 
ivory.  Perhaps  the  profusion 
of  ivory  in  them  may  account 
for  the  expressions,  1  Kings 
xxii.  31).  Ts.  xlv.  8.  Amos  iii. 

15. 

Many  eastern  houses  are 
ouilt  with  mud  walls,  reeds, 
and  rushes,and  sometimesonly 
stakes  plastered  with  clay. 
Hence  they  were  very  inse¬ 
cure,  (Matt.  vi.  19,  20,)  and 
afforded  a  place  for  serpents 
and  vermin.  (Amos  v.  19.) 
Such«i  house,  built  even  on  a 
reck  above  the  reach  of  the 


DWE 

periodical  torrent#  of  rain, 
is  strikingly  emblematical  of 
weakness,  fragility,  and  decay, 
(Job  iv.  19 ;)  but  when  placfjfl 
on  the  sand,  and  exposed  on 
every  side  to  the  rain,  and 
wind,  and  floods,  the  folly  of 
the  builder  is  almost  inoredl 
ble.  (Matt.  yii.  26,  27.) 

In  addition  to  what  wt  have 
before  said  in  treating  of  the 
oleah,  it  may  be  remarked  that 
the  winter  and  summerhouses 
or  parlours.  (Amos  iii,.  15) 
were  constructed  with  parti¬ 
cular  reference  to  the  season. 
The  summer  houses  were  built 
partly  under  grou  nd,and  paved 
with  marble.  The  fountains 
which  gush  out  in  their  courts, 
and  the  various  contrivances 
to  exclude  heal  and  secure  a 
current  of  fresh  air,  render 
them  exceedingly  refreshing 
amid  the  torrid  heats  of  sum¬ 
mer.  The  winter  houses  might 
have  hail  accommodations  cor¬ 
responding  to  the  season. 

We  are  told  that  it  was  rtts 
tomary  among  the  Hebrews  to 
dedicate  the  house  when  it  was 
finished  and  ready  to  be  inha¬ 
bited.  The  event  was  cele¬ 
brated  with  joy,  and  the  divine 
blessing  and  protection  im¬ 
plored.  (Deut.  xx.  5.) 

The  following  is  a  sketch  of 
a  more  ordinary  Arab  house, 
designed  for  four  families.  The 
doors'  of  eastern  houses  are 
made  low,  especially  when 
|  they  are  in  an  exposed  siunv 


D  WE 

Mon;  and  one  must  stoop  or 
even  creep  to  enter  them.  This 
b)  done  to  keep  out  wild  beasts, 
or  enemies,  or,  as  some  say,  to 
prevent  the  wandering  Arabs 
from  riding  into  them.  (See 
Selumiel,  pp.  41 — 44,  by  Am. 
K.  S.  Union.) 

The  eastern  mode  of  build- 
lag  is  brought  to  our  view  in 
the  case  of  the  destruction  of 
the  temple  of  Dagon  by  Sam¬ 
son.  It  is  probable  that  the 
place  where  Samson  made 
sport  for  many  thousand  spec¬ 
tators  (Judg.  xvi.  27)  was  a 
court  or  area  consecrated  to 
the  worship,  of  Dagon ;  that 


DWS 

this  was  surrounded  by  a  range 
of  galleries  (Ezek.  xli.  15,  160 
or  cloisters,  which  were  sup- 
jorted  chiefly  by  one  or  two  co- 
umns  in  front,  or  at  the  centre. 
The  palaceof  the  dey  of  Algiers 
has  such  a  structure.  It  is  an 
advanced  or  projecting  cloister 
over  against  the  gate  of  the 
palace,  (Esth.  v.  1,)  where  the 
officers  of  state  assemble  and 
transact  public  business,  and 
where  public  entertainments 
were  given.  The  removal  of 
one  of  two  contiguhus  pillars 
would  involve  'the  building, 
and  all  that  were  upon  it,  in 
one  common  destruction. 


EAG 


EAR 


Eagle.  (Deut.  xxxii.  id  a 

well  known  and  ferocious 
bird  of  prey,  unclean  by  the 
Levitical  law,  (Lev.  xi.  13. 
Deut.  xiv.  12.)  whose  peculiar 
properties  are  often  alluded  to 
by  the  sacred  writers.  The 
habits  of  the  eagle  are  de¬ 
scribed  in  Num.  xxiv.  21.  Job 
ix.  26 ;  xxxix.  27—30.  Prov. 
xxiii-  5  ;  xxx.  17. 19.  Jer.  xlix. 
16  Ezek.  xvii.  3.  Obad.  4. 
Hab.  i.  8;  ii.  9.  Matt.  xxiv. 
28.  Luke  xvii.  37. 

In  these  last  passages,  the 
Jewish  nation  is  compared  to 
a  decaying  body,  exposed  in 
the  open  field,  and  inviting  the 
Roman  anny,  whose  standard 
was  an  eagle,  to  come  together 
and  devour  it.  The  eagle  was 
also  the  Persian  standard.  The 
tenderness  of  the  eagle  to¬ 
wards  its  young  is  character¬ 
istic,  and  is  beautifully  and 
accurately  described,  Ex.  xix. 
4.  Deut.  xxxii.  11.  The  rapi¬ 
dity  of  the  eagle’s  flight  is 
alluded  to  in  Deut.  xxvfii.  49. 

2  Sam.  i. 23.  Jer.  iv.  13;  xlviii.  1 
40.  Lam.  iv.  19;  its  deslruc- ! 
tive  power  in  Isa.  xlvi.  11.  Hos. 
viii.  1 ;  and  its  great  age,  and 
the  popular  opinion  that  it  re¬ 
news  its  plumage  in  advanced  I 


life,  is  intimated  in  Ps.  ciii.  5, 
and  Isa.  xl.  31. 

The  ravenous  bird  (Isa.  xlvi. 
11)  might  better  be  rendered 
eagle ;  and  it  is  a  fact,  accord- 
ing  to  Xenophon,  that  Cyrus, 
who  is  alluded  to  under  the 
figure  of  an  eagle,  had  an 
image  of  that  bird  for  the 
standard  of  his  army.  (Eorcuts 
of  the  eagle,  and  a  more  parti¬ 
cular  account  of  his  properties, 
see  Youth's  Friend,  for  1827; 
Bible  Natural  History,  art. 
Eagle  ;  and  Portfolio  of 
Animals,  all  published  by  Am. 
S.  S.  Union.) 

EARING,  (Gen.xlv.6,)  EAR- 
TNG-TIME.  (Ex.  xxxiv.  21.) 
Earing  is  an  old  English  word 
for  ploughing.  The  same  word 
is  used,  Ps.  cxxix.  3,  and  is 
translated  ploughed.  What 
we  call  arable  land  is  some¬ 
times  written  earable  land. 
(Deut.  xxi.  4.  1  Sam.  viii.  12. 
Isa.  xxx.  24.) 

EAR-RINGS.  (Gen.  xxiv 
22.)  This  word  occurs,  Ex 
xxxii.  2,  3;  and  in  Isa.  iii.  21 
we  have  the  word  nose-jewels 
and  some  versions  have  an 
ornament  for  the  nose  in  the 
above  passage  from  Genesis, 
i  The  weight  of  the  ornamenj 


EAR 

mentioned  in  this  passage 
might  appear  almost  incredi¬ 
ble,  if  we  were  not  informed 
by  travellers  tnat  the  women 
of  the  east,  even  in  modern 
days,  wear  ornaments  of  equal 
and  even  greater  weight.  Poor 
people  use  glass  or  horn  in¬ 
stead  of  gold  or  silver.  The 
annexed  cut  of  an  Egyptian 


dancing  girl  shows  the  size 
d  manner  of  wearing  these 
,■  ri&s.  (See  Clothes.) 


EARNEST.  (2  Cor.  i.  22.) 
Something  going  before,  or 
given  in  advance  as  a  pledge 
or  assurance  of  more  in  re¬ 
serve  :  thus  earnest,  or  earnest- 
money,  is  a  sum  paid  in  ad¬ 
vance  as  a  pledge  of  full  pay¬ 
ment  at.  a  future  time.  In  a 
spiritual  sense,  it  denotes  those 
gifts  and  graces  which  the 
.Christian  receives  as  a  pledge 
or  earnest  of  perfect  holiness 
and  happiness  in  the  future 
world.  A  pledge  is  taken  back 
when  the  promise  which  it 
guarantied  is  fulfilled ;  but 
whatever  is  given  as  earnest, 
being  a  part  in  advance  of  the 
whole,  is  of  course  retained. 

EARTH.  (Ps.  xxiv.  1.)  Be¬ 
sides  the  ordinary  acceptation 
of  the  word,  as  in  the  passage 
cited,  it  is  used  by  the  sacred 
writers  to  denote'  only  a  par- 


E  AS 

ticular  country.  Thus  the 
phrase,  (Ezra  l.  2,)  “  all  the 
Kingdoms  qf  the  earth,"  means 
only  Chaldea  and  Assyria ; 
and  it  is  often  restricted  to 
Judea  only. 

Lower  parts  of  the  earth 
(Isa.  xiiv.  23)  may  signify  lite¬ 
rally  the  valleys,  or  fisura 
tively  the  grave.  (Ps.  lxlii.  9. 
Eph.  i v. 9.) 

EARTHQUAKE.  (1  Kings 
xix.  11.)  it  is  supposed  that  Ko- 
rah  and  his  companions  were 
destroyed  by  an  earthquake. 
The  earthquake  mentioned, 
Amos  i.  1.  Zech.  xiv.  5,  is  also 
mentioned  by  Jospphus,  who 
adds  that  it  divided  a  mountain 
near  Jerusalem,  and  was  so 
violent  as  to  separate  one  part 
some  distance  from  the  other. 
The  earthquake  was  among 
the  fearful  signs  which  attend¬ 
ed  the  crucifixion  of  our  Sa¬ 
viour.  Travellers  tell  us  that 
the  rocks  on  Calvary  are 
rent  asunder,  and  evidently 
by  some  such  convulsion  as  an 
earthquake,  and  very  early 
.tradition  says  it  was  by  the 
earthquake  which  happened 
at  the  time  of  the  crucifixion. 
That  the  scene  was  terrible 
may  well  be  inferred  from 
Matt,  xxvii.  51 — 54. 

Earthquakes  are  mentioned 
among  the  calamities  which 
should  precede  the  destruction 
of  Jerusalem,  (Matt.  xxiv.  7,) 
and  Josephus  and  other  histo¬ 
rians  affirm  the  literal'fulfil- 
ment  of  the  prediction.  Earth¬ 
quakes,  in  prophetical  lan¬ 
guage,  denote  revolutions  and 
commotions  in  states  and  em¬ 
pires. 

EAST.  (Gen.  xxviii.  14,5 
The  Hebrews  used  this  word 
to  describe  all  the  countries  or 
provinces  lying  around  ami 
beyond  the  rivers  Tigris  and 
Euphrates,  or  east  or  north-east 
of  Judea.  The  word  is  also 
used,  Gen.  xi.  2,  “from  the 
east,"  and  denotes  the  country 
east  or  south-east  of  mou  nt  Ara 
220 


EAT 

rat.  In  travelling  from  the  foot 
of  that  mountain  to  the  plain 
of  Shinar,  the  descendants  of 
Noah  would  pass  southerly  on 
the  eastern  side  of  the  moun¬ 
tains  of  Media  until  they  came 
opposite  to  Shinar  or  to  a  point 
north-east  of  Babylon,  from 
which,  by  a  direct  western 
course,  they  would  pass  into 
Assyria  and  the  plain  of  Shi¬ 
nar.  This  is  said  to  be  the 
usual  caravan  route. 

East  sea  (Ezek.  xl  vii.  IS. 
Joel  ii.  20)  is  the  same  with  the 
Dead  Sea.  tSee  Salt  Sea.) 

East  wind.  (See  Wind.) 

EASTER.  (Acts  xii.  4.)  In 
every  other  passage  of  our 
translation,  this  word  is  ren¬ 
dered  paesover,  and  of  course 
denotes  the  same  season  or  fes¬ 
tival.  (See  Feast.) 

EAT,  EATING.  (Isa.  lxvi. 
17.  Acts  xi.  3.)  The  Hebrews 
were  scrupulous  about  eating 
and  drinking  with  the  Egyp¬ 
tians,  as  the  Egyptians  also 
were  about  eating  and  drink¬ 
ing  with  the  Hebrews.  (Gen. 
xliii.32.)  So  also  the  Hebrews 
declined  to  eat  with  the  Sama¬ 
ritans,  (John  iv.  9;)  and  the 
refusal  to  eat  with  one  implied 
an  entire  separation.  (Matt, 
ix.  11.  1  Cor.  v.  11.) 

The  manner  of  eating  among 
the  Jews  is  still  common  in 
eastern  nations ;  the  guests  re¬ 
clined  on  couches  or  mattress¬ 
es,  resting  on  the  left  elbow, 


EAT 

and  using  chiefly  the  right 
hand.  This  peculiar  position 
makes  the  interesting  scene 
described,  Luke  vii.  36—50, 
perfectly  natural,  and  also 
shows  how  one  of  the  guests 
could  repose  his  head  on  an¬ 
other’s  bosom.  (John  xiii.  23.) 
Women  were  never  present  at 
Jewish  meals  as  guests. 

The  present  mode  of  eating 
among  eastern  nations  illus¬ 
trates  some  interesting  pas¬ 
sages  of  the  New  Testament. 
In  Syria  the  guests  use  their 
fingers;  a  knife,  spoon,  and 
plate  being  used  only  by 
foreigners,  and  that  as  a  spe¬ 
cial  privilege.  The  bread, 
which  is  very  thin,  is  dipped 
in  the  vegetable  soup,  and  if 
there  is  a  very  dainty  morsel 
on  the  table,  the  master  of  the 
house  takes  it  in  his  fingers 
and  presents  it  to  the  mouth 
of  his  guest.  From  Matt.  xxvi. 
23,  we  may  presume  that  Judas 
was  near  enough  to  our  Lord 
to  use  the  same  dish,  and  from 
the  additional  circumstances 
in  John  xiii.  26,27,  we  may  in¬ 
fer  that  he  was  near  enough  t« 
receive  the  sop  from  our  Lord’s 
hand,  according  to  the  custom 
above  described.  (See Feast.) 

To  eat  a  meal  together  is 
regarded  in  the  east  as  a 
pledge  of  mutual  confidence 
and  friendship ;  hence  the 
force  of  the  expression,  Ps. 
xli.  9.  (See  Omab,  pp.  30.  45; 
and  Hebrew  Customs,  pp.  3b 
— 16,  both  by  Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

The  expression,  John  vi.  5 a 
—58,  is  evidently  metaphori 
cal.  This  appears  from  the 
context,  and  from  the  design 
of  the  discourse,  which  was 
introduced  by  an  allusion  to 
the  eating  of  manna.  Our 
Saviour  often  speaks  of  him¬ 
self  as  the  bread,  (John  vi.  413 
the  bread  of  life,  (John  vi.  35,) 
and  living  bread,  (John  vi,  513 
and  it  was  in  perfect  accord¬ 
ance  with  this  figurative  lan¬ 
guage  to  speait  of  those  who 


t:be 

received  him,  and  exercised 
faith  upon  him,  as  eating  his 
flesh  and  drinking  his  blood. 
Parallel  phrases  may  be  found, 
Jer.  xv.  16.  Ezek.  iii.  1.  John 
iv.  14:  the  force  of  the  last 
passage  is  apparent  from  John 
vi.  35. 

EBAL, MOUNT, (Deut.xi.29,) 
and  MOUNT  GERIZIM,  were 
situated  in  the  tribe  of  Ephra¬ 
im.  They  were  but  a  short 
distance  apart,  and  in  the  val¬ 
ley  between,  was  the  old  city 
of  Sheehem,  now  Nablouse. 
The  altitude  ofthese  mountains 
does  not  exceed  seven  or  eight 
hundred  feet,  and  they  are  "re¬ 
markable  for  the  solemn  ratifi¬ 
cation  of  God’s  covenant  with 
the  Jews,  which  took  place 
upon  them,  and  a  particular 
account  of  which  we  have  in 
Deut.  xxvii.  12—26;  xxviii.  2 — 
68.  A  modern  traveller  speaks 
of  the  lofty,  craggy,  and  barren 
aspect  of  these 'two  mountains, 
which  seem  to  face  each  other 
with  an  air  of  defiance. 

According  to  the  injunction 
of  Moses,  the  Hebrews,  after 
they  obtai  ned  possession  of  Ca¬ 
naan,  built  an  altar,  and  cele¬ 
brated  a  feast  on  mount  Ebal. 
(Deut.  xxvii.  4.  Josh.  viii.  30 — 
35.)  The  Samaritans  contend¬ 
ed  that  this  should  have  been 
done  on  mount  Gerizim,  and 
not  on  mount  Ebal,  and  they 
afterwards  built  a  temple  on 
Gerizim,  the  ruins  of  which 
are  still  visible,  and  regarded 
It  as  the  Jews  regarded  their 
temple  at  Jerusalem.  The  re¬ 
mark  of  the  Samaritan  woman 
at  Sheehem  to  our  Lord  is  in 
allusion  to  this  difference  of 
opinion.  (See  Omak,  pp.  110 — 
115,  by  Am.  S.  Union.  See  also 
Shechem,  and  Samaritans.) 

EBED-MELECH.  (Jer. 
xxxviii.  7.)  An  Ethiopian  ser¬ 
vant  of  Zedekiah  king  of  Ju¬ 
dah,  who  was  instrumental  in 
saving  the  prophet  Jeremiah 
from  death  by  famine,  and 
•ho,  for  his  kindness  in  this 


ECC 

behalf,  was  promised  deliver¬ 
ance  when  the  city  should  fall 
into  the  enemy’s  hands.  (Jer. 
xxxix.  15 — 18.  See  Life  of 
Jeremiah,  ch.  x.,byAm.  S.  S. 
Union.) 

EBENEZER.  (1  Sam.  iv.  1.) 
This  name  is  used  in  the  pas¬ 
sage  cited,  and  also  in  lSam. 
v.  1 ;  but  the  application  of  it 
to  a  particular  place  was  a 
subsequent  event.  While  the 
Israelites  were  worshipping 
God  at  Mizpeh,  they  received 
intelligence  that  the  Philis¬ 
tines  were  approaching  them 
with  a  formidable  army.  In 
this  emergency  they  betook 
themselves  to  sacrifice  and 
prayer,  and  the  God  of  armies 
interposed  in  a  most  signal 
manner  for  their  deliverance. 
(1  Sam.  vii.  5—12.)  In  com¬ 
memoration  of  this  event,  Sa¬ 
muel  erected  a  monument 
near  the  field  of  battle,  ar.H 
called  it  Ebenezer ,  or  the 
stone  of  help,  saying,  “Hither¬ 
to  hath  Jehovah  helped  us.” 
Hence  it  is  often  said,  “  Here 
we  will  set  up  our  Ebenezer, ” 
or  here  we  will  establish  a 
memorial  of  the  mercy  and 
faithfulness  of  God. 

EBER  (Gen.  x.  21)  was  the 
great-grandson  of  Shem,  and 
the  ancestor  of  Abraham,  in 
the  seventh  generation.  (See 
Hebrews.) 

EBONY.  (Ezek.  xxvii.  15.) 
A  well  known  wood,  which  is 
produced  in  India  and  some 
districts  of  Africa.  It  is  sus¬ 
ceptible  of  a  fine  polish,  and 
is  used  for  musical  instruments 
and  ornamental  work. 

ECCLESIASTES,  or  (as  the 
name  signifies)  the  Preacher , 
is  the  twenty-first  in  the  order 
of  the  books  of  the  Old  Testa¬ 
ment,  and  was  written  by  Solo- 
mon  towards  the  close  of  his 
splendid  and  eventful  career 
as  monarch  of  Israel.  The  de¬ 
sign  of  the  author  evidently  is, 
(L)  To  demonstrate  the  lolly 
and  madness  of  making  this 


EDE 

world,  its  pleasures,  or  Its  pur¬ 
suits  the  objects  of  atfection  or 
hope;  and,  (2.)  To  show  the 
character,  influence,  and  ad¬ 
vantages  of  true  wisdom  or  re¬ 
ligion.  Much  of  the  obscurity 
of  some  passages  in  this  book 
may  be  ascribed  to  the  circum¬ 
stance  that  the  author  was 
refuting  maxims  and  reprov¬ 
ing  practices  common  to  the 
errorists  and  libertines  of  his 
day,  the  particular  character 
of  which  is  now  unknown. 

EDAR,  tower  of.  (See 
Tower.) 

EDEN.  (Gen.  ii.  8.)  That 
part  of  the  earth  in  which  was 
situated  the  garden  planted  by 
the  Almighty  for  the  residence 
of  our  first  parents,  and  where 
they  dwelt  at  the  time  of  their 
apostacy.  The  word  is  also 
applied  generally  to  denote 
any  place  remarkable  for 
beauty  and  fertility.  <2 Kings 
xix.  12.  Isa.  xxxvii.  12.)  The 
attempt  to  establish  the  locali¬ 
ty  of  the  garden  of  Eden  is  of 
course  attended  with  great  dif¬ 
ficulty.  An  eminent  geologist 
says, we  can  trace  over  all  those 
regions  through  which  the  Ti¬ 
gris  and  Euphrates  flow,  the 
same  monuments  of  the  flood 
which  are  so  remarkable  in 
every  other  quarter  of  the  world, 
in  the  form  of  boundless  deserts 
of  sand  mixed  with  salt  and 
shells ;  and  of  course  we  might 
as  well  took  for  the  rich  and 
beautiful  dwelling  place  of  our 
first  parents  in  tne  prairies  of 
America  or  the  sands  of  Africa, 
as  expect  to  discover  any  trace 
of  them  on  the  banks  of  the 
Euphrates. 

It  is  supposed  by  many  to  be 
safe,  however,  to  fix  upon  Ar¬ 
menia  as  embracing  the  site  of 
this  interesting  spot.  As  to  the 
precise  location,  it  is  suggested 
that  God  may  have  chosen  to 
obliterate  every  vestige  of  this 
fair  portion  of  his  works,  unfit¬ 
ted  for  any  thing  but  the  re¬ 
sidence  of  innocence,  and  to 


EDO 

blot  at  once  from  the  face  of 
the  earth,  like  the  guilty  cities 
of  the  plain,  both  the  site  and 
the  memorial  of  man’s  trans¬ 
gression,  an  awful  event  which 
would  add  tenfold  horror  to 
their  punishment.  (See  Eve¬ 
ning  Recreations,  vol.  i.  pp. 
8—16.  Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

Eden,  house  of.  (Amos  i. 
5.)  Thisterm,  in  its  connexion, 
indicates  a  place  of  some  im¬ 
portance.  Modern  travellers 
find  a  place  near  Damascus 
bearing  a  name  of  tiie  same 
import,  ( house  of  pleasure,) 
which  they  suppose  to  be  the 
same  mentioned  by  the  pro¬ 
phet. 

EDOM,  (Judg.  xi.  17,)  called 
Idumea  (Isa.  xxxiv.  5)  by  the 
Greeks  and  Romans,  was  the 
name  of  a  district  of  country 
inhabited bythe  Horites,(Gen. 
xxxvi.21,)  or  Hcrrims,  (Deut. 
ii.  12,)  lying  south  of  the  Dead 
Sea,  and  bordering  on  Moab. 
Edom,  or  mount  Seir,  was  ori¬ 
ginally  a  small  strip  of  elevat¬ 
ed  land  between  the  desert  of 
Zin  on  the  west,  and  Arabia 
Petrea  on  the  east.  The  cli¬ 
mate  was  delightful, and  it  was 
remarkable  for  the  richness  of 
its  soil  and  the  almost  impreg¬ 
nable  fortress  it  contained. 
(Gen.  xxvii  39.  Jor.  xlix.  16.) 
It  derives  its  name  from  Esau, 
(called  also  Edom,  Gen.  xxxvi. 
43,)  whose  descendants  are 
supposed  to  have  settled  there. 
The  same  province  is  now 
called  Sherath,  and  extends 
across  the  whole  southern  bor¬ 
der  of  Canaan,  from  the  Dead 
Sps  to  the  eastern  gulf  of  the 
Red  Sea,  including  mount  Seir 
Of  the  eastern  division  of  thhir 
territory,  Bozrah,  or  Bezer, 
was  the  capital,  and  Petrea 
(or  Sela)  of  the  southern.  Te- 
man,  a  grandson  of  Esau,  (Gen. 
xxxvi.  11,)  resided  here,  and 
gave  his  own  name  to  part  of 
the  province.  (Job  ii.  11.  Jer. 
xlix.  7.  20.)  The  Edomite* 
were  governed  by  kings  (Gen. 


EGG 

xxxvi.  31)  until  they  were  con¬ 
quered  by  David,  (2  Sam.  viii. 
14,)  thus  fulfilling  the  prophe¬ 
cy.  (Gen.  xxvii.  29.)  Hadad, 
a  lineal  descendant  of  one  of 
the  Idumean  kings,  regained 
the  control  of  the  eastern  pro¬ 
vince.  The  inhabitants  of 
south  Edom  afterwards  revolt¬ 
ed  from  Jehoram,  (2  Chron. 
xxi.10,)  and  sustained  some  se¬ 
vere  reverses,  (2  Kings  xiv.  7. 

2  Chron.  xxv.  11 ;)  and  were 
finally  conquered  by  Nebu- 
chad  nezzar. 

There  is  no  country  on  the 
face  of  the  globe,  the  present 
state  of  which  more  fully  at¬ 
tests  the  truth  of  prophecy  than 
Idumea.  The  predictions  are 
singularly  specific,  (especially 
Isa.  xxxiv.5. 10 — 17.  Jer.  xlix. 
13—18.  Ezek.  xxxv.  7.  Mai.  i. 
3,  4;)  and  their  literal  and 
exact  accomplishment  is  fully 
sustained  by  the  testimony 
even  of  the  enemies  of  the 
Bible.  Modern  travellers  unite 
in  their  declaration  that  it  is 
one  broad  plain  of  barrenness 
.  and  desolation,  and  that  its 
present  state  could  not  be  more 
graphically  described  than  it 
is  in  the  words  of  the  prophe¬ 
tic  writers.  (See  The  Bibi.e 
ia  True,  ch.  vii.,  by  Am.  S.  S. 
Union.) 

EDREI,  (Josh.  xiii.  31.)  One 
of  the  capital  cities  of  Ba- 
shan,  the  ruins  of  which  still 
remain  under  the  name  of 
Draa,  about  seventy -five  miles 
north  of  Bozrah.  Og,  king  'of 
Eashan,  was  defeated  at  this 
lace  by  the  Israelites,  and 
is  kingdom  assigned  to  the 
half  tribe  of  Manasseh.  An¬ 
other  town  of  this  name  was 
in  the  tribe  of  Naphtali.  (Josh, 
xix.  37.) 

EGG.  (Deut.  xxii.6.)  This 
passage  humanelyprohibits  the 
taking  away  of  a  brooding  bird 
from  a  nest,  and  is  similar  in 
its  nature  to  the  provision  re¬ 
specting  other  animals  and 
thbir  young.  (Lev.  xxii.  28. 


EGY 

Comp.  Isa.  x.  14.  See  Part 
ridge,  Scorpion.) 

EGLON.  i.  A  person,  (Jndg. 
iii.  14,)  and  king  of  the  Moab¬ 
ites,  who  held  the  Israelites  in 
bondage  eighteen  years.  He 
formed  an  alliance  with  the 
Ammonites  and  Amalekites, 
and  took  possession  of  Jericho, 
where  he  resided,  and  where 
he  was  afterwards  assassinated 
by  Ehud.  (See  Ehud.) 

•2.  A  place.  (Josh.  x.  3; 
xv.  39.) 

EGYPT.  (Exodus  i.  i.)  One 
of  the  most  ancient  and  inte¬ 
resting  countries  on  the  face 
of  the  earth.  It  is  bounded 
south  by  Ethiopia,  north  by 
the  Mediterranean  Sea,  and 
east  by  the  Red  Sea/  Its  north¬ 
ern  and  southern  limits  are 
iven  in  Ezek.  xxix.  10 ;  xxx. 

.  It  presents  itself  to  the  eye 
ofthejtravelleras  an  immense 
valley,  extending  nearly  six 
hundred  miles  in  length,  and 
hemmed  in  on  the  east  and 
west  by  a  ridge  of  hills  and  a 
vast  expanse  of  desert.  It  has 
an  alluvial  basin,  owing  its 
existence,  fertility,  and  beauty 
to  the  river  Nile,  which  flows 
through  it.  Hence  Egypt  was 
anciently  called  the  gift  of 
the  Nile.  As  to  the  origin  of 
the  name,  there  is  much- dif¬ 
ference  of  opinion.  In  the 
Old  Testament,  the  Hebrew 
word  translated  Egypt  is  Miz- 
raim,  which  was  the  name  ol 
one  of  the  sons  of  Ham,  (Gen. 
x.  6,)  who  might  have  been 
the  founder  of  the  nation.  It 
is  sometimes  called  Ham,  (Ps. 
lxxviii.51;  cv.  23.27;  cvi.22.) 
and  also  Ra.hab.  (Ps.  lxxxvil 
4;  lxxxix.  10.  Isa.  li.  9.)  The 
Arabs  now  call  it  Mizr. 

It  was  in  Egypt  that  Joseph 
was  raised  from  the  condition 
of  a  slave  to  the  highest  rank 
in  the  king’s  retinue.  In  the 
providence  of  God,  his  father 
and  brothers  came  thither  to 
live,  and  in  the  space  of  four 


E  GY 

bundled  and  thirty  years  in¬ 
creased  from  seventy-five  souls 
to  between  one  and  two  mil¬ 
lions.  Their  deliverance  from 
oppression  under  Pharaoh  is 
perhaps  the  most  striking  pas¬ 
sage  of  Jewish  history.  (See 
Hebrews.) 

As  a  subject  of  prophecy, 
Egypt  is  one  of  the  most  in¬ 
teresting  of  ancient  nations. 
(Isa.  xviii.  xix.  Jer.  xlii. — xlvi. 
Ezek.  xxix.— xxxii.)  The  pre¬ 
dictions  'concerning  it  are  re¬ 
markable  for  their  precision 
and  fulness;  and  their  exact 
fulfilment  in  every  essential 
point  is  attested  by  incontro¬ 
vertible  evidence. 

At  the  time  when  some  of 
the  most  extraordinary  of  these 
predictions  were  tittered,  (Eze. 
xxx.  21— 26,)  Egypt  was  flou¬ 
rishing  in  arts  and  arms.  Her 
splendid  cities  rose  up  on 
every  side,  and  the  stately 
monuments  of  her  genius  and 
industry  were  without  a  pa¬ 
rallel.  But  when  the  divine 
counsel  was  fulfilled,  the  scep- 
Lre  of  the  Pharaohs  fell,  and 
Egypt  became  a  tributary 
kingdom,  without  a  prince  of 
its  own,  subject  to  a  foreign 
yoke,  and  has  often  been  go¬ 
verned  by  slaves. 

The  present  population  of 
Egypt  is  estimated  at  two  mil¬ 
lions  and  a  half.  Before  the 
Persian  conquest,  (which  took 
place  B.  c.  350,)  the  authority  of 
the  Pharaohs  extended  over 
sevenanda  half  millions.  The 
nhabitants  consist  of  Copts, 

rabs,  Greeks,  Jews,  and  Sy- 
ians;  of  whom  the  Copts  are 
he  most  numerous,  and  are 
Usually  regarded  as  the  de¬ 
scendants  of  the  true  Egyp¬ 
tians  ;  but  the  country  lias 
been  so  often  invaded,  over¬ 
run,  and  colonizod,  that  it  is 
probable  the  original  stock  is 
exterminated.  Greatand  rapid 
changes  have  taken  place  in 
this  interesting  countiy  within 
the  last  thirty  years.  The  cam- 


EGf 

|  paign  of  the  French  army  in 
18Q0,  which  was  undertaken 
with  a  view  to  subdue  Egypt, 
and  so  secure  to  the  French  an 
important  share  of  the  East 
India  trade,  though  it  resulted 
unsuccessfully,  was  attended 
with  important  consequences 
to  the  interests  of  science  and 
learning.  A  new  era  in  the 
history  of  this  country  com¬ 
menced  then.  Mohammed  Ali, 
the  present  viceroy,  though  a 
perfect  despot,  has  done  much 
to  elevate  his  dominions  to  a 
rank  with  civilized  nations,  in 
arts,  commerce,  and  industry. 
The  works  of  internal  im¬ 
provement  which  he  has  un¬ 
dertaken,  the  extensive  manu¬ 
factories  he  has  established, 
and  the  encouragement  lie  has 
given  to  literary  institutions, 
promise  to  change  the  politi¬ 
cal  if  not  the  moral  aspect  of 
Egypt.  (See  Ev.  Kec.  by  Am. 
S.  S.  Union,  vol.  iii.  28—115.) 

Egypt,  river  of,  (Gen.  xv. 
18,)  called  by  way  of  pre-emi¬ 
nence  the  River,  (Gen.  xli.  1. 
Ex.  vii.  17,)  and  sometimes 
Sihor,  (Isa.  xxiii.  3,)  or  Shihor, 
(1  Chron.  xiii.  5,)  was  the  Nile, 
a  remarkable  river,  which 
flows  twelve  hundred  miles 
without  meeting  a  tributary 
stream.  Its  overflowings  inun¬ 
date  the  adjoining  country, 
(Amos  viii.  8 ;  ix.  5,)  and  give 
it  its  extraordinary  fertility. 
{See preceding  article.)  Hence 
a  failure  of  this  periodical 
overflowing  must  occasion  the 
utmost  distress.  (Isa.  xix.  5,6.) 

It  is  not  improbable,  how¬ 
ever,  that  another  and  smaller 
river  was  called  the  river  of 
Egypt,  and  that  it  emptied  into 
the  Mediterranean  at  some 
place  south  of  Gaza.  (Num. 
xxxiv.  5.  Josh.  xv.  47.)  Such 
a  river  is  mentioned  by  mo¬ 
dern  travellers,  about  thirty 
yards  wide,  called  Wadi  Gaza, 
the  same  with  the  brook  BeSor. 
Its  bein»  the  border  of  Judea, 
on  the  Egyptian  side,  might 


EKR 

give  It  the  name  river  of 
Egypt.  The  precise  import 
ef  the  phrase  must  be  deter¬ 
mined  in  each  case  by  its  con¬ 
nexion.  (See  Besor.) 

EHUD.  (Judg.  iii.  15.)  A 
son  of  Gera,  of  the  tribe  of 
Benjamin,  who  delivered  the 
Israelites  from  the  oppression 
which  they  suffered  under  Eg- 
lon  king  of  Moab.  The  Israel¬ 
ites  sent  Ehud  to  pay  some 
tax  or  tribute,  to  Eglon,  as  a 
token  of  their  allegiance.  Un¬ 
der  the  pretence  that  he  had 
some  secret  message  to  the 
king,  he  obtained  a  private 
Audience;  and  while  they  were 
together  in  the  king’s  apart¬ 
ment,  Ehud  drew  a  dagger 
which  he  had  made  expressly 
for  the  purpose,  and  gave  him 
a  mortal  wound.  The  custom 
of  delivering  confidential  mes¬ 
sages  in  secret  appears  to 
have  been  so  common,  that 
the  attendants  ‘of  Eglon  left 
his  presence  as  soon  as  Ehud’s 
wish  was  known.  Such  is  the 
custom  in  eastern  courts  at 
this  day,  as  travellers  assure 
us;  as  soon  as  a  confidential 
message  is  announced,  the  au¬ 
dience  chamber  is  cleared  of 
all  but  the  messenger.  Ehud 
fled  towards  mount  Ephraim, 
and  summoning  the  oppressed 
Israelites  to  his  help,  they  se¬ 
cured  the  fords  of  the  Jordan, 
10  that  the  Moabites,  by  whom 
their  land  was  garrisoned, 
might  not  escape.  As  soon  as 
he  had  collected  a  sufficient 
force,  he  fell  upon  the  Moab¬ 
ites,  and  cut  them  off  in  every 
direction. 

EKRON.  (Josh.  xv.  45.)  A 
city  of  the  Philistines,  lying 
north-west  of  Gath  and  north 
ef  Ashdod,  assigned  by  Joshua 
originally  to  the  tribe  of  Judah, 
(Judg.-i.18,)  but  afterwards  said 
to  belong  to  the  tribe  of  Dan. 
(Josh.  xix.  43.)  Neither  tribe 
teems  to  have  been  in  actual 
possession  of  the  place.  (Judg. 


ELA 

i.  34,  35.  1  Sam.  v.  10 ;  vi.  17! 

2  Kings  i.  2.  Jer.xxv.  20.  Amos 
i.  8.  Zeph.  ii.  4.  Zech.  ix.  5. 7! 
See  Selumiel,  p.  28,  by  Am. 
S.  S.  Union.  See  Philistla.) 

ELAH.  1.  A  person.  fl 
Kings  xvi.6.)  Son  and  succes¬ 
sor  of  Baasha  king  of  Israel-. 
As  he  was  revelling  at  a  friend’s 
house,  he  was  assassinated  by 
Zimri,  one  of  the  officers  of  hit 
army.  (See'  Omri.)  He  reigned 
.only  two  years. 

2.  A  place.  Valley  op,  (1 
Sam.  xvii.  19,)  lies  south-west 
of  Jerusalem,  three  miles  from 
Bethlehem,  on  the  road  to 
Jaffa.  The  Israelites  were  en¬ 
camped  in  this  valley  when 
David  fought  and  subdued  Go¬ 
liath.  (See  Selumiel,  p.  31, 
and  Life  of  David,  pp.  26, 27, 
both  by  Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

ELAM.  1.  A  person.  (Gen. 
x.  22.)  Eldest  son  of  Shem, 
and  the  ancestor  of  the  Elam- 
ites  and  Persians. 

2.  A  country,  (Gen.  xiv. 
9,)  settled  by  the  family  of 
Elam,  and  lying  east  of  Shinar 
and  north  of  the  Persian  gulf, 
and  a  part  of  the  ancient  Per¬ 
sian  empire.  Chedorlaomer 
was  one  of  its  earliest  kings. 
(Gen.  xiv.  1.)  Shushan  was  the 
capital  of  the  province.  (Dan. 
viii.  2.)  When  the  country  of 
Elam  is  mentioned  by  the  sa¬ 
cred  writers,  Susiana  or  Shu- 
sistan  is  meant.  The  Elam¬ 
ites  were  a  warlike  people, 
and  distinguished  for  their 
skill  as  bowmen,  (Isa.  xxii.  6. 
Jer.  xlix.  35,)  and  were  regard¬ 
ed  as  a  formidable  enemy. 
(Ezek.  xxxii.  24.)  Some  of 
this  nation  were  present  in 
Jerusalem,  at  the  miraculous 
effusion  of  God’s  Spirit  on  the 
day  of  Pentecost.  (See  Shu- 
shan.) 

The  ‘1  bringing  again  iht 
captivity  of  Elam"  (Jer.  xlix. 
39)  is  generally  supposed  to 
refer  to  the  restoration  of  the 
kingdom  of  Persia  by  Cyrus. 

226 


ELD 


ELD 


who  subdued  the  Babylonians, 
as  they  had  previously  subdued 
the  Persians. 

ELATH,  (Deut.  ii.  8,)  or 
ELOTH.  (2Chron.  viii.  17.)  A 
seaport  of  Idumea,  of  great  ce¬ 
lebrity,  lying  on  the  shore  of 
the  eastern  or  Elanitic  gulf  of 
the  Red  Sea.  It  was  a  place 
of  much  importance  in  Solo¬ 
mon’s  lime.  (1  Kings  ix.  26 — 
28.)  It  was  probably  a  part  of 
David’s  conquest,  (1  Chron. 
xviii.  13.)  and  was  recaptured 
by  the  Edomites  in  the  reign 
of  Jehoram,  (2  Kings  viii.  20,) 
was  taken  from  them  again  by 
Uzziah  king  of  Judah,  (2  Kings 
xiv.  22,)  was  afterwards  taken 
by  the  king  of  Damascus,  (2 
Kings  xvi.  6,)  who  was  in  his 
turn  deprived  of  it  by  the  king 
of  Assyria.  (2  Kings  xvi.  7—9.) 
Elath  adjoined  Ezion-Geber, 
and  Alcaba  now  occupies  the 
site  of  one  or  both  of  those 
ancient  towns. 

ELDAD  (Num.  xi,  26)  and 
MEDAD  were  of  the  seventy 
elders  of  Israel  appointed  by 
Moses  to  assist  him  in  the  go¬ 
vernment  of  the  people.  When 
the  elders  were  assembled 
around  the  tabernacle  to  seek 
wisdom  from  God  on  a  particu¬ 
lar  occasion,  Eldad  and  Medad 
were  absent.  The  Spirit  of 
God  was  however  poured  out 
on  them  there,  while  they  con¬ 
tinued  with  the  camp,  as  well 
as  on  their  colleagues  who  sur¬ 
rounded  the  tabernacle,  and 
they  began  to  prophesy.  Their 
proceeding  was  represented  to 
Moses,  and  he  was  asked  to 
prohibit  them,  but  he  declined, 
and,  so  far  from  wishing  them 
to  be  silenced,  uttered  a  prayer 
that  all  the  people  might  re¬ 
ceive  the  same  Spirit  which 
was  upon  Eldad  and  Medad. 

ELDERS.  (Ex.  iii.  16.)  A 
comprehensive  title,  the  pecu¬ 
liar  force  of  which  roust  be 
determined  by  the  connexion, 
fcc.  While  in  Egypt,  the 
‘elders  of  Israel  (Ex.  Iv.  29—31) 


were  probably  either  the  h  'ads 
of  tribes,  or  the  oldest  qua.  most 
judicious  of  the  people.  And 
though  their  authority  was  .n 
its  nature  paternal,  they  wei  ? 
regarded  to  a  certain  exten , 
as  the  representatives  of  thv- 
nation.  In  the  Hebrew  com¬ 
monwealth  every  city  had  itt 
elders.  (Deut.  xix.  12;  xxi.  F 
— 9.  Josh.  xx.  24.  Judg.  viii 
14;  xi.  5,  6.  Ruth  iv.  2.  4.  9 
Ezra  x.  14.) 

There  was  a  body  of  elders 
however, selected  and  appoint 
ed  for  special  duties,  (Num.  xi 
16,  17.  24,  25;)  and  they  seem 
to  have  been  taken  from  tho 
general  class  of  elders.  The 
expression  is,  “  Gather  me  se¬ 
venty  men  of  the  elders  of  Is¬ 
rael,  whom  thou  knuwest  to  be 
elders  of  the  people,  and  offi¬ 
cers  over  thetn." 

The  seventy  men  who  were 
with  Moses  at  mountSiuai  were 
also'  seventy  of  the  elders  of 
Israel.  (Ex.  xxiv.  1.  9.)  At  a 
subsequent  period  of  Jewish 
history,  we  find  a  tribunal  of 
seventy  elders  known  as  the 
sanhedrim,  which  the  rabbies 
maintain  was  a  continuance  of 
the  original  appointment  of 
elders  by  Moses.  It  is  generally 
agreed,  however,  that  the  san¬ 
hedrim  was  a  distinct  organi¬ 
zation,  unknown  till  the  time 
of  the  Maccabees. 

The  term  elders  is  used  in 
the  New  Testamentgenerally, 
if  not  always,  to  denote  a  class 
of  officers  in  the  Jewish  or 
Christian  church.  Concerning 
the  duties  which  appertained 
to  their  office,  there  are  con¬ 
flicting  opinions. 

It  is  supposed  by  some  that 
in  Acts  xi.  30,  the  word  elders 
means  simply  the  aged  men. 

The  word  rendered  elders, 
Acts  xx.  17,  is  rendered  over¬ 
seers,  Acts  xx.  28,  and  bishojys 
in  Phil.  i.  1.  However  difficult 
it  may  be  to  ascertain  its  ori¬ 
ginal  import.,  there  can  be  no 
aoubt  that  one  class  of  the 
227 


ELK 


ELE 


elders  so  frequently  spoken  of 
in  the  New  Testament  by  the 
evangelists  and  others,  con¬ 
stituted  a  judicial  tribunal. 
When  they  are  associated  with 
ihc  apostles,  (as  in  Acts  xv.  6,) 
officers  or  members  of  the 
Christian  church  are  intend¬ 
ed  ;  and  when  they  are  asso¬ 
ciated  with  the  civil  authority, 
(as  in  Acts  xxiv.  1,)  officers  of 
the  Jewish  church  are  intend¬ 
ed.  That  the  corruption  and 
contempt  which  attached  to 
the  latter  in  their  judicial  cha¬ 
racter  was  very  general  in  our 
Saviour’s  time,  appears  from 
Matt.  xxvi.  59;  xxvii.  3.  41; 
and  that  the  former  had  ex¬ 
tensive  ecclesiastical  power, 
appears  from  Acts  xvi.  4. 

Estate  of  the  elders 
(Acts  xxii.  5)  means  the  whole 
body,  bench,  or  order  of  the 
elders. 

ELEALEH.  (Num.  xxxii.  3. 
37.1  A  city  of  the  Amorites, 
assigned  to  the  tribe  of  Reuben. 
It  is"denounced  in  the  prophe¬ 
cies  among  the  cities  of  Moab. 
(Isa.  xv.  4.  Jer.  xlviii.  34.) 
And  to.  this  day  the'  ruins  of  a 
town  are  seen  one  or  two  miles 
nnnh-east  of  Heshbon,  that 
still  retain  the  name  ofEleale 
or  Kl-Aal. 

ELEAZAR.  1.  (Num.  xx. 
28.)  The  third  son  of  Aaron, 
(Ex.  vi.  23,)  and  his  successor 
in  the  office  of  high-priest, 
which  he  held  for  upwards  of 
twenty  years,  and  his  family 
after  him,  till  the  time  of  Eli. 
Nadab  and  Abihu,  Eieazar 
and  Ithamar,  together  with 
their  father  Aaron,  were  con¬ 
secrated  to  the  sacerdotal  of¬ 
fice.  The  first  two  were  struck 
dead  for  a  particular  sin.  (See 
Abihu.) 

Eieazar,  being  the  eldest 
surviving  son,  succeeded  his 
father,  and  was  himself  suc¬ 
ceeded  by  his  eldest  son  Phine- 
has,  according  to  the  covenant. 
(Num.  xxv.  12, 13.)  The  office 
continued  in  Eleazar’s  line 


through  seven  successions,  and 
then  passed  into  the  line  of 
Ithamar,  in  the  person  of  Eli, 
who  was  both  high-priest  and 
judge.  In  Ithamar’s  line,  it 
continued  until  the  reign  of 
Saul,  who  caused  Ahimelech 
to  be  slain,  and  probably  trans¬ 
ferred  the  priesthood  to  Zadok, 
who  was  of  the  line  of  Phine- 
has;  for  in  David's  time  we 
find  the  priesthood  sustained 
jointly  by  Zadok  and  Abiathar, 
who  was  of  Ithamar’s  family. 
(2  Sam.  xx.  25.)  It  is  supposed 
that  Zadok  was  advanced  by 
Saul;  and  David,  not  wishing 
to  depose  him,  but  feeling 
bound  to  advance  Abialhar, 
whose  family  had  sacrificed  so 
many  lives  for  his  sake,  he 
conferred  the  office  on  them 
jointly.  (2Sam.  viii.  17.)  The 
apparent  contradiction  in  this 
last  cited  passage,  by  which 
the  relation  of  Ahimelech  and 
Abiathar  is  reversed,  is  ex¬ 
plained  by  supposing  that  Abi¬ 
athar  had  a  son  Ahimelech, 
and  that  this  son  officiated  in 
his  father’s  stead,  and  hence 
is  spoken  of  as  executing  the 
priest’s  office  with  Abiathar. 
Afterwards,  Abiathar  was  de¬ 
posed,  (1  Kin°s  ii.  27,)  and  Za¬ 
dok  sustained  the  office  alone  ;• 
and  the  succession  continued 
in  his  line  thenceforward  until 
the  captivity. 

Abiathar  received  the  title  of 
high-priest  after  his  deposition, 
(l  Kings  iv.  4,)  but  it  was  no¬ 
thing  more  than  nominal;  it 
could  only  have  been  a  se¬ 
condary  rank,  such  as  Zepha- 
niah  held.  (Jer.  lii.  24.)  Why 
the  sacerdotal  succession  was 
transferred  from  Eieazar  to 
Ithamar,  we  are  not  informed  : 
but  we  are  told  why  it  reverted 
to  the  family  of  Eieazar.  (1 
Sam.  ii.  27,  &e.) 

2.  (1  Chron.  xi.  12.)  A  war¬ 
rior  of  distinguished  courage, 
two  of  whose  exploits  are  re¬ 
corded,  1  Chron.  xi.  H— 18,  and 
2  Sam.  xxiii.  9. 

223 


ELE 

3.  (1  Sam.  vii.  1.)  The  son  I 
of  Abinadab,  to  whose  care  the 
ark  was  committed  when  it 
was  sent  back  by  the  Philis-  j 
tines. 

EL-ELOHE-ISRAEL.  (Gen. 
xxxiii.  20.)  The  word  El  is 
from  a  Hebrew  word  signifying 
strength ,  power,  or  an  object 
of  adoration.  It  is  most  fre¬ 
quently  used  of  God,  but  is 
applied  both  to  Jehovah  and 
to  heathen  gods.  It  enters  into 
the  composition  of  a  variety 
of  words,  to  which  it  gives  a 
highly  significant  meaning, 
as  El-bethel,  Eluzai,  Daniel, 
Jabneel,  Othniel,  Penuel,  &c. 
(See  Eloi.) 

El-bethel.  (Gen.  xxxv.' 
7.)  The.  God  of  Bethel.  The 
same  with  Bethel.  (See  Be¬ 
thel.) 

ELECT,  (1  Pet.  i.  2,)  ELEC¬ 
TION.  (Rom.  ix.  11.)  Both  in 
the  Old  and  New  Testament  a 
class  of  persons  is  spoken  of  as 
the  elect,  mine  elect,  (Isa.  lxv. 
9,)  the  elect,  (Matt.  xxiv.  22,) 
his  elect,  (Mark  xiii.  27,)  his 
ownelect,{ Luke  xviii.7,)  God’s, 
elect,  (Rom.  viii.  33.  Tit.  i.  1,) 
the  elect  of  God.  (Col.  iii.  12.) 
So  also  in  the  New  Testament 
a  corresponding  phrase  often 
occurs,  Elected  together  with 
you,  (IPet.  v.  13,)  the  purpose 
of  God ?  according  to  election, 
(Rom.  ix.  1 1,)  election  of  grace, 
(Rom.  xi.  5,)  election  of  God, 

(1  Thess.  i.  4,)  calling  and, 
election.  (2  Pet.  i.  10.)  These 
terms,  in  their  various  connex¬ 
ions,  involve  a  very  important 
and  interesting  doctrine,  con¬ 
cerning  which  Christians  are 
much  divided  in  opinion.  It 
is  evidently  a  matter  of  mere 
revelation,  and  many  of  the 
reasonings  and  inferences  of 
men  are  therefore  likely  to  be 
very  vain  and  erroneous.  The 
counsel  of  the  Lord,  that  shall  | 
stand.  (Prov.  xix.  21.)  And  j 
we  may  be  fully  ass  red,  that 
in  his  counsel  there  is  nothing  | 
inconsistent  with  the  infinitely  i 
20 


ELI 

perfect  attributes  of  his  cha¬ 
racter. 

Elect  lady.  (2  John  1.) 
Whether  this  title  is  applied 
by  John  to  some  eminent 
Christian  woman,  or  whether 
it  was  a  figurative  expression, 
denoting  a  Christian  church, 
is  uncertain.  The  expressions 
in  verses  4,  5. 8,  and  13,  would 
favour  the  latter  supposition. 

ELEMENTS,  (Gal.  iv.  3.9,) 
elsewhere  rendered  rudiments, 
(Col.  ii.  8.  20,)  or  the  first  prin¬ 
ciples  of  an  art  or  science,  is  a 
term  applied  to  the  ceremonial 
ordinances  of  the  Mosaic  law, 
which  were  worldly,  weak, 
and  beggarly,  inasmuch  as 
they  consisted  very  much  in 
outward  or  worldly  observ¬ 
ances,  (Heb.  ix.  1,)  and  were 
of  temporary  and  partial  ser¬ 
vice,  when  compared  with  the 
disclosures  of  grace  and  mercy 
which  they  were  designed  to 
shadow  forth.  In  the  case  of 
the  Colossians,  probably  these 
rudiments  of  the  world  em¬ 
braced  the  doctrines  of  some 
vain  and  deceitful  philosophy. 

ELI.  (ISam.ii.ll.)  A  de¬ 
scendant  of  Ithamar,  the  fourth 
son  of  Aaron,  and  successor  of 
Abdon,  ashigh-priest  and  judge 
of  Israel.  In  consequence  of 
his  negligence  or  injudicious 
management  of  his  two  sons 
Hophni  and  Phinehas,  he  suf¬ 
fered  severe  chastisement.  Sa¬ 
muel  was  directed  to  disclose 
to  Eli  tl;e  judgments  that 
would  come  upon  his  family, 
(1  Sam.  iii.  13,  14,)  chiefly  be¬ 
cause  of  his  neglect  of  pater 
nal  duty.  The  old  man  re- 
ceived  the  intelligence  with 
remarkable  submission;  but  it 
was  not  until  twenty-seven 
years  after,  that  God  fulfilled 
his  threatenings.  Then  his 
two  sons  were  both  slain  in 
the  same  battle  with  the  Philis¬ 
tines,  into  whose  hands  the  ark 
of  God  fell.  The  aged  priest, 
then  in  his  ninety-eighth  year, 
was  so  overwhelmed  whoa 
229 


ELI 

these  calamities  were  made 
known  to  him,  that  he  fell 
backward  from  his  seat,  and 
broke  his  neck.  He  had  go¬ 
verned  the  Hebrews  in  all 
their  concerns,  civil  and  reli¬ 
gious,  for  the  long  period  of 
forty  years.  (1  Sam.  iv.  18. 
See  Er.oi.) 

ELIAB.  (1  Sam.  xvii.  28.) 
The  eldest  son  of  Jesse,  (1  Sam. 
xvii.  13,)  and  a  man  of  angry 
and  envious  temper,  as  ap¬ 
pears  from  his  treatment  of  his 
brother  David. 

ELIAKIM.  1.  (2Kingsxviii. 
18.)  An  officer  in  the  court  of 
Hezelciah  king  of  Judah,  and 
one  of  the  commissioners  ap¬ 
pointed  to  treat  with  the  king 
of  Assyria,  who  had  laid  siege 
to  Jerusalem.  We  have  a  mi¬ 
nute  and  deeply .  interesting 
account  of  the  whole  scene, 
2  Kings  xviii.  and  xix. 

2.  (2  Kings  xxiii.  34.)  Son 
and  successor  of  Josiah  king  of 
Judah.  His  name  was  changed 
to  Jehoiakim.  (See  Jehoia- 
KIM.) 

ELIAS.  (See  Elijah.) 

EL1ASH1B.  (Neh.  xiii.  4.) 
An  officer  of  the  temple.  To 
oblige  Tobiah,  a  relative,  he 
took  the  stores  out  of  one  of 
the  courts  of  the  temple,  and 
fitted  it  up  for  Tobiah’s  lodg¬ 
ings.  As  soon  as  Nehemian 
knew  of  it,  he  caused  all  To- 
Diah’s  furniture  to  be  cast  out, 
the  apartments  to  be  thorough¬ 
ly  cleansed,  and  the  stores  to 
be  returned. 

ELIEZER.  (Gen.  xv.  2.)  A 
name  of  frequent  occurrence 
in  the  Old  Testament.  The 
most  distinguished  person  who 
bore  it  was  Abraham’s  steward 
and  confidential  servant.  (Gen. 
XX  iv.  2.) 

ELIHU.  (Job  xxxii.  2.)  A 
friend  of  Job,  and  a  kind  of 
arbitrator  in  the  controversy 
between  him  and  three  of  his 
acquaintances  who  had  come 
to  sympathize  with  him  in  his 
oalamities.  Elihu  regarded 


ELI 

both  parties  as  in  the  wrong  • 
Job,  for  justifying  himself  ra¬ 
ther  lhanjGod;  and  his  three 
friends,  for  their’ unfair  or  un¬ 
satisfactory  mode  of  answering 
the  afflicted  patriarch.  Elihu 
was  the  youngest  of  them  all. 
He  is  called  the  Buzite,  from 
Buz,  the  place  of  his  nativit-y, 
probably  a  city  of  Idumea,  as 
were  also  Dedan  and  Teman. 
(Jer.  xxv.  23 ;  xlix.  7,  8.  Ezek. 
xxv.  13.)  The  ground  taken 
by  the  three  friends  of  Job, 
respecting  the  cause  of  his 
calamities,  was,  that  his  pro¬ 
fessions  of  piety  were  hypocri¬ 
tical;  and  these  were  God’s 
judgments  upon  him  for  hi* 
sins.  Elihu  shows  that  this 
inference  of  their’s  was  rash 
and  unauthorized.  He  cen¬ 
sures  many  of  the  feelings  and 
expressions  into  which  Job  had 
been  betrayed  by  the  taunts 
and  reproaches  of  his  visiters; 
and  then  puts  him  in  remem¬ 
brance  of  the  infinite  attributes 
of  the  Divine  Being,  as  a  ground 
of  submission  and"  confidence. 
The  soothing,  yet  faithful  and 
honest,  discourse  of  Elihu  is 
finely  contrasted  with  the 
sharp  and  severe  language  of 
the  other  three ;  and  especial¬ 
ly  are  his  wisdom,  piety,  and 
benevolence  admirable,  when 
we  consider  his  youth  and 
the  character  and  standing  of 
those  whom  he  addressed.  (See 
Job.) 

ELIJAH,  (1  Kings  xvii.  1,) 
or  ELIAS,  (Matt.  xvii.  3,)  was 
a  native  of  Gilead,  and  is 
called  the  Tishbite,  probably 
from  the  name  of  the  town  or 
district  in  which  he  lived.  He 
is  first  introduced  to  our  notice 
as  a  messenger  from  God  to 
Ahab,  the  wicked  king  of  Is¬ 
rael.  He  was  sent  to  titter  a 
prophecy  of  a  three'  years’ 
drought  in  the  land  of  Israel. 
He  was  miraculously  fed,  (I 
Kings  xvii.  6— 1G;  xix.  5—8,) 
and  was  favoured  with  the 
most  remarkable  displays  of 
230 


ELI 

divine  power  in  his  behalf, 
and  in  answer  to  his  prayers. 
(1  Kings  xvii.  17 — 22;  xvi’ii.  15 
• — 16  .xix.  2 — 21.  2Kings  i.  3 — 
17;  ii.  1 — 11. )  Two  of  these 
incidents  are  used  in  the  New 
Testament  to  illustrate  im¬ 
portant  doctrines.  (Luke  iv. 
25,  2G.  James  v.  17,  13.) 

As  a  reprover  of  wicked 
men  in  high  places,  Elijah  dis¬ 
covered  great  intrepidity,  (1 
Kings  xxi.  17—21.  2  Kings  i. 
2—16,)  though  on  one  occasion 
he  seems  to  have  been  betray¬ 
ed  into  some  impatience. 
(1  Kings  xix.  3, 4.) 

Afer  executing  the  prophe¬ 
tic  office  ten  years,  Elijah  was 
translated  to  heaven  in  a  mi¬ 
raculous  manner,  in  -presence 
of  Elisha  and  fifty  other  per¬ 
sons.  The  advent  of  John  the 
Baptist  is  prophesied  under 
the  name  ofElijah.  (Mai.  iv.  5. 
Comp.  Matt.  xi.  14;  xvii.  10. 
Mark  ix.  11.  Luke  i.  17.  For 
a  full  history  of  this  prophet, 
with  illustrative  maps  and 
cuts,  see  Life  of  Elijah.  See 
also  Bible  Pictures,  and 
Widow  and  her  Son,  all  by 
Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

ELIMELECH.  (Ruth  i.  2.) 
A  Bethlehemite.  and  the  hus¬ 
band  ofNaomi,  Ruth’s  mother- 
in-law. 

ELIPHAZ.  (Jobii.  11.)  One 
of  the  three  friends  of  Job  who 
came  to  sympathize  with  him 
in  his  calamities.  He  is  called 
the  Temanite,  probably  be¬ 
cause  he  was  a  native  of  Te- 
man,  a  country  of  Idumea, 
settled  by  one  of  the  descend¬ 
ants  of  Esau.  (Gen.  xxxvi. 
10,  11.  Comp.  Jer.  xlix.  7.  20. 
Ezek.  xxv.  13.  Amos  i.  11, 12. 
Obad.  8,  9.) 

ELISABETH.  (Luke  i.  5.) 
The  wife  of  Zacharias,  and 
greatly  distinguished  as  the 
mother  of  John  the  Baptist. 
She  was  a  descendant  of  Aa¬ 
ron;  and  of  her  and  her  hus¬ 
band  this  exalted  character  is 
given  by  the  evangelist—  They 


ELO 

were  both  righteous  before 
God,  walking  in  all  the  com¬ 
mandments  and  ordinances  of 
the  Lord  blameless.  (See  Za- 
charias.) 

ELISHA,  (1  Kings  xix.  1C, 
the  disciple  and  successor  of 
Elijah,  was  the  son  of  Shaphat, 
and  a  native  of  Abel-Meholah. 
Elijah  was  commanded  to 
anoint  him;  which  service  he 
performed  at  Abel-Meholah, 
where  he  found  Elisha  plough¬ 
ing,  and  threw  his  mantle  over 
him  as  they  stood  in  the  field ; 
thus  signifying  the  service  to 
which  he  was  called.  Elisha 
promptly  obeyed  the  call,  aiid 
leaving  his  oxen  in  the  field, 
took  leave  of  his  father  and 
mother,  and  followed  Elijah 
Many  miracles  were  wrought 
by  Elisha.  (2  Kings  ii.  19-— 
22;  iv.  1.  8 — 37;  v.  vi.  1 — 7. 
See  Naaman.)  He  received 
frequent  and  signal  tokens  of 
the  divine  favour, (2  Kings  ii.  23, 
24 ;  vi.  8 — 23,)  and  uttered  se¬ 
veral  remarkable  predictions. 
(2  Kings  iii.  16—27;  vii.  viii.  7 
— 15.)  He  exercised  the  pro 
phetic  office  upwards  of  sixty 
years  with  great  fidelity  and 
success.  (For  a  full  biography 
of  this  eminent  prophet,  with 
maps  and  cuts,  illustrating  his 
travels  and  the  prominent  in¬ 
cidents  of  his  life,  see  Life  of 
Elisha,  by  Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

ELISHAH.  (Gen.  x.  4.)  A 
son  of  Javan,  who  is  supposed 
to  have  settled  upon  some 
islands  of  the  sea.  (Ezek. 
xxvii.  7.)  Perhaps  Elis  is  the 
Peloponnesus. 

E  L  L  A  S  A  R,  (Gen.  xiv.  1,) 
supposed  to  be  the  same  with 
Thelasar,  (2  Kings  xix.  12.) 
and  Telassar,  (Isa.  xxxvii.  12,) 
was  probably  a  country  of  Ara¬ 
bia,  and  perhaps  the  province 
which  was  afterwards  enlarg 
ed  into  Assyria  or  El-Asur. 

ELM.  (Hos.  iv.  13.)  The 
original  is  elsewhere  trans¬ 
lated  oak.  (See  Oak.) 

ELOl.  (Mark  xv.  34.)  One 
231 


EMB 

of  the  names  of  the  Most  High, 
but  is  applied  to  other  objects 
of  adoration.  It  is  the  allah  of 
the  Arabians.  (See  Ec.)  The 
exclamation  of  our  Saviour  is 
in  the  Syro-Chaldaic  tongue, 
and  is  taken  from  Ps.  xxii.  1. 
The  peculiar  application  of 
the  passage  may  be  learned 
from  comparing  Isa.  liii.  4,  5. 
Zech.  xiii.  7.  Luke  xxii.  53. 
2  Cor.  v.  21.  Gal.  iii.  13. 

ELUL.  (See  Month.) 

ELY  MAS.  (See  Barjesus.) 

EMBALM.  (Gen.  1.2.)  The 
practice  of  embalming  prevail¬ 
ed  at  a  very  early  period.  The 
Hebrews  learned  it  from  the 
by  whom  it  was 
very  perfectly,  and 
it  is  said  that  the  inundation 
of  the  Nile,  which  kept  the  flat 
country  under  water  for  nearly 
two  months  every  year,  proba¬ 
bly  obliged  them  to  resort  to 
some  such  method  of  preserv¬ 
ing  their  dead.  Others  tell  us 
it  was  to  preserve  the  body  for 
the  dwelling  place  of  the  soul, 
after  it  had  completed  its  vari¬ 
ous  transmigrations.  The  em- 
balmers  or  physicians  were 
regarded  as  sacred  officers. 
The  deceased  person  was  open¬ 
ed,  (both  head  and  body,)  the 
inward  vessels  and  organs  en- 


Egyptians, 

understood 


EMB 

tirely  removed,  and  the  cavi¬ 
ties  filled  with  drugs  and 
spices,  —  such  as  myrrh  and 
cassia,— whereby  the  humours 
should  be  imbibed  and  ab¬ 
sorbed,  and  the  torm  preserved 
from  decay.  It  was  then  swath¬ 
ed  in  linen  bandages,  with  a 
profusion  of  aromatics.  The 
price  of  embalming  a  single 
body  was  sometimes  upwards 
of  $1000,  and  from  that  down 
to  $200,  or  $300.  Sometimes 
the  process  lasted  from  thirty 
to  seventy  days,  and  afterwards 
the  body  was  placed  in  a  coffin 
of  sycamore-wood  or  stone,  and 
then  placed  upright  against 
the  walls  of  the  house,  where 
it  often  remained  for  years. 
Finally, the  bodies  were  placed 
in  subterraneous  vaults  in  the 
ground,  or  in  the  rock,  where 
they  were  often  found,  after 
the  lapse  of  two  or  three  thou¬ 
sand  years,  in  a  state  of  perfect 
preservation. 

We  have  no  evidence  that 
embalming  was  practised  by 
the  Hebrews,  except  in  the 
cases  of  Jacob  and  Joseph,  and 
then  it  was  for  the  purpose 
of  preserving  their  remains 
till  they  could  be  carried  into 
the  land  of  promise.  (See 
Burt.) 


232 


EMU 

EMERALD.  (Ex.  xxviii.  18.) 
A  very  valuable  gem,  of  a  pure 
green  colour,  to  which  it  owes 
its  chief  value.  The  deepest 
colours  are  the  most  valuable. 
The  emerald  was  anciently 
obtained  from  Egypt.  It  is 
found  in  Peru  and  the  East 
Indies,  and  was  an  article  of 
Tyrian  merchandise.  (Ezek. 
xxvii.  16;  xxviii.  13.) 

EMERODS.  (1  Sam.  v.  e.  9.) 
The  name  of  a  painful  disease 
sentuponthePhilistines.  Some 
think  it  resembled  the  modern 
disease  of  the  piles;  and  others, 
that  it  was  like  the  dysentery ; 
andothers  still,  that  they  were 
a  very  large  and  venomous 
species  of  the  spider.  It  was 
customary  with  the  heathens 
to  offer  to  their  gods  figures  of 
wax  or  metal,  representing  the 
arts  which  had  been  cured  of 
isease.  Whence  they  infer, 
in  connexion  with  1  Sam.  vi. 
5,  that  the  priests  and  diviners 
of  the  Philistines  recommend¬ 
ed  a  similar  course. 

EMIMS.  (Deut.  ii.  10.)  A 
numerous  and  warlike  people, 
of  gigantic  size,  who  dwelt  on 
the  eastern  borders  of  Canaan, 
and  who  were  supplanted  by 
the  Moabites. 

EMMANUEL.  (See  Imma¬ 
nuel.) 

EMMAUS.  (Luke  xxiv.  13.) 
A  village  seven  or  eight  miles 
north-west  of  Jerusalem.  It 
was  on  the  way  to  this  village 
that  our  Lord  held  a  most  inte¬ 
resting  conversation  with  two 
of  his  disciples.  The  supposed 
ruins  of  the  place  are  still  vi¬ 
sible,  though  too  imperfect  to 
excite  much  interest. 

EMULATION.  (Rom.  xi. 
14.  Gal.  v.  20.)  The  oppo¬ 
site  meaning  of  this  word, 
in  the  passage  above  cited, 
is  obvious.  In  the  last  case, 
it  is  the  same  with  what  is 
elsewhere  called  envy  and 
envyings,  (Acts  xiii.  45.  2  Cor. 
xii.  20;)  and  in  the  former 
passage  it  signifies  that  holy 


ENG 

strife  pr  effort  to  equal  or  excel 
others,  which  is  excited  or  pro¬ 
voked  by  an  exhibition  of  good 
example. 

ENCHANTMENTS.  (See 
Inchanters.) 

ENDOR.  (Ps.  lxxxiii.  10.) 
A  town  of  Manasseh,  with 
in  the  territory  of  Issachar, 
south  of  mount  Tabor,  where 
lived  the  woman  whom  Saul 
consulted  as  having  a  fami¬ 
liar  spirit.  A  cave  is  still 
pointed  out  to  travellers  a  few 
miles  south  of  Nazareth,  as 
the  one  she  inhabited.  (1  Sam. 
xxviii.  7 — 25.)  It  would  seem 
from  the  passage  in  Psalms, 
above  cited,  that  it  was  near 
this  place  that  Barak  defeated 
Sisera.  (Judg.  iv.) 

ENDOW.  (See  Dowrv.) 

ENGEDI,  (2Chron. xx.2,)  or 
HAZAZON-TAMAR.  A  town 
about  thirty  miles  south-east  of 
Jerusalem, and  directly  west  of 
the  southern  extremity  of  the 
Dead  Sea.  It  was  celebrated  for 
its  palm  trees  and  vineyards, 
(Sol.  Song  i.  14;)  and  modern 
travellers  speak  of  the  district 
as  affording  the  richest  wines. 
It  was  also  celebrated  for  its 
caves  and  almost  inaccessible 
fastnesses.  (1  Sant,  xxtii.  29.) 

Wilderness  op.  (1  Sam. 
xxiv.  1.)  Part  of  the  wilder¬ 
ness  of  Judah. 

ENGINES.  (See  War.) 

ENGRAVE.  (Ex.xxviii.il.) 
Engraved  seals  are  spoken  of 
at  a  very  early  period  of  the 
world.  The  names  of  the  chil¬ 
dren  oflsrael  were  directed  to 
be  engraved  on  two  stones ; 
and  the  words  “Holiness  to 
the  Lord”  were  also  to  be 
engraved  on  the  high-priest’s 
breastplate ;  both  to  be  like 
the  engravings  ofasignet.  (Ex. 
xxviii.  11.  36.)  The  signet  is 
mentioned  before  Joseph  was 
sold  into  Egypt.  Jobalsospeaks 
of  engraving  with  an  iron  pen 
upon  a  rock.  (Job  xix.  24.) 
The  ten  commandments  were 
engraved,  (Ex.  xxxii.  16;)  and 


ENO 

graven  images  were  undoubt¬ 
edly  among  the  earliest  objects 
of  idolatrous  worship.  (Ex.  xx. 
4 ;  xxxii.  4.)  Allusion  is  also 
made  to  the  engraver’s  art  in 
Ezek.  xxiii.  14.  The  engraved 
lines  were  probably  filled  in 
with  colouring  matter.  (See 
also  Acts  xvii. 29.  See  Seal.) 

ENOCH,  (Heb.  xi.  5,)  the 
son  of  Jared  and  father  of 
Methuselah,  was  born  A.  M. 
622.  He  is  called  the  seventh 
from  Adam ,  (Jude  14,)  to  dis¬ 
tinguish  him  from  Enoch  the 
son  of  Cain,  who  was  only  the 
third  from  Adam.  We  are 
told  that  he  walked  with  God; 
an  expressive  figure  to  denote 
the  closest  communion  with 
the  divine  being,  and  entire 
conformity  to  his  will.  And 
concerning  his  departure  from 
the  world,  we  are  told  that 
he  was  not ,  for  God  took 
him,  —  a  ,  phrase  which  im¬ 
ports  a  mere  change  of  resi¬ 
dence,  without  suffering  the 
ordinary  dissolution  of  the 
body.  In  this  case,  as  well 
as  in  Elijah’s,  the  body  was 
clothed  with  immortality,  or 
endued  with  the  immortal 
principle  by  the  immediate 
power  u!  Hod.  (1  Cor.  xv.  50.) 

We  have  the  character  of 
Enoch  drawn  by  two  apostles. 
(Heb.  xi.  5.  13.  Jude  14,  15.) 
This  last  passage  has  been  the 
subject  of  some  controversy ; 
but  tlie  truth  is  apparent  that 
Jude  received  a  knowledge  of 
the  prophecy  of  the  ancient 
patriarch,  either  through  tra¬ 
dition  or  directly  from  God.  It 
has  been  remarked  that  each 
of  three  grand  dispensations 
of  religion  had  its  instance  of 
translation  into  heaven:  the 

Eatriarchal,  in  the  person  of 
much;  the  Jewish,  in  the 
person  of  Elijah  ;  and  the 
Christian,  in  the  person  of 
Christ,  the  author  and  spirit 
of  ali. 

F.NON.  (John  iii.  23.)  A 
town  on  the  west  side  of  the 


EPH 

Jordan,  eight  or  ten  miles 
south  of  Eethshean,  abounding 
in  water,  and  distinguished  as 
a  place  where  John 'baptized. 

ENROGEL,  (Josh.  xv.  7,)  or 
the  Fountain  of  Rogel,  or  the 
Fuller’s  Fountain,  or  Mary’s 
Fountain,  was  a  reservoir  of 
water  at  the  fool  of  mount 
Zion,  and,  as  some  suppose, 
the  same  with  the  fountain  of 
Siloam,  whence  the  pool  of  that 
name  is  supplied.  Several 
important  events  of  sacred  his¬ 
tory  are  associated  with  this 
place.  (Josh.xviii.  16.  2Sam. 
xvii.  17.  1  Kings  i,  9.) 

ENSIGN.  (See  Banners.) 

EFAPHRAS.  (Col.  i. 7.)  A 
distinguished  disciple  of  Co- 
losse,  and  a  faithful  minister 
of  the  gospel.  His  character  is 
described  by  the  apostle  Paul, 
(Col.  i.  7,  8;  iv.  12,)  whose  fel¬ 
low  prisoner  he  was  at  Rome. 
(Phile.  23.) 

EPAPHRODITUS.  (Phil.  ii. 
25.)  An  eminent  disciple  who 
resided  at  Philippi,  and  was 
commissioned  by  the  church 
in  that  city  to  visit  the  apostle 
Paul  during  his  imprisonment 
at  Rome,  and  carry  him  some 
supplies.  He  was  taken  sick 
at  Rome,  to  which  circum¬ 
stance,  and  the  procuring 
cause  of  it,  the  apostle  alludes 
with  strong  commendation. 

EPHAH.  (See  Measures.) 

EPHAH.  1.  A  place.  (Isa. 
lx.  6.1 

2.  A  person.  (Gen.  xxv.  4,) 
Ephah  was  a  grandson  of  Abra¬ 
ham,  and  his"  posterity  settled 
in  Arabia. and  were  designated 
by  the  name  of  their  general 
ancestor,  as  in  the  passage 
above  cited  from  Isaiah. 

EPHESIANS.  (Acts  xix.  23.) 
The  citizens  of  Ephesus. 

Epistle  to,  was  written  by 
Paul  to  the  Christians  at  Ephe¬ 
sus.  The  church  in  that  re 
nowned  city  was  established 
and  built  up  under  Paul  s  mi¬ 
nistry  (Acts  xviii.  19.21 ;  xix.) 
about  the  year  54  or  55,  and 


EPH 

this  letter  was  written  by  the 
apostle  about  a.  d.  (30  or  61, 
while  he  was  in  prison  at 
Rome,  and  forwarded  by  Tych- 
icus,  a  beloved  brother  and 
faithful  minister.  (Eph.  vi.  21.) 
The  matter  and  style  of  this 
epistle  are  considered  by  the 
mo3t  eminent  critics  as  pecu¬ 
liarly  elevated  and  animating. 

EPHESUS.  (Acts  xix.  35.) 
A  celebrated  city  of  AsiaMinor, 
Bituated  on  the  river  Cayster, 
near  its  mouth,  about  thirty 
miles  south  of  Smyrna.  It  was 
the  ornament  and  metropolis 
»f  proconsular  Asia,  and  cele¬ 
brated  for  a  magnificent  tem- 
ole  of  Diana.  This  temple  was 
bur  hundred  and  twenty-five 
bet  in  length,  two  hundred 
ind  twenty  in  breadth,  and 
was  supported  by  one  hundred 
columns,  each  sixty  feet  in 
length.  The  building  of  it  oc¬ 
cupied  two  hundred  years. 

When  Paul  came  to  the  city, 
a.d.  54,  he  commenced  preach¬ 
ing  in  the  Jewish  synagogue. 
The  blessing  of  God  attended 
his  ministry.  Several  con¬ 
verts  to  the  faith  of  the  gospel 
were  baptized,  and  had  im¬ 
parted  to  them  the  miraculous 
fts  of  tongues  and  prophecy, 
e  afterwards  commenced 
preaching  in  a  public  build¬ 
ing,  used  for  a  school ;  and 
for  two  years,  day  by  day,  he 
reasoned  publicly  with  the  per¬ 
verse  and  unbelieving  Ephe¬ 
sians.  By  this  means,’  and  by 
a  series  of  wonderful  miracles 
which  he  wrought  by  the  power 
of  God,  his  doctrin^p  became 
universally  known  through  the 
city  and  country,.  Such  was 
the  effect  of  his  preaching,  that 
many  of  the  sorcerers,'  and 
other  persons  who  practised 
the  superstitious  arts  of  leger¬ 
demain  and  necromancy,  col¬ 
lected  together  their  books  on 
these  subjects,  amounting  to 
several  thousand  dollars  in 
value,  and  burned  them.  An 
exhibition  like  this,  of  the 


EPH 

ower  of  divine  truth,  might 

e  expected  to  excite  the  op¬ 
position  of  wicked  men,  and 
especially  those  whose  selfish 
interests  were  likely  to  suffer 
by  the  prevalence  of  true  reli 
gion.  A  great  commotion  was 
accordingly  excited  by  a  class 
of  men  whose  living  depended 
on  the  worship  of  Diana ;  and 
Paul  came  near  falling  into 
theirhands.  (See  Demetkius.) 

Ephesus  was  visited  by  A  pol¬ 
ios,  (Acts  xviii.  24.)  and  it  was 
in  Ephesus  that  Paul  received 
the  kind  offices  of  Onesipho- 
rus. 

The  church  at  Ephesus  is 
severely  rebuked  and  threat¬ 
ened  (Rev.  ii.  1 — 11)  by  the 
great  head  of  the  church,  for 
its  coldness  and  backsliding; 
and  how  fully  the  threat  has 
been  executed,  appears  from 
the  following  account  given  us 
by  a  recent  wanderer  among 
its  ruins.  A  miserable  Turkish 
village,  called  Aijasoluc,  occu¬ 
pies  nearly  the  site  of  the 
ancient  city. 

“  After  breakfasting,”  says  a 
traveller,  “  we  passed  over  to 
the  foot  of  mount  Prion,  (on 
the  side  of  which  the  renowned 
city  was  built,)  and  at  every 
step  we  encountered  some  scat¬ 
tered  fragment  of  antiquity. 
What  was  formerly  the  har¬ 
bour  is  now  a  marsh,  from 
whence  the  sea  has  long  since 
retreated.  On  the  hill  some 
traces  of  the  former  walls,  and 
a  solitary  watch-tower,  mark 
the  extent  of  the  city.  Some¬ 
thing  is  seen  that  is  supposed 
to  be  the  ruins  of  the  theatre 
in  which  Demetrius  and  the, 
excited  multitude  rushed.  Of 
the  temple  of  Diana,  not  a 
stone  remains.  A  more  tho¬ 
rough  change  can  scarcely  be 
conceived  than  that  which  has 
passed  over  Ephesus.  Once 
the  seat  of  active  commerce, 
the  very  sea  has  shrunk  from 
its  solitary  shores.  Its  streets 
once  populous  with  the  devp 


EPH 

tees  of  Diana,  are  now  plough¬ 
ed  over  by  the  Ottoman  serf;  or 
browsed  by  the  sheep  of  the 
peasants.  It  was  early  the 
stronghold  of  Christianity ; 
now  not  a  single  Christian 
dwells  within  it.” 

Mr.  Fisk,  an  American  mis¬ 
sionary,  who  visited  the  ruins 
in  1821,  describes  the  desola¬ 
tion  in  similar  terms,  and 
then  adds :  “  While  wandering 
■fcmong  the  ruins,  it  was  im¬ 
possible  not  to  think,  with 
.deep  interest,  of  the  events 
which  have  transpired  on  this 
spot.  Here  has  been  displayed, 
from  time  to  time,  all  the  skill 
of  the  architect,  the  musician, 
the  tragedian,  and  the  orator. 
Here  some  of  the  most  splendid 
works  of  man  have  been  seen 
in  all  their  glory,  and  here  the 
event  has  shown  their  transi¬ 
tory  nature.  How  interesting 
would  it  be  to  stand  among 
these  walls,  and  have  before 
the  mind  a  full  view  of  the 
history  of  Ephesus  from  its 
first  foundation  till  now !  We 
might  observe  the  idolatrous 
ana  impure  rites,  and  the  cruel 
and  bloody  sports  of  pagans, 
succeeded  by  the  preaching, 
the  prayers, the  holy  and  peace¬ 
able  lives  of  the  first  Chris¬ 
tians, — these  Christians  mar¬ 
tyred,  but  their  religion  still 
triumphing, — pagan  rites  and 
pagan  sports  abolished,  and 
the  simple  worship  of  Christ 
instituted  in  their  room.  We 
might  see  the  city  conquered 
anil  reconquered,  destroyed 
and  rebuilt,  till  finally  Chris¬ 
tianity.  arts,  learning,  and 
prosperity,  all  vanish  before 
ihe  pestiferous  breath  of  ‘the 
*nly  people  whose  sole  occu¬ 
pation  has  been  to  destroy.’ 

“The  plain  of  Ephesus  is 
now  very  unhealthy,  owing  to 
-he  fogs  and  mist  which  al¬ 
most  continually  rest  upon  it. 
t'he  land,  however,  is  rich, 
Ind  the  surrounding  country 
8  both  fertile  and'  healthy. 


EPH 

The  adjacent  hills  would  fur. 
nish  many  delightful  situations 
for  villages,  if  the  difficulties 
were  removed  which  are 
thrown  in  the  way  by  a  de¬ 
spotic  government,  oppressive 
agas,  and  wandering  banditti.” 
(SeeDEMETRius, Diana, Paul.) 

EPHOD.  (Ex.  xxviii.  6.) 
One  of  tlie  articles  of  the 
priest’s  official  dress.  It  was 
made  of  plain  linen,  (1  Sam. 
ii.  18.  2  Sam.  vi.  14,)  except 
the  ephod  of  the  high-priest, 
which  was  embroidered  with 
various  colours.  It  consisted 
of  two  parts,  one  covering  the 
back  and  the  other  the  breast, 
and  both  united  upon  the  two 
shoulders.  It  is  sometimes  de¬ 
scribed  as  having  been  thrown 
over  the  shoulders,  and,  hang¬ 
ing  down  before,  crossed  upon 
the  breast,  and  was  then  car¬ 
ried  round  the  waist  to  serve 
as  a  girdle  for  the  robe.  On 
each  shoulder  was  a  large  pre¬ 
cious  stone  or  button,  upon 
which  were  engraved  the 
names  of  the  twelve  tribes; 
and  upon  the  place  where  it 
arossed  the  breast  was  the 
breastplate.  (See  Breast¬ 
plate.)  The  better  opinion 
is,  that  the  girdle  was  woven 
with  the  ephod,  or  “  upon  it,” 
(Ex.  xxviii.  8,)  and  that  coming 
out  from  it  on  each  side,  it 
was  brought  around  under  the 
arms  like  a  sash,  and  tied  up¬ 
on  the  breast,  and  so  secured 
both  the  ephod  and  the  robe. 
The  ephod,  or  something  re¬ 
sembling  it  and  called  by  the 
same  name,  was  worn  by  others 
besides  the  priests.  (1  Chron. 
XV.  27,  and  passages  before 
cited.) 

EPHRAIM.  1.  Aperson. 
(Gen.  xli.  52.)  The  second  son 
of  Joseph.  Though  younger 
than  Manasseh,  lie  was  the 
object  of  peculiar  favour ;  and 
the  prediction  of  their  grand¬ 
father  Jacob  was  literally  fill- 
filled.  (Comp.  Gen.  xlviii.*- 
20.  Num.  ii.  18, 21.) 


EPH 

2.  Tribe  op,  occupied  one  of 
the  most  eligible  sections  of 
the  land  of  promise.  The  Me¬ 
diterranean  was  on  the  west 
and  the  river  Jordan  on  the 
east,  a  portion  of  Manasseh  on 
the  north  and  parts  of  Dan  and 
Benjamin  on  the  south.  The 
city  of  Shiloh  was  within  the 
bounds  of  Ephraim;  and  after 
the  revolt  of  the  ten  tribes,  the 
capital  of  their  kingdom  was 
always  within  the  bounds  of 
Ephraim:  and  hence  the  whole 
kingdom  is  sometimes  called 
Ephraim.  (Jer.  xxxi.  9. 18. 20.) 

3.  City  op.  (2  Sam.  xiii.  23.) 
A  considerable  town  situated 
about  eight  miles  north  of  Je¬ 
rusalem,  on  the  way  to  Jericho, 
and  within  the  bounds  of  the 
tribe  of  Benjamin.  It  was  to 
this  place  that  our  Saviour 
retired  after  the  raising  of  La¬ 
zarus,  (John  xi.  54;)  and  it  is 
not  improbable  the  same  place 
is  intended  in  2  Chron.  xiii.  19. 

4.  Forest  or  wood  op.  (2 
Sam.  xviii.  6.)  The  territory  ori- 
ginallyassigned  to  the  children 
of  Joseph  (Ephraim  and  Ma¬ 
nasseh)  was  woodland,  (Josh. 
Xvii.  10— 18.  Ps.  cxxxii.6,)and 
probably  a  portion  of  it  re¬ 
maining  uncleared  was  called 
the  wood  or  forest  of  Ephraim. 
(1  Sam.  xiv.  25,  26.  2  Kings  ii. 
24.)  Another  place  of  the  same 
name  was  situated  east  of  the 
Jordan,  near  Jabesh-Gilead, 
and  was  memorable  for  the 
battle  between  David  and  th9 
rebel  army  under  Absalom. 
(2  Sam.  xviii.  6.) 

5.  Mount,  (Josh.  xx.  7,)  was 
south  of  the  plain  of  Esdraelon. 
The  name  was  given  to  a 
range  of  highlands  running 
through  the  possessions  of 
Ephraim.  The  soil  was  fertile, 
except  that  part  of  the  ridge 
which  lay  towards  the  Jordan. 
This  was  rocky  and  difficult 
of  ascent. 

EPHRATAH.  (Ps.  cxxxii. 
6.)  Another  name  for  Ephraim. 
(1  Sam.  i.  1.  1  Kings  xi.  26.) 


EPI 

The  Ephrathites  of  Bethlehem. 
Judah  are  mentioned,  Ruth  i.2, 
and  we  are  else  where  told  that 
Ephrath  is  the  same  witli  Beth¬ 
lehem.  (Gen.  xxxv.  16.  19. 
See  Bethlehem.) 

Bethleh^m-Ephratah  was  so 
called  to  distinguish  it  from 
another  Bethlehem  in  the  tribe 
ofZebulon.  (Josh.  xix.  15.) 

EPHRATH,  (1  Chron.  ii.  19,)  ■. 
or  EPHRATAH,  (verse  50,) 
was  the  second  wife  of  Caleb. 

EPICUREANS  (Acts  xvii. 
18)  were  a  sect  of  Gentile  phi- 
losophers  founded  by  Epicurus, 
who  was  born  in  the  vicinity 
of  Athens  about  three  hundred 
and  forty-five  years  before  the 
birth  of  Christ.  They  were  in 
high  repute  at  Athens  in  Paul’s 
days,  and  among  their  doc 
trines  were  these,— that  the 
world  came  into  bein»,  and 
will  be  dissolved  by  cnance, 
or  by  the  effect  of  mechanical 
causes,  moved  by  chance;  that 
all  events  happen  by  chance, 
or  are  occasioned  by  mechani¬ 
cal  causes ;  that  the  soul  dies 
with  the  body;  that  there  is 
no  future  retribution,  and  that 
man’s  chief  happiness  lies  in 
pleasure  or  bodily  ease.  How 
utterly  at  variance  with  all 
these  false  and  absurd  posi¬ 
tions,  was  the  doctrine  of  “  Je¬ 
sus  and  the  resurrection,”  we 
need  not  show. 

EPISTLES.  (2  Pet.  iii.  16.) 

A  term  applied  to  the  inspired 
messages  or  letters  of  advice, 
addressed  by  the  apostles  or 
first  preachers  of  Christianity 
to  churches  or  individuals;  and 
which,  though  primarily  de¬ 
signed  for  the  rebuke,  instruc¬ 
tion;  guidance,  and  encourage¬ 
ment  of  those  to  whom  they 
were  addressed,  furnish  the 
like  means  of  grace,  and  4he 
like  rule  of  faith  and  practice, 
to  all  Christians  and  churches 
in  like  circumstances.  It  Was 
the  most  natural  course  the 
apostles  could  pursue,  after 
preaching  the  gospel  in  any 


ESA 


ESH 


town  or  district,  and  establish¬ 
ing  a  church,  that  they  should, 
in  their  absence,  address  them 
Dy  letter,  to  remind  them  of  the 
doctrines  aud  injunctions  they 
nad  received,  and  to  illustrate 
more  fully  the  duties  and 
obligations  of  disciples.  The 
epistles  may  be  regarded  as 
illustrating,  applying,  and  en¬ 
forcing  the  truths  which  are 
taught  in  the  parables  and 
conversations,  but  especially 
lu  the  life  and  death  of  the 
divine  Redeemer;  and  they 
resent  to  us  a  beautiful  and 
armonious  system  of  Christian 
precept  and  doctrine. 


Of  the  epistles,  Paul  wrote 
fourteen  ;  James,  one ;  Peter, 
two;  John,  three;  and  Jude, 
one;  which  are  more  particu¬ 
larly  noticed  either  under  the 
names  of  the  individuals  re¬ 
spectively,  or  of  the  churches 
or  persons  to  whom  they  wrote. 
The  followi  ng  table  is  supposed 
to  show  the  probable  chrono¬ 
logical  order  of  the  epistles, 
with  the  places  at  which  they 
were  written,  and  the  date  of 
each.  It  will  be  perceived 
that  the  earliest  and  latest 
date  embrace  a  period  of  less 
than  twenty  years  for  the 
whole. 


Epistle  to  the  Places  where  written.  Tear  of  Christ. 


Galatians 

Thessalonica,  or  Corinth  • 

. 

61-53 

1  Thessalonians 

Corinth  • 

52—54 

2  Thessalonians 

Ibid. 

52—55 

1  Corinthians 

Ephesus 

56 

2  Corinthians 

Macedonia 

57—59 

J  Timothy 

Ibid. 

56—59 

Titus 

Colosse,  or  Macedonia  • 

56—59 

Romans  - 

Corinth  - 

58 

James 

Judea 

61 

Philemon 

Rome 

61—63 

Colossians  • 

Ibid. 

61-62 

Ephesians 

Ibid. 

61—® 

Philippian* 

Ibid. 

62 

Hebrews 

Ibid. 

62-63 

Jude 

Uncertain 

64 

2  Timothy  • 

Rome  • 

61-62 

1  Peter  -  • 

Uncertain 

66 

2  Peter  • 

Uncertain 

68 

1, 2,  and  3  John 

Ephesus 

70 

ERASTUS  (Acts  xix.  22)  was 
the  steward  or  treasurer  of  the 
city  of  Corinth,  (see  Cham¬ 
berlain,)  and  a  convert  un¬ 
der  Paul’s  preaching.  (Rom. 
xvi.  23.)  He  followed  Paul  to 
Ephesus,  and  thence  went  to 
Macedonia,  (Acts  xix.  22,)  and 
afterwards  returned  to  Corinth. 
(2  Tim.  iv.  20.) 

ERECH.  (Gen.  x.  10.)  A  city 
ef  Chaldea,  built  by  Nimrod 
on  the  Tigris.  It  was  called 
Erecca  and  Aracca  by  the 
Greeks  and  Romans.  Some 
have  supposed  there  were  two 
places  of  this  name,  and  others 
that  Erech  was  the  same  with 
Edessa,  (now  Orfah,)  in  north¬ 
ern  Mesopotamia. 

ESAIAS.  (Matt.  iii.  3.)  The 
same  with  Isaiah. 


ESARHADDON.  (2  Kings 

xix.  37.)  Son  and  successor  of 
Sennacherib  king  of  Assyria, 
and  the  same  with  Sargon,(Isa. 

xx.  1,)  and  with  Sardanapalus 
of  profane  history 

ESAU,  (Gen.  xxv.  25,)  or 
EDOM.  (Gen.  xxxvi.  1.)  Son 
oflsaac  and  Rebecca,  and  twin 
brother  of  Jacob.  The  most 
important  events  of  his  life  are 
so  intimately  connected  with 
the  life  of  Jacob,  that  Lhey  will 
be  considered  under  that  ar¬ 
ticle.  His  family  settled  on 
mount  Seir,  east  of  Jordan, 
which  was  hence  called  Edom, 
and  his  descendants  were  the 
Edomites,  one  of  the  most  pow¬ 
erful  and  formidable  nations 
of  that  age.  (See  Edom.) 

E  SHB  AAL.  (1  Chron.  via 
233 


EST 


ETE 


53  )  The  game  wilhTshbosh eth. 
(See  Ishboshbth.)  , 

ESHCOL.  1.  A  person. 
(Gen.  xiv.  24.)  One  of  Abra¬ 
ham’s  allies. 

2.  A  RIVULET,  or  VALLEY, 
(Deut.  i.  24,)  in  the  south  of 
Judea.  The  spies  sent  out  by 
the  Israelites  to  explore  the 
promised  land  and  ascertain 
its  situation,  fertility,  &c.  &c., 
came  to  this  brook,  and  cut 
down  a  branch  of  a  vine  with  a 
eingle  cluster  of  grapes,  which 
was  so  large  and  heavy  as  to 
he  borne  upon  a  staff  by  two 
men.  This  they  took  to  their 
brethren,  as  a  visible  illustra¬ 
tion  of  the  richness  of  the  soil 
and  its  productions.  (Num. 
xiii.  24;  xxxii.  9.) 

ESHTAOL.  (Josh,  xv,  33.) 
A  town  in  the  valley  or  low¬ 
lands  of  Judah,  though  after¬ 
wards  in  the  possession  of  Dan. 
(Judg.  xiii.  23 ;  xvi.  31.)  It  is 
supposed  to  have  been  situated 
south-east  of  Askalon.  • 

ESHTEMOA.  (Josh.  xxi.  14. 
1  Chron.  vi.  57,)  or  ASHTE- 
MOH.  (Josh.  xv.  50.)  A  town 
in  the  southern  part  of  Judah, 
assigned  to  the  sons  of  Aaron. 

ESPOUSE.  (See  Betroth.) 

ESROM.  (Matt.  i.  3.  Luke 
Hi.  33.)  The  same  with  Hezron. 
(Gen.  xlvi.  12.) 

ESTATE  (Mark  vi.  21)  is 
the  general  name  for  an  order 
nr  class  of  men  in  society  or 
government.  As  in  Great  Bri¬ 
tain,  the  lords  and  commons 
are  called  the  estates  of  the 
realm.  (See  Elders.) 

ESTHER,  or  HADASSAH. 
(Esth.  ii.  7.)  An  orphan  child 
of  the  kindred  of  Mordecai, 
whom  he  adopted  as  his  own 
daughter.  She  was  fair  and 
beautiful,  and  in  process  of 
time  became  the  wife  of  Aha- 
euerus,  one  of  the  most  distin¬ 
guished  of  the  monarchs  of 
the  east.  (The  history  of  this 
celebrated  queen,  in  all  its  de¬ 
tail  is  given  in  Hadassah;  by 
Aru.  S.S.  Union,  with-a  variety 


of  beautiful  illustrative  engrav* 
ings.) 

Book  of,  is  the  seventeenth 
i  n  the  order  of  the  books  of  the 
Old  Testament,  and  embraces 
a  period  of  probably  less  than 
twenty  years,  commencing 
about,  a.  M.  3544.  The  author 
of  the  book  is  not  certainly 
known.  It  bears  the  most  un¬ 
questionable  internal  evidence 
of  its  authenticity,  andthefeast 
of  Purirn,  of  the  institution  of 
which  this  book  gives  an  ac¬ 
count,  is  still  observed  by  the 
Jews ;  who  hold,  that  whatever 
may  be  the  fate  of  the  other 
parts  of  their  Scriptures,  this 
will  ever  be  preserved.  It 
contains  an  account  of  the  ele¬ 
vation  of  Esther  to  the  throne, 
the  pride  and  envy  of  Haman, 
his  malicious  plot  for  the  de¬ 
struction  of  the  Jews,  the  turn¬ 
ing  of  his  schemes  against 
himself,  the  honour  and  dig¬ 
nity  of  Mordecai,  the  destruc¬ 
tion  of  the  enemies  of  the  Jews, 
(and  among  them  Haman’s 
family,)  and  the  power  and 
glory  of  the  king. 

ETAM.  (Judg.  xv.  8. 11.)  A 
famous  rock,  probably  near  a 
city  of  the  same  name  in  Judah, 
built  by  Rehoboam,  (1  Chron. 
iv.  32.  2Chron.  xi.  6,)  and  ly¬ 
ing  between  Bethlehem  and 
Tekoah.  Modern  maps  place 
it  in  the  tribe  of  Simeon,  east 
of  Gaza. 

ETERNAL,  ETERNITY. 
(Deut.  xxxiii.  27.  Isa.  lyii.  15.) 
These  terms,  when  applied  to 
Jehovah,  embrace  ‘.lie  past  as 
well  as  the  future.  Being  self- 
existent,  he  must  be  eternal. 
He  is  without  beginning  or 
end  of  years.  When  applied 
to  the  future  existence,  happi¬ 
ness,  or  misery  of  man,  (MatJ. 
xix.  1G.  2Cor.  iv.  17.  Jude  7,) 
they  denote  the  endlessness 
of  the  state.  And  it  is  to  be 
observed,  that  if  the  word  is 
restricted  in  its  application  te 
future  punishment,  it  must 
restricted  in  the  same  degree 
239 


ETH 

n  its  application  to  future  hap- 
piness  and  even  existence. 
When  applied  to  the  princi¬ 
ples  of  truth  and  justice,  they 
signify  unchangeableness.  The 
words  forever,  everlasting, 
eternal,  & c.,  are  often  used 
figuratively  to  denote  long  du¬ 
ration,  as  Gen.  xvii.  8;  xlix. 
26.  Ex.  xii.  14 ;  but  this  restrict¬ 
ed  sense  is  always  shown  by 
the  connexion,  and  affords  no 
argument  in  favour  of  the  like 
restrictions  in  other  connex¬ 
ions,  where  the  term  is  evi¬ 
dently  employed  in  its  full 
force  and  extent. 

ETHAM.  (Nuin.  xxxiii.  6.) 
One  of  the  early  stations  of  the 
Israelites  in  thetr  journeyings 
to  Canaan.  It  is  said  to  have 
Deen  in  the  edge  of  the  wilder¬ 
ness,  and  was  probably  situ¬ 
ated  at  the  extremity  of  the 
western  gulf  of  the  Red  Sea. 

The  wilderness  op  Etham 
(Num.  xxxiii.  8)  was  probably 
art  of  the  great  desert  or  wil- 
erness  of  Shur,  which  lay 
around  the  bottom  of  the  west¬ 
ern  eulf  of  the  Red  Sea. 

ETHAN,  (1  Chron.  vi.  44,) 
called  ijhe  Ezrahitc,  (Ps. 
Ixxxix.  title,)  was  of  the  tribe 
of  Levi,  and  was  remarkable 
for  his  wisdom.  (1  Kings  iv.  31.) 
He  is  supposed  to  have  written 
the  eighty-ninth  Psalm,  and 
was  a  leader  of  the  temple  mu¬ 
sic.  (1  Chron.  xv.  19.) 
ETHANIM.  (See  Months.) 
ETHIOPIA.  (Acts  viii.  27.) 
The  Hebrew  word  Cush,  which 
is  here  and  elsewhere  trans¬ 
lated  Ethiopia,  seems  to  have 
been  applied  to  at  least  three 
distinct  countries.  It  was  used 
very  much  as  the  word  India 
is  at  this  day. 

1.  In  Zeph.  iii.  10,  where  the 
prophet  speaks  of  Judah’s  re¬ 
turn  from  captivity,  it  refers 
probably  to  the  country  east 
of  the  Tigris,  the  principal  seat 
of  the  captivity,  which  is  call¬ 
ed  Cuthah.  (2 Kings  xvii.  24. 
Comp.  Ps. lxviii.  31.  Isa.xviii.) 


EVA 

Profane  writers  call  this  eoun. 
try  Ethiopia,  or  Cush,  from 
which  the  modern  name  Khu- 
sistan  is  derived. 

2.  In  Num.  xii.  1,  the  word 
Ethiopian  is  applied  to  a  coun¬ 
try  of  southern  Arabia,  lying 
along  the  Red  Sea,  elsewhere 
called  Cushan,  (Hab.  iii.  7;)  in 
which  last  passage  allusion  is 
made  to  the  portion  of  history 
recorded,  Num.  xxxi. 

3.  In  numerous  other  pas¬ 
sages,  (Isa.  xlv.  14.  Jer.  xiii.23. 
Ezek.  xxix.  10;  xxx.  4.  9.  Acts 
viii.  27,)  it  must  be  understood 
as  Ethiopia  proper,  lying  south 
of  Egypt,  and  including  the 
modern  countries  of  Nubia  and 
Abyssinia.  It  was  a  mountain¬ 
ous  and  well  watered  country. 
(Isa.  xviii.  2.  Zeph.  iii.  10.) 
The  northern  part  of  Ethiopia 
was  called  bjr  the  Hebrews 
Seba,  (Isa.  xliii.  3,)  after  the 
eldest  son  of  Cush,  (Gen.  x.  7,) 
and  by  the  Romans  Meroi. 
The  inhabitants  are  said  to 
have  been  men  of  stature,  (Isa. 
xlv.  14;)  and  this  is  confirmed 
by  an  eminent  Greek  histo¬ 
rian,  who  says  they  are  the 
“  tallest  of  men.” 

The  Ethiopian  queen  Can¬ 
dace  (which,  as  profane  histo¬ 
rians  say,  was  the  common 
name  of  the  queens  of  that 
country)  reigned  in  Seba.  Her 
treasurer  was  baptized  by  Phi¬ 
lip.  (Acts  viii.  27.)  There  is  a 
version  of  the  Scriptures  in  the 
Ethiopian  tongue. 

EUNICE.  (2  Tim. i.  5.)  The 
mother  of  the  evangelist  Timo¬ 
thy.  She  was  by  birth  a  Jewess, 
but  married  a  Gentile.  (Acts 
xvi.  1.) 

EUNUCH.  (2  Kings  ix.  32.) 
Eunuchs  were  employed  by 
eastern  kings  to  take  charge 
of  the  beds  and  lodging  apart¬ 
ments,  and  also  of  the  secluded 
princesses.  (Esth.  ii.  3.)  In 
Persian  and  Turkish  courts 
the  principal  offices  are  held 
by  eunuchs.  (Acts  viii.  27.) 
EUPHRATES,  (Gen.  ii.  14, 
240 


EXIT 

a  famou#river  of  Asia,  rises  in 
Armenia,  on  the  northern  side 
of  mount  Taurus,  receives  ma¬ 
ny  tributaries  in  its  winding 
course  along  the  borders  of  Sy¬ 
ria,  and  skirting  the  Arabian 
desert  passes  through  the  mid¬ 
dle  of  Babylon  to  the  sea.  Its 
whole  length  is  fifteen  hundred 
miles.  It  is  navigable  for  ships 
of  five  hundred  tons  to  Bas- 
sora,  seventy  miles  above  its 
mouth,  and  for  large  boats,  one 
hundred  and  fifty  miles.  It 
flows  in  a  broad,  deep  current, 
filled  to  the  level  of  its  banks, 
and  at  Babylon  is  considera¬ 
bly  less  than  a  mile  in  width. 
^The  Tigris  flows  in  a  narrower 
‘channel,  with  deeper  banks, 
and  a  less  rapid  current.  The 
country  between  the  two  rivers 
slopes  towards  the  Tigris,  and 
thus  greatly  favours  the  drain¬ 
ing  off  of  the  superfluous  wa¬ 
ters  of  the  Euphrates. 

The  Euphrates  overflows  its 
banks  in  the  spring,  of  every 
year,  when  the  snow  of  the  Ar¬ 
menian  mountains  dissolves ; 
and  it  sometimes  rises  twelve 
feet.  Dykes,  lakes,  and  canals, 
constructed  at  vast  expense, 
preserved  the  water  for  irriga¬ 
tion  during  the  dry  season,  and 
prevented  its  carrying  away 
the  soil.  The  Euphrates  is 
called  in  Scripture  the  great 
river ,  and  was  the  eastern 
boundary  of  the  promised  land. 
(Deut.  i.  7.  Josh.  i.  4.) 

EUROCLYDON.  (Acts 
xxvii.  14.)  A  very  tempestu¬ 
ous  wind,  and  now  known  un¬ 
der  the  name  of  a  Levanter. 
It  blows  from  all  points,  and 
its  danger  results  from  its  vio¬ 
lence  and  the  uncertainty  of 
its  course. 

EUTYCHUS.  (Acts  xx.  9.) 
The  name  of  a  young  man  who 
fell  from  the  third  story  of  a 
house  where  Paul  was  preach¬ 
ing  in  Troas.  It  is  generally 
supposed  he  was  killed  by  the 
fall,  and  that  his  restoration  to 
life  was  a  miracle.  It  is  not  im- 
21 


EVE 

portantto  prove  thispoint, how¬ 
ever,  inasmuch  as  the  posses¬ 
sion  of  the  gift  of  miracles  bythe 
apostle  is  sufficiently  shown 
without  it.  (See  Dwellings.) 

EVANGELIST.  (Acts  xxi.  8.) 
One  who  brings  good  tidings. 
Hence  the  writers  of  the  four 
gospels  are  called  "  the  evan¬ 
gelists,’'  because  they,  in  a  pre- 
eminent  sense,  declare  good 
tidings  of  salvation  through 
Christ.  Evangelists  were  early 
designated  as  a  particular  class 
of  religious  teachers,  (Eph.  iv. 
11;)  and  some  suppose  that, 
without  being  attached  to  any 
particular  church,  they  aban¬ 
doned  all  worldly  relations 
and  pursuits,  and  probably  by 
the  commission  of  the  apos¬ 
tles,  preached  the  gospel 
wherever  they  were  called. 
(2  Tim.  iv.  5.)  Others  suppose 
that  they  were  rather  se¬ 
condary  or  assistant  apostles, 
and  were  entirely  under  the 
authority  and  direction  of  the 
chief  apostles  when  they  or¬ 
dained  ministers  and  regulated 
churches.  The  primitive  order 
of  evangelists,  distinct  from 
other  public  religious  teachers, 
is  supposed  to  have  been  mere¬ 
ly  temporary,  like  that  of  apos¬ 
tles  and  prophets.  And  there 
is  no  doubt  that  whatever  ex¬ 
traordinary  gifts  and  powers 
they  possessed  have  ceased; 
but  the  principal  duties  and 
services  which  they  performed, 
and  many  to  which  they  were 
not  called,  seem  to  have  fallen 
upon  those  who  in  modern  days 
are  called  missionaries. 

EVE.  (Gen.iii.20.)  The  name 
given  by  Adam  to  his  wife.  It 
is  derived  from  a  word  which 
signifies  life,  and  was  applied 
to  her  as  the  mother  of  all  the 
living.  In  consequence  of  her 
disobedience  to  thedi  vine  com¬ 
mand,  (see  Adam,)  she  was 
doomed  to  suffer  a  multiplica¬ 
tion  and  aggravation  of  sorrow, 
especially  in  the  birth  of  her 
offspring.  It  was  also  declared 


EYI 


EIO 


concerning  her,  that  her  desire 
should  be  to  her  husband,  and 
he  should  rule  over  her.  (Gen. 
iii.  16.)  It  is  well  known  that 
in  those  countries  which  are 
unenlightened  by  the  gospel, 
women  are  the  most  degraded 
and  miserable  slaves  to  man  ; 
and,  taking  into  view  the  deli¬ 
cacy  and  sensitiveness  which 
are  characteristic  of  their  sex, 
we  may  suppose  this  part  of 
the  original  sentence  is  visited 
upon  millions  of  them  with  in¬ 
tense  severity  even  at  this  day. 

EVENING,  (Ps.  lv.  17,) 
EVENTIDE.  (Gen.  xxiv.  63.) 
The  Hebrews  reckoned  two 
evenings :  one  commencing  at 
sunset,  and  embracing  the  pe¬ 
riod  of  twilight;  and  the  other 
commencing  at  dark.  Some 
suppose  that  the  first  evening 
commenced  as  early  as  three 
o’clock  in  the  afternoon,  and 
the  second  at  sunset.  It  was 
in  the  interval  between  the 
two  evenings,  at  whichever  of 
these  periods  it  occurred,  that 
the  passover  was  to  be  killed 
and  the  daily  sacrifice  offered. 
(See  marginal  reading  of  Ex. 
xii.  6.  Num.  ix.  3 ;  xxviii.  4.) 
Eventide  is  the  same  with 
evening-time. 

EVIL-MERODACH.(2Kings 
XXV.  27.)  Son  and  successor  of 
Nebuchadnezzar  kingofBaby- 
lon,  who  reigned  during  the 
exile  of  that  monarch  from  hu¬ 
man  society.  Soon  after  his 
permanent  accession  to  the 
throne,  he  released  Jehoiachin 
king  of  Judah  from  prison,  and 
treated  him  with  great  regard 
through  life.  (Jer.  Iii.  31—34.) 
It  is  supposed  that  when  Nebu¬ 
chadnezzar  was  restored  to  his 
reason  and  his  crown, he  caused 
Evil-Merodach  to  be  imprison¬ 
ed  for  the  abuses  of  which  he 
was  guilty  while  he  adminis¬ 
tered  the  government,  and  that 
it  was  then  he  became  ac- 

{[uainted  with  Jehoiachin  as  a 
ello.w  prisoner.  He  at  last  fell 
a  victim  to  a  conspiracy, formed 


among  his  own  kindred,  head, 
ed  by  his  brother-in-law  Neri 
glissar,  who  succeeded  him. 
'EXCHANGERS.  (See 
Changers  of  Money.) 

EXODUS.  The  nameof the 
second  book  of  Rioses,  and  the 
second  in  the  order  of  the 
booksof  theold  Testament,  and 
descriptiveof  its  design;  for  the 
word  is  derived  from  a  Greek 
word  which  signifies  going  out, 
or  departing ;  and  the  book 
contains  the  history  of  the  re¬ 
lease  of  the  Israelites  from 
their  bondage  in  Egypt,  and 
of  their  going  out  of  that  coun 
try  up  to  the  promised  land. 

This  book  is  cited  as  the 
work  of  Moses  by  David,  Da 
niel,  and  others  of  the  sacred 
writers ;  and  it  has  been  re. 
marked,  that  twenty-five  dis 
tinct  passages  are  quoted  from 
it  by  Christ  and  his  apostles  in 
express  words,  and  nineteen 
in  substance.  It  comprehends 
a  h  istory  of  nearly  one  hundred 
and  forty-five  years,  viz.  from 
A.  M.  2369  to  A.  M.  2514,  inclu¬ 
sive,  or  from  the  death  of  Jo¬ 
seph  to  the  erection  of  the 
tabernacle ;  and  informs  us 
respecting  the  birth,  preser¬ 
vation,  education,  exile,  and 
divine  legation  of  Moses,  and 
the  miraculous  deliverance 
of  Israel  from  the  bondage  of 
Egypt,  the  institution  of  the 
passover,  the  entrance  into  the 
wilderness  of  Sinai,  and  their 
subsequent  journeyings,  until 
the  giving  of  the  law  and  the 
building  of  the  tabernacle. 

The  third  and  fourth  vo¬ 
lumes  of  Union  Questions 
are  framed  upon  portions  of 
this  book,  and  contain  map* 
of  the  journeyings  of  the  child¬ 
ren  of  Israel,  while  the  Teach¬ 
er’s  Assistant,  in  the  use  of 
those  two  volumes, and  theLiFB 
of  Moses,  with  maps,  &g., 
furnish  a  full  exposition  of  the 
leading  passages  of  the  history. 
All  thq  above  works  are  pub 
lished  by  the  Am.  S.  S.  Uuiu 


EZE 


EZR 


EXORCISTS.  (Acts -six.  13.) 
^■hose  who,  by  the  use  of  the 
name  of  God,  attempted  to  ex¬ 
pel  evil  spirits  from  places  or 
persons  of  whom  they  had  pos¬ 
session.  It  was  not  an  un¬ 
common  profession  among  the 
Jews,  as  we  may  infer  from 
Matt.  xii.  27,  and  Mark  ix.38. 

EXPIATION,  FEAST- OF. 
(See  Feasts.) 

EYES.  (Gen.  xiii.  10.)  The 
figurative  uses  of  this  word 
abound  in  the  sacred  writings, 
and  are  generally  obvious.  In 
the  visions  of  Ezekiel  and 
John,  (Ezek.  i.  18;  x.  12.  Rev. 
iv.  6.  8,)  the  allusions  are  evi. 
dently  to  the  alacrity  and  vigi¬ 
lance  with  which  the  ministers 
of  Jehovah  perform  his  will. 

EYELIDS.  (Prov.  vi.  25.) 
The  custom  of  adorning  the 
eyelids  in  any  way  for  effect  is 
not  known  among  us,  but  the 
practice  is  often  alluded  to  in 
the  sacred  writings,  (2Kings 
ix.  30.  Jer.  iv.30.  Ezek.  xxili. 
40,)  and  prevails  extensively 
now  among  eastern  ladies. 
The  hair  and  edges  of  the  eye¬ 
lids  are  tinged  with  a  fine 
black  powder,  moistened  with 
oil  or  vinegar,  which  causes 
a  small  black  line  to  appear 
around  the  edge,  and  at  a  dis¬ 
tance,  and  especially  by  can¬ 
dlelight,  gives  a  heavy  dark 
shade  to  the  eyes.  The  man¬ 
ner  of  doing  it  is  particularly 
described  bv  travellers.  A 
smooth  cylindrical  piece  of 
silver  or  ivory,  shaped  like  a 
quill,  and  about  two  inches 
long,  is  dipped  into  the  com¬ 
position  and  placed  within  the 
eyelashes,  which  are  closed 
over  it. 

EZEKIEL,  (Ezek.  i.  3,)  the 
son  of  Buzi,  was  both  a  pro¬ 
phet  aqd  priest  of  the  Jews, 
and  was  carried  into  capti¬ 
vity  with  Jelioachin  king  of 
Judah,  B.  c.  598,  and  was 
probably  settled,  with  other 
exiles,  on  the  banks  of  the 
Cltebar,  a  river  of  Chaldea. 


(See  Chebar.)  He  was  favour¬ 
ed  with  sublime  visions  of  the 
divine  glory,  and  his  prophecy 
as  a  whole  is  characterized  by 
great  force,  sublime  imagery, 
and  as  much  perspicuity  as 
the  subjects  of  it  would  allow. 

Prophecy  of,  is  the  twenty- 
sixth  in  the  order  of  the  books 
of  the  Old  Testament.  It 
was  uttered  during  a  period  of 
about  twenty-one  years,  be¬ 
tween  b,  c.  590  and  B.  c.  540. 
The  first  eight  years  of  this 
period  were  contemporaneou 
-with  the  last  eight  of  Jere¬ 
miah.  The  prophecy  relates 
chiefly  to  Tyre,  Egypt,  Edom, 
and  Judea.  It  contains  the 
most  solemn  denunciations 
against  the  idolatry, hypocrisy, 
and  rebellion  of  the  Jews,  with 
exhortations  to  faith  and  con¬ 
fidence  in  God’s  righteousness, 
and  with  promises  of  mercy 
and  final  restoration. 

EZION-GEBER,  or  GABER. 
(Num.  xxxiii.  35.  1  Kings  ix. 
26.)  A  city  of  Arabia,  at  the 
head  of  the  eastern  or  Elanitic 

fulf  of  the  Red  Sea,  adjoining 
Hath.  It  was  here  that  Solo¬ 
mon’s  vessels  were  built, which 
were  intended  to  trade  with 
Ophir  and  Tarshish.  It  de¬ 
rives  its  name  (Ezion-Geber, 
or  the  back-bone  of  a  man ) 
from  a  reef  of  rocks  at  the 
entrance  of  the  harbour  re¬ 
sembling  that  part  of  the  hu¬ 
man  frame.  (See  Elath.) 

EZRA  (Ezra  vii.  1)  was  a 
son  or  rather  descendant  of 
Seraiah,  who  was  slain  by  or 
der  of  the  king  of  Babylon 
(2 Kings  xxv.  18— 21.)  He  go¬ 
verned  Judea  twelve  years, 
under  a  commission  from  the 
king  of  Persia,  which  ex¬ 
pired  a.  m.  3558,  when  he  was 
superseded  by  Nehemiah.  He 
then  engaged,  as  it  is  supposed, 
in  collecting  and  publishing 
the  Jewish  Scriptures,  and  re¬ 
storing  the  purity  of  the  Jewish 
worship. 

Book  of,  is  the  fifteenth  ta 
243 


EZR 

the  order  of  the  books  of  the  ] 
Old  Testament,  and  is  a  con¬ 
tinuation  of  the  Jewish  history 
from  the  close  of  the  book  of 
Chronicles.  The  period  em¬ 
braced  by  it  is  front  seventy- 
five  to  one  hundred  years, 
between  3450  and  3550;  and  it 
may  be  read  most  profitably 
in  connexion  with  the  prophe¬ 
cies  of  Haggai  and  Zechariah. 
It  contains  a  history  of  the  re¬ 
turn  of  the  Jews  from  the  time 
of  Cyrus,  with  an  account  of 
his  own  subsequent  proceed¬ 
ings.  There  are  two  apocry-, 
plial  books  ascribed  to  him 
under  the  name  of  Esdras, 
which  is  the  Greek  form  of 
the  name  Ezra. 

The  book  of  Ezra  is  written 
in  Chaldee  from  the  eighth 
verse  of  the  fourth  chapter  to 
the  nineteenth  verse  of  the 
sixth  chapter,  and  from  the  be¬ 
ginning  of  the  seventh  chapter 
to  the  twenty -seventh  verse; 
for  as  this  part  of  the  work 
contains  chiefly  letters,  con¬ 
versation,  and  decrees  uttered 
ia  that  language,  it  was  con- 


EZR 

sistent  with  the  fidelity  of  the 
sacred  historian,  to  transcribe 
the  very  words  which  were 
used ;  especially  as  the  people 
recently  returned  from  the 
captivity  were  familiay,  and 
perhaps  more  conversant  with 
the  Chaldee,  than  even  with 
the  Hebrew  tongue ;  and  it  was 
probably  about  this  time  that 
the  Chaldee  paraphrases  be¬ 
an  to  be  used ;  for  it  appears 
y  Nehemiah’s  account, that  all 
could  not  understand  the  law  j 
which  may  mean  that  some  of 
them  had  forgotten  the  Hebrew 
during  their  dispersion  in  the 
captivity.  Some  assign,  like¬ 
wise,  to  this  time,  the  origin  of 
the  Jewish  synagogues,  though 
it  is  possible  that  they  existed 
before  the  captivity.  (For  a 
particular  and  highly  inte¬ 
resting  account  of  Ezra,  and 
the  events  of  his  time,  see 
Elisama,  ch.  xi. ;  and  for  an 
historical  and  chronological 
analysis  of  the  events  of  the 
same  period,  see  Union  Ques¬ 
tions,  vol.  ix.,  both  by  Am.  S. 
S.  Union.) 


FAC 

ACE.  (Gen.  iii.  19.  See 
Blackness.)  Whatever  of 
a  thing  is  most  exposed  to  view, 
is  called  its  face ;  hence  we 
read  of  the  face  of  the  country, 
field,  gate, house,  ground, porch, 
wilderness,  waters,  sky,  &c. 

Face,  when  applied  to  God, 
denotes,  (1.)  His  omniscience, 
0  Sam.  xxvi.  20;)  and  to  pro¬ 
voke  him  to  the  face,  is  to  do  it 
very  openly  and  impudently. 
(Isa.  lxv.  3.)  (2.)  The  brighter 
displays  of  his  glory,  which 
cannot  be  enjoyed  in  this 
world.  (Ex.  xxxiii.  20.  1  Tim. 
vi.  16.)  (3.)  His  favour  and 
love,  and  the  gracious  displays 
thereof:  this  is  always  meant, 
when  his  face  is  said  to  shine, 
or  it  is  represented  as  a  mercy 


FAI 

to  behold  and  enjoy  it,  or  a 
misery  to  be  deprived  of  it. 
(2Chron.  xxx.  9.  Ps.  xxxi..l6 ; 
lxxx,  7.  Dan.  ix.  17.)  (4.)  His 
wrath,  and  the  providential 
displays  thereof.  (Ps.  xxxiv. 
16.)  Christ’s  face  denotes,  (1.) 
His  person  and  office,  as  the 
image  of  the  invisible  God. 
(2  Cor.  iv.  6.)  (2.)  His  gracious, 
glorious,  or  terrible  appear¬ 
ances.  (Rev.  xx.  11.) 

FAIR  HAVENS.  (Acts 
xxvii.  8.)  The  name  of  a 
harbour  or  anchorage  on  the 
southern  shore  of  the  island 
of  Crete.  (See  Crete.) 

FAIRS  (Ezek.  xxvii.  12) 
may  either  mean  periodical 
meetings  of  buyers  and  sellers, 
for  purposes  of  merchandise, 
244 


FAM 

or  fixed  places  of  buying  and 
selling 'in  any  city  or  town, 
such  as  we  call  markets. 

FAITH.  (Matt.  viii.  10.)  The 
word  sometimes  denotes  the 
credit  we  give  to  the  declara¬ 
tion  of  God,  or  to  the  evidence 
of  the  parts  or  propositions  pre¬ 
sented  to  us  in  the  Bible.  The 
word  is  also  used  to  denote  the 
truth  of  the  gospel,  or  that 
which  is  the  object  of  faith. 
(Jude  3.)  The  faith  which  is 
necessary  to  salvation,  and 
without  which  it  is  impossible 
to  please  God,  (Heb.  xi.  6,)  com¬ 
bines  assent  with  reliance,  be¬ 
lief  with  trust.  Thus  Christ  is 
exhibited  in  the  gospel  as  hav¬ 
ing  made  an  atonement  for 
sin;  arid  whoever  believeth  in 
him  shall  not  perisln  but  have 
everlasting  life.  Exercising 
this  faith,  the  sinner  is  receiv¬ 
ed  and  treated  as  if  he  were 
ju3t  and  righteous ;  and  hence 
4,-he  process  is  called  justifica¬ 
tion  by  faith.  The  belief  or 
faith  in  him,  by  winch  this 
salvation  is  secured,  includes 
not  only  a  cordial  concurrence 
of  the  will  and  affections,  in 
this  scheme  or  plan  of  redemp¬ 
tion,  together  with  all  its  rela¬ 
tions  and  bearings,  as  they  are 
revealed  in  the  gospel,  but 
also  such  an  actual  personal 
trust  in  Christ  as  a  Saviour,  as 
leadirto  the  renunciation  of 
every  other  trust ;  to  the  for¬ 
saking  of  all  known  sin,  and 
to  the  cheerful  and  constant 
obedience  of  all  his  commands. 

The  faith  of  God,  (Rom.  in. 
2,)  means  his  faithfulness. 

FAITHFULNESS  (Ps. 
lxxxix.  1. 33, 34)  is  a  divine  at¬ 
tribute,  and  denotes  the  truth 
and  certainty  of  the  accom- 

glishmentof  all  that  the  divine 
eing  lias  declared.  (Num. 
xxiii.  19.  Heb.  x.  23.) 

FALLOW-DEER.  (See 
Hart.) 

FAMILIAR.  (See  Divina- 

HON.)  _ 

FAMINE.  (Gen.xii.10.)  We 
21* 


FAS 

have  an  account  of  several  fa* 
mines  in  Palestine  and  the 
neighbouring  countries.  The 
most  remarkable  one  was  that 
of  seven  years  in  Egypt,  while 
Joseph  was  governor.  It  was  dis¬ 
tinguished  for  its  duration,  ex¬ 
tent,  and  severity:  particularly 
as  Egypt  is  one  of.lne  countries 
least  subject  to  such  a  calami¬ 
ty,  by  reason  of  its  general 
fertility.  Famine  is  sometimes 
a  natural  effect,  as  when  the 
Nile  does  not  overflowin  Egypt, 
or  rains  do  not  fall  in  Judea,  at 
the  customary  seasons,  spring 
and  autumn ;  or  when  cater¬ 
pillars,  locusts,  or  other  insects, 
destroy  the  fruits. 

FAN.  (Isa.  xxx.  24.)  A  well 
known  agricultural  imple¬ 
ment,  which  was  used  by  the 
Jews  as  it  is  by  husbandmen 
of  the  present  day,  to  separate 
the  chaff  from  the  wheat  when 
the  wind  is  not  sufficient.  The 
shovel  which  is  mentioned  in 
the  same  passage  was  used  to 
throw  up  the  grain  in  the  air, 
when  the  wind  was  strong 
enough  to  cleanse  it.  (Matt, 
iii.  12.  See  Thresh. 

FARTHING.  (See  Mea, 

SURES.)  . 

FAST,  (1  Kings  xxi.  9,) 
FASTING,  (Neh.  ix.  1,)  or 
DAYS  OF  FASTING.  (Jer. 
xxxvi.  6.)  In  seasons  of  dan¬ 
ger,  or  general  affliction,  when 
nature  itself  ceases  for  a  time 
to  crave  indulgence,  it  was 
customary  among  the  Jews  to 
abstain  from  food  as  a  religious 
duty,  (Josh.vii.  6.  Judg.  xx.26,) 
and  the  same  practice  prevail¬ 
ed  among  individuals  when  the 
occasion  was  personal.  (Ex. 
xxiv.  18.  2 Sam.  xii.  16.  IKings 
xix.  8.)  So  our  blessed  Saviour 
fasted  forty  days  and  forty 
nights.  (Matt.  iv.  2.)  Some 
of  these  protracted  fasts  were 
endured  by  miraculous  inter¬ 
position.  The  Jewish  fasts 
were  kept  with  great  strict- 
ness,  and  generally  from  eve¬ 
ning  to  evening,  that  is,  twen- 
245 


FEA 

Ur-four  hours,  and  included 
not  only  aa  abstinence  from 
food,  but  from  all  other  sensual 
indulgence.  The  body  was 
clothed  in  sackcloth,  no  shoes 
were  worn,  ashes  were  sprink¬ 
led  upon  the  nead,  the  hands 
were  umvashed,  and  the  head 
unanointed,  and  the  syna¬ 
gogues  were  filled  with  the 
voice  of  supplication  and  the 
sobs  of  grief  and  penitence. 
(Isa.  xxiu  12.  Joel  ii.  15-17.) 
During  the  captivity,  four  spe¬ 
cial  fast  days  were  observed, 
(Zech.  vii.  5  ;)  the  fast  of  the 
fourth  month,  for  the  capture 
of  Jerusalem,  (Jer.li.  27;)  the 
fast  of  the  6  fth  month,  for  the 
burning  of  the  temple,  (Jer.  lii. 
13;)  the  fast  cf  the  seventh 
month,  for  Gedaliah’s  death, 
(Jer.  xli.  2 ;)  and  the  fast  of  the 
tenth  month,  for  the  com¬ 
mencement  of  the  attack  on 
Jerusalem.  (Jer.  lii.  4.) 

Fasts  are  evidently  of  di¬ 
vine  authority.  Fasting,  at  the 
present  day,  may  be  regarded 
as  one  of  the  outward  means 
which  may  be  profitably  em¬ 
ployed  to  humble  and  chasten 
the  soul,  and  train  it  anew  to 
the  love  and  pursuit  of  holy 
and  spiritual  joys.  There  can 
be  no  doubt  of  its  being  sanc¬ 
tioned  under  the  gospel  dis¬ 
pensation.  (Matt.  vi.  18;  ix. 
15.  Acts  xiii.  3.  1  Cor.  vii.  5.) 

FATHER.  (Gen.  xlv.8.) 
The  word  “  father”  is  used  in 
this  case  to  signify  “an  ad¬ 
viser,”  or  “counsellor;”  and 
it  is  not  unusual  for  this  idea 
to  be  connected  with  it  in 
eastern  countries.  , 

FATHOM.  (SeeMEASURES.) 

FEAR.  (1  Pet.  i.  17.)  The 
fear  < if  God  is  a  Christian  grace, 
and  denotes  such  a  reverence 
for  his  holy  character, and  such 
a  dread  of  offending  him  by  a 
violation  of  his  holy  law,  as 
lead  to  watchfulness,  humili¬ 
ty,  and  unceasing  prayer.  It 
is  entirely  filial  in  its  nature, 
and  ie  necessarily  accompa 


FEA 

nied  by  love  and  obedience. 
It  is  the  peculiarity .  of  the 
Christian  faith,  that  the  reve¬ 
lation  of  God’s  justice,  in  the 
suffering  and  death  of  our  di¬ 
vine  Redeemer,  which  fills  the 
soul  with  fear  and  trembling, 
discloses  at  the  same  time  a 
scheme  of  unparalleled  love 
and  mercy ;  so  that  our  strong¬ 
est  impressions  of  fear,  and  our 
deepest  emotions  of  love,  grati¬ 
tude,  and  confidence,  are  de¬ 
rived  from  a  common  source, 
and  share  a  common  character. 

FEAST,  (Luke  xiv.  13,) 
FEASTS.  (Lev.  xxiii.  2.)  We 
often  read  in  the  Bible  of  feasts, 
or  sumptuous  entertainments, 
and  of  the  customs  pertaining 
to  them.  They  were  generally 
given  to  celebrate  or  comme¬ 
morate  some  important  or  joy¬ 
ful  event.  (Gen.  xxi.  8  ;  xxix. 
22 ;  xl.  20.  Eccl.  x.  19.) 

It  was  common  among  the 
eastern  nations  to  ask  and 
bestow  special  favours  at 
these  festivals.  (Esth.  v.  6; 
vii.  2.)  As  the  Hebrews  brought 
back  with  them  from  their 
captivity  the  custom  of  lying 
at  meals,  so  they  learned  to 
imitate  tne  Persian  voluptuous¬ 
ness.  The  Romans  also  were 
accustomed  to  this  long  con¬ 
tinuance  at  entertainments ; 
they  assembled  early  on  such 
occasions,  and  often  remained 
together  all  night. 

Entertainments  in  the  east 
are  commonly  held  in  the 
evening;  at  which  time  the 
rooms  are  brilliantly  illumi¬ 
nated.  The  Roman  feast  was 
always  a  supper,  which,  how¬ 
ever,  began  aboutthree  o’clock. 
We  suppose  it  to  have  been 
much  the  same  among  the  He¬ 
brews.  The  guests  amused 
themselves  with  stories,  or 
sallies  of  humour,  and  some¬ 
times  with  enigmatical  ques¬ 
tions,  (Judg.  xiv.  12,)  but  more 
frequently  with  poetry  and 
music.  (Isa.  v.  12;  xxiv.7— 9. 

Amos  vi.  4—6.) 


246 


FEA 

The  customs  of  the  Arabs  re¬ 
semble  those  which  have  been 
described ;  and  perhaps  we 
may  say  the  same  of  all  orien¬ 
tal  countries.  And  such  being 
the  festivity  of  these  occasions, 
we  see  how  a  feast  became  the 
emblem  of  great  mirth  and 
gladness.  (Isa.  xxv.  6.) 

Among  the  Romans,  the 
guests  at  feasts  reclined  upon 
couches.  The  first  ceremony 
was  to  bathe  with  the  master 
of  the  feast,  and  then  to  change 
their  dress.  Then  the  first  man 
in  order  took  his  place  at  the 
head  of  the  long  couch,  resting 
the  upper  part  of  his  body  on 
his  left  elbow,  and  having  a 
pi!  low  or  bolster  to  support  his 
back.  The  second  guest  lay 
with  his  head  and  Feet  on  a 
line,  or  parallel  with  the  first, 
trom  whom  he  was  separated 
by  his  own  bolster.  Being  set¬ 
tled  in  their  places,  they  wash 
their  hands, (Mark  vii.2;)  after 
which  the  guests  are  served 
with  garlands  of  flowers,  and 
also  with  essences  and  per¬ 
fumes.  CPs.  xxiii.  5;  xlv.  7. 
Eccl.  ix.  8.  Lukevii.38) 

The  most  honourable  place, 
or  seat,  or  uppermost  room,  as 
it  is  called,  (Matt,  xxiii.  6,)  or 
highest  or  chief  room,  (Luke 
xiv.  7,  8,)  was  the  middle 
couch,  and  the  middle  of  that ; 
and  lying  below  one  at  table, 
is  to  lie  as  it  were  in  or  upon 
his  bosom.  (John  xiii.  23.) 

In  ancient  times,  besides 
music  and  dancing  while  they 
were  eating,  they  had  combats 
of  gladiators.  . 

Some  idea  may  be  formed  of 
the  number  of  guests,  and  the 
grandeur  of  an  ancient  feast, 
from  the  fact  that  Julius  Cesar 
once  gave  a  popular  entertain- 
menti  the  guests  of  which  oc¬ 
cupied  twenty-two  thousand 
places,  (rooms  or  seats.)  The 
accounts  in  the  Bible, of  feasts 
with  a  multitude  of  guests  are 
not  improbable,  therefore,  as 


FEA 

some  have  alleged.  (Esth.  i.S. 
Luke  xiv.  10 — 24.) 

The  cut  on  the  next  pnge 
represents  an  eastern  feast. 
The  heads  of  the  guests  are 
crowned  with  garlands;  the 
table,  furniture,  and  provisions 
are  seen ;  also  the  position  of 
the  guests  at  table,  and  the 
amusements.  The  highest,  or 
most  honourable  seat,  occupied 
probably  by  the  governor  of  the 
feast,  is  seen  at  the  extreme 
left.  The  sandals  which  are 
put  off  are  also  seen  at  the  side 
of  the  couch. 

Under  the  Mosaic  dispensa¬ 
tion,  the  rites  of  hospitality 
were  rendered  sacred  by  being 
connected  with  religion.  The 
Israelites  were  not  merely  al¬ 
lowed,  but  commanded,  to  re¬ 
joice  before  the  Lord  in  this 
way.  They  were  ordered  to 
come  to  the  holy  place,  and 
bring  thither  their  sacrifices, 
tithes,  and  firstlings ;  and  there 
(says  the  law)  ye  shall  eat 
before  the  Lord  your  God; 
and  ye  shall  rejoice  in  all  that 
ye  put  your  hand  unto.  (Deut. 
xii.)  Every  member  of  the 
family  was  to  ioin  in  this,  and 
especially  the“Levite,  who  had 
no  other  inheritance.  In  these 
entertainments,  not  only  the 
children  and  the  Levites  were 
to  take  part,  but  the  slaves  of 
both  sexes,  the  poor,  the  widow, 
and  the  orphan  were  to  be  in¬ 
vited  ;  and  the  stranger ,  and 
the  fatherless,  and  the  widoto 
that  are  among  you ;  and  thou 
shalt  remember  that  thou  wast 
a  bondman  in  Egypt.  (Deut. 
xvi.  11.)  In  consequence  of 
these  regulations,  the  feasts  of 
the  Hebrews  were  more  or  less 
religious  observances, and  were 
hence  free  from  the  abuses 
which  prevailed  on  similar 
occasions  among  the  heathen, 
ffe  observe  here  likewise, 
that  our  Lord  gave  no  new 
commandment,  but  simply  ex 
pounded  the  ancient  law, when 


V 


FE  A 


FEA 


he  said,  When  thou  makest  a 
dinner  (or  a  feast,)  call  the 
poor,  the  manned,  the  blind ; 
and  thou  shalt  be  blessed. 
(Luke  xiv.  12.) 


There  were  also  stated  sea¬ 
sons  of  religious  worship  among 
the  Jews,  attended  with  par¬ 
ticular  duties  and  ceremonies), 
by  the  observance  of  which 
248 


FEA 

some  great  event  in  God’s  pro¬ 
vidence  was  brought  into  re¬ 
membrance  such  were  the 
Sabbath,,  which  commemo¬ 
rated  the  creation  of  the  world, 
—  the  feast  of  the  Passover,  and 
the  feast  of  Pentecost. 

The  Sabbath.  The  only 
weekly  feast  among  the  Jews 
was  the  Sabbath.  (Gen.  ii.  3. 
Ex.  xvi.23.  Lev.  xxiii.3.)  This 
feast  or  festival  did  not  come 
into  being,  however,  with  the 
Jewish  worship,  but  was  ap¬ 
pointed  before  the  apostacy, 
as  a  special  memorial  of  the 
oodness  and  power  of  God 
isplayed  in  the  finished  work 
of  creation ;  and  it  is  the  opin¬ 
ion  of  many  very  learned  men, 
formed  after  the  most  labori¬ 
ous  and  unprejudiced  investi¬ 
gation,  that  it  is  in  some  form 
or  other  recognised  throughout 
the  world  as  a  sacred  day.  It 
seems  to  be  agreed  among 
Christians  generally,  that  the 
knowledge  and  observance  of 
the  Sabbath  were  preserved  ip 
some  form  and  degree,  through 
Noah  and  his  family ;  nor  is  it 
surprising  that  it  is  not  parti¬ 
cularly  mentioned  in  the  con¬ 
cise  history  of  the  intervening 
period,  which  the  Bible  con¬ 
tains.  In  the  law  of  the  ten 
commandments,  the  Sabbath 
not  only  is  recognised,  but  its 
inviolable  sanctity  and  perpe¬ 
tual  obligation  are  both  taught 
us,  not  only  in  the  language 
and  spirit  ofthe  commandment 
itself,  but  ty  its  incorporation 
with  that  original  and  funda¬ 
mental  law  of  God’s  govern¬ 
ment  which  was  promulgated 
amidst  the  thunders  and  light¬ 
nings  of  mount  Sinai,  and  en¬ 
graved  on  tables  of  stone. 

It  is  true  that  the  observance 
of  the  Sabbath  as  a  Jewish  fes¬ 
tival  partook  of  the  peculiar 
ceremonial  character  of  their 
whole  system  of  religion ;  and 
it  was  also  by  special  command 
to  be  regarded  as  a  particu¬ 
lar  and  interesting  memorial 


FEA 

of  their  wonderful  dell  irance 
from  Egypt,  (Deut.  v.  and 
as  a  sign  or  perpetual  co  venant 
between  God  and  the  r.  (Ex. 
xxxi.  13—17.)  And  it  is  true, 
moreover,  that  so  much  of  the 
Jewish  Sabbath  as  stood  in 
carnal  ordinances  was  done 
away  when  the  Lori'of  the 
Sabbath  came  and  made 
known  the  true  import  of  the 
ancient  dispensation.  (Matt. 

xii.  1—15.  Mark  ii.  28.  Luke 

xiii.  14—17.)  But  in  all  this 
time,  the  original  and  substan¬ 
tial  principle  of  the  institution 
was  never  abandoned  or  lost 
sight  of ;  but,  on  the  contrary, 
is  established  and  solemnly 
ratified  in  a  variety  of  forms 
throughout  the  whole  sacred 
volume. 

Labour  ceased  at  the  time 
of  the  evening  sacrifice,  upen 
the  day  preceding  the  Sab¬ 
bath,  tnat  preparation  might 
be  made  for  the  sacred  season. 
(Mark  xv.  42.)  Some  suppose 
this  was  as  early  as  three  of 
the  clock,  or  even  earlier. 
Appropriate  religious  service 
was  attended  in  the  evening 
by  each  family,  and  resumed 
on  the  next  day, (see  Evening,) 
and  every  thing  relating  to 
food,  dress,  &c.,  was  prepared. 
When  the  day  arrived,  it  was 
spent  in  religious  services, 
(2  Kings  iv.  23,)  two  extra  sa¬ 
crifices  were  offered,  and  the 
shew-bread  was  changed.  This 
was  the  priest’s  work.  (Matt, 
xii.  5.) 

The  Sabbath,  by  the  Jewish 
law,  was  observed  on  the  se¬ 
venth  day  of  the  week,  or  on 
Saturday ;  but  Christ  changed 
it  to  the  first  day  of  the  week, 
(which  is  our  Sabbath  day,  or 
Lord’s  day,  as  it  is  frequently 
called  in  the  New  Testament,) 
that  it  might  become  a  memo¬ 
rial  of  his  resurrection  from 
the  dead ;  while  it  should  lose 
none  of  its  original  character, 
nor  answer  any  less  perfectly 
all  the  primitive  purposes  of 


FEA 

*ts  institution.  The  expres¬ 
sion,  second  Sabbath  after  the 
first, (Luke  vi.  1,)  more  proper¬ 
ly  rendered,  the  first  Sabbath 
after  the  second,  is  supposed  to 
denote  the  first  Sabbath  after 
the  second  day  of  unleavened 
bread.  The  second  day  of  un¬ 
leavened  bread  was  a  festival 
day  for  which  a  particular  ser¬ 
vice  was  appointed, (Lev.  xxiii. 

5. 9,)  and  from  it  the  Sabbaths 
were  reckoned;  as  first,  se¬ 
cond,  or  third  Sabbath  after 
the  second  day  of  unleavened 
bread.  (See  Sabbath.) 

The  word  Sabbaths  is  some¬ 
times  used  to  denote  all  the 
sacred  days  or  festivals.  (Lev. 
xix.3.30.  Sabbath  day’s  jo ur- 
ney.  See  Measures.) 

Feast  of  New  Moons,  or 
Trumpets.  The  first  day  of 
every  month  was  sacred  to  the 
Jews,  (Num.  xxviii.  1 1 — 15,)and 
was  to  be  observed  by  absti¬ 
nence  from  common  worldly 
business,  and  by  religious  du¬ 
ties  and  services.  (2  Kings  iv. 
23.  Amos  viii.  5.)  Particular 
sacrifices  were  appointed,  in 
addition  to  the  daily  sacrifices, 
and  were  to  be  attended  with 
the  sound  of  the  trumpet. 

■  The  first  day  or  new  moon 
of  the  seventh  month,  which 
was  the  beginning  of  the  Jew¬ 
ish  civil  year,  was  particularly 
regarded  above  other  feast  days 
of  the  like  period.  It  was  dis 
tinguished  by  more  strict 
observance,  by  extraordinary 
public  sacrifices,  and  by  spe¬ 
cial  annunciation  anti  pro¬ 
clamation  from  the  trumpets. 
(Lev.  xxiii.  24.  Num.  xxix.  1— 
6.)  The  observance  of  these 
seasons  being  wholly  of  cere¬ 
monial  appointment,  and  not, 
like  the  Sabbath,)  an  original 
fundamental  law  of  the  moral 
government  of  God,  ceased 
with  the  Jewish  dispensation. 
(Gal.  iv.  10.  Col.  ii.  16.) 

Feast  of  Pentecost,  or  Feast 
of  Weeks,  or  Feast  of  Harvest, 
lasted  only  one  day.  It  was 


FEA 

celebrated  at  the  close  of  har¬ 
vest,  and  was  a  solemn  public 
thanksgiving  to  God  for  the 
bounties  of  his  providence.  It 
was  observed  at  the  end  of 
seven  weeks,  (or  a  week  of 
weeks,)  forty-nine  days  from 
the  second  day  of  the  passover, 
when  the  offering  of  first-fruits 
was  made,  or  the  day  on 
which  “  the  sickle  was  first 
put  in  the  corn.”  The  sacrifices 
were  special,  both  public  and 

Srivate.  (Lev.  xxiii.  15 — 20. 

(urn.  xxviii. 26— 31.  Deut.  xvi. 
9—12.)  It  was  to  celebrate  this 
feast  that  the  multitude  of  de¬ 
vout  men  out  of  every  nation 
under  heaven  had  assembled 
at  Jerusalem,  when  the  pro¬ 
mise  of  the  Saviour  was  fulfil¬ 
led  in  the  wonderful  descent 
of  the  Holy  Ghost,  as  related 
in  the  second  chapter  of  Acts. 
(See  Omar,  by  Am.  S.  S. 
Union,  ch.  v.) 

Feast  of  Tabernacles  lasted 
eight  days,  the  first  and  eighth 
of  which  were  peculiarly  sa¬ 
cred.  It  was  celebrated  from 
the  fifteenth  to  the  twenty- 
third  of  the  seventh  month  or 
first  month  of  their  civil  year. 
It  was  so  called  because  the 
people  during  its  continuance 
dwelt  in  booths,  (Neh.  viii.  14 
—18,)  or  tents  of  the  branches 
of  trees,  as  they  did  in  the 
journey  through  the  wilder¬ 
ness,  in  memory  of  which  the 
feast  itself  was  appointed.  It 
is  also  called  the  feast  of  in¬ 
gathering,  (Ex.  xxiii.  16.  Lev. 
xxiii.  39—44,)  because  it  took 
place  at  the  close  of  the  vin¬ 
tage,  when  the  fruits  of  the 
year  were  all  gathered  in. 
Some  have  supposed  that  the 
Up'dople  were  required  to  attend 
at  the  temple  during  the  whole 
of  the  eight  days,  while,  in  the 
other  feasts,  an  attendance  on 
the  first  and  last  days  sufficed. 
This  festival  was  distinguished 
by  extraordinary  sacrifices  and 
offerings,  both  public  and  pri¬ 
vate.  (Num.xxix.12— 38.  DeuL 
250 


.F  E  A 

xvi.  13—15.)  A  variety  of  cere¬ 
monies  were  appended  to  the 
observance  of  this  feast,  a  par¬ 
ticular  and  interesting  account 
of  which  may  be  found  in  Bib¬ 
lical  Antiq.uities,  ch.  vi.  §  4, 
and  also  in  Elisama,  ch.  xii., 
both  by  Am.  S.  S.  Union. 

Feast  of  unleavened  Bread, 
or  of  the  Passover,  was  insti¬ 
tuted  to  commemorate  the  dis¬ 
tinguishing  mercy  of  God  in 
passing  over  the  families  of 
Jsrael  when  he  went  through 
Egypt  to  smite  the  first-born  of 
every  other  family  with  death. 
(Ex.  xii.  1—28.)  The  time  of  its 
celebration  was  in  the  first , 
month  of  the  Jewish  sacred 
year,— answering  to  our  April, 
—and  it  lasted  from  the  loth  to 
the  21st,  inclusive,  or  seven 
days.  The  principal  ceremony 
of  this  festival  consisted  in  the 
sacred  supper  by  which  it  was 
introduced ;  the  nature  and 
preparation  of  which  are  stated 
minutely  in  the  passage  above 
cited.  The  utmost  strictness 
was  observed  in  regard  to  the 
removal  of  all  leaven  from  the 
house.  This  was  done  on  the 
fourteenth  day,  which  was 
hence  called  the  first  day  of 
unleavened  bread,  though  it 
was  riot  one  of  the  feast  days. 
The  manner  of  celebratingthis 
feast  in  the  early  and  modern 
periods  of  the  church,  is  given 
at  length  in  Biblical  ANTiaui- 
ties,  ch.  vi.  §  4,  and  Selumiel, 
ch.  iv.  and  v..  both  by  Am.  S.  S. 
Union.  (See  also  Passover.) 

These  three  feasts  of  unlea¬ 
vened  bread,  tabernacles,  and 
weeks,  were  the  great  festivals 
of  the  Jews,  when  all  the  males 
of  their  nation  who  were  of  suf¬ 
ficient  age  were  required  II 
appear  before  God.  (Ex.  xxiii. 
’4—17.  Deut.  xvi.  16,  17.) 

The  advantages  of  these  ce¬ 
lebrations,  both  in  a  religious 
agd  civil  view,  are  obvious. 
The  formal  national  recogni¬ 
tion  of  Jehovah  as  their  king 
and  ruler,  and  as  the  bountiful 


FEA 

giver  oi  every  good  and  perfect 
gift,  made  at  stated  times,  and 
under  such  imposing  solemni 
ties,  could  not  be  without  effect 
on  the  religious  character  oi 
the  people,  while  the  mingling 
together  of  all  the  nation,  for 
purposes  suited  to  call  forth  the 
best  social  and  benevolent  feel¬ 
ings,  would  remind  them  ot 
theircommon  origin,  faith,  ano 
worship,  and  unite  them  more 

closely  inbondsofreligiousand 

friendly  regard.  (SeeEv.  Rec. 
by  A.  S.  U.  vol.  iv.  pp.  43—60.) 

Atonement,  or  Feast  of  Expi¬ 
ation,  was  celebrated  on  the 
tenth  of  the  seventh  month,  or 
six  days  before  the  feast  of  ta¬ 
bernacles,  and  was  the  most 
important  and  solemn  of  all 
the  yearly  feasts.  It  was  the 
day  on  which  the  sins  of  the 
year  were  brought  into  special 
remembrance.  The  people 
were  required  to  observe  it  as 
a  day  of  rigid  rest,  fasting, 
humiliation,  and  affliction  of 
soul.  The  high-priest,  as  the 
head  and  representative  of  the 
entire  priesthood,  personally 
officiated,  and  entered  with 
blood  into  the  Holy  of  Holies,— 
where  the  life  and  glory  of  the 
sanctuary  were  appointed  to 
reside,— and  there  he  offered  a 
sacrifice  for  himself  and  his 
family,  and  the  whole  congre¬ 
gation  ol  Israel,  from  the  high¬ 
est  to  the  lowest.  This  was 
the  general  expiation,  and 
seemed  designed  to  reach  and 
wash  away  that  deep  stain  of 
guilt  which  remained  on  the 
heads  of  the  people,  notwith¬ 
standing  the  blood  which  flow 
ed  day  by  day,  unceasingly, 
from  the  altar  of  common  sa 
crifice.  The  manner  of  cele¬ 
brating  this  foast  is  set  forth 
in  Lev.  xvi.,  and  an  account 
of  the  interesting  ceremqnies 
which  attended  it,  with  their 
typical  import,  may  be  found 
in  Biblical  Antio-uities,  by 
Am.  S.  S.  Union,  vol.  ii.  chap. 

Vi-  §  5'  251 


F  H  A 

The  Feast  of  Punm  was  ob- 
*e  rveti  about  the  middle  of  the 
tv  elith  month.  It  was  insti¬ 
tuted  m  commemoration  of  the 
deliverance  of  the  Jews  from 
the  power  and  malice  of  Ha; 
man,  in  the  days  of  Mordecai 
‘Sid  Esther.  The  name  is  de¬ 
rived  from  Pur,  a  word  which 
signifies  lot.  (Esth.  iii.  6,  7 ; 
ix.  24—32.) 

This  feast  is  celebrated  in 
modern  times  with  singular 
ceremonies  and  with  great 
licentiousness  and  extrava¬ 
gance.  (See  Biblical  Anti¬ 
quities,  vol.  ii.  pp.  190, 191.) 

An  American  missionary, 
who  was  at  Jerusalem,  March 
16,  1835,  when  this  feast  was 
celebrated,  speaks  of  it  as  a 
day  of  great  excess,  intempe¬ 
rance,  and  boisterous  mirth 
with  the  Jews.  The  Talmud 
enjoins  intoxication  on  this 
day  as  a  duty.  A  man  is  in 
duty  bound  (it  says)  to  get  so 
inebriated  that  he  cannot  dis¬ 
tinguish  betwefen  the  words, 
“  cursed  be  Haman,”  and 
“  blessed  be  Mordecai.” 

Feast  of  the  Dedication. 
This  feast  was  instituted  one 
hundred  and  sixty-four  years 
before  Christ,  in  remem, 
brance  of  the  new  dedica¬ 
tion  of  the  sanctuary,  after 
it  had  been  grossly  profaned 
by  a  heathen  monarch.  The 
season  of  celebration  was  in 
the  latter  part  of  the  ninth 
month,  and  of  course  partly  in 
our  December.  (John  x.  22.) 

The  Sabbath  Year,  or  Year 
of  Release,  was  every  seventh 
year.  No  particular  religious 
services  were  prescribed  for 
its  celebration;  but  the  land 
was  to  be  left  untilled,  and  the 
vineyards  undressed,  and  the 
spontaneous  produce  of  both 
was  to  be  enjoyed  by  all  the 
people  of  the  land  in  common. 
(Lev.  xxv.  2—7.  20—22.)  Pro¬ 
vision  was  made  by  the  special 
interposition  of  God,  to  supply 
the  deficiency  of  food  which 


TEA. 

this  abstinence  from  labour  for 
a  whole  year  woul  d  necessarily 
cause;  and  a  law  was  road’e 
that  no  debts  should  be  wii  lect- 
ed  during  the  Sabbatical  rear, 
and  yet  that  none  should  for 
this  cause  refuse  to  lend  to 
such  as  would  borrow.  Whe¬ 
ther  the  law  required  an  abso¬ 
lute  release  of  debts,  or  only  a 
suspension  of  the  right  to  en¬ 
force  payment,  has  been  con¬ 
sidered  doubtful.  The  language 
of  the  law  is  however  very  pre¬ 
cise.  (Deut.  xv.  1 — 11.) 

The  Year  of  Jubilee  was  a 
most  singular  appointment  of 
the  Jewish  law.  It  was  cele¬ 
brated  every  half  century,  or 
at  the  end  of  every  seven  times 
seven  years.  The  manner  of 
its  celebration  is  particularly 
described,  Lev.  xxv.  8 — 18.  It 
commenced  on  the  great  day 
of  atonement,  and  was  ushered 
in  with  the  universal  sound  of 
trumpets  throughout  the  land. 

The  remarkable  feature  of 
this  festival  was,  that  it  re¬ 
stored  individuals,  families, 
and  communities,  as  far  as 
possible,  to  the  same  situation 
they  occupied  at  the  beginning 
of  the  fifty  years.  All  servants 
of  Hebrew  origin  were  set  free ; 
all  pledges  were  given  up,  and 
inheritances  which  had  been 
alienated, no  matter  how  often, 
nor  for  what  cause,  came  back 
to  the  hands  of  the  original  pro¬ 
prietors.  The  only  exception 
was  in  the  cases  of  houses,  built 
in  walled  towns.  (Lev.  xxv.  29 
— 31.)  And  as  its  effect  was 
known  and  anticipated,  the 
business  of  society  was  con¬ 
ducted  with  reference  to  that 
period,  and  of  course  no  inius- 
tice  or  hardship  was  occasfon. 
ed.  The  manner  of  keeping 
the  festival,  and  its  striking 
emblematical  import,  are  par¬ 
ticularly  described  in  Biblica'l 
Antiquities,  by  Am.  S.  S. 
Union,  ch.  vi.  §  6. 

The  master,  ruler,  or  go¬ 
vernor  of  the  feast,  (John 
252 


FEE 

li.  8,1  was  an  officer  appointed 
to  direct  the  servants,  and  to 
regulate  the  whole  order  and 
ceremony  of  the  table  during 
the  festivities.  He  seems  to 
have  been  one  of  the  most  plea¬ 
sant  and  diverting  of  the  com¬ 
pany,  selected  for  his  skill  and 
adroitness  for  this  delicate  and 
important  office,  and  after  the 
feast  was  ended,  he  took  his 

lace  with  the  guests.  One  of 

is  duties  was  to  taste  of  the 
wine,  that  he  might  judge  of 
its  quality  and  fitness  for  the 
particular  stage  of  the  enter¬ 
tainment  at  which  it  was 
brought  on.  (John  ii.  8,  9.) 

Feasts  op  charity,  or  love. 
These  are  mentioned  Jude  12, 
and  are  supposed  to  refer  to 
the  social  interviews  estab¬ 
lished  among  the  early  Chris¬ 
tians,  in  imitation,  perhaps, of 
the  Jewish  (Deut.  xii.  18 ;  xxvi. 
12)  or  Gentile  observances  of 
like  character.  The  Greeks 
and  Romans  observed  similar 
services.  The  feast  was  sup¬ 
plied  by  the  contributions  of 
the  guests,  each  according  to 
his  ability.  There  was  no  dis¬ 
tinction  of  rank  among  the 
guests;  and  every  thing  was 
marked  with  simplicity,  tem¬ 
perance,  and  religious  feeling. 
It  was  held  in  the  assembly  or 
church,  either  after  or  before 
the  celebration  of  the  Lord’s 
supper.  Similar  observances 
are  customary  at  the  present 
day  among  some  Christian  de¬ 
nominations. 

FEET.  (Ex.  iii.  5.)  To  re¬ 
move  the  shoes  from  the  feet 
was  regarded  as  a  token  of  re¬ 
verence,  and  also  of  mourning. 
(Ezek.  xxiv.  17.)  It  is  supposed 
that  the  priests  officiated  with 
naked  feet,  and  in  modern 
times,  among  heathen  nations 
and  some  nominal  Christians, 
it  is  customary  to  enter  the 
place  of  worship  with  the  shoes 
off  and  the  feet  washed.  To 
wash  the  feet  was  a  common 
mark  of  hospitality,  (Gen.xviii. 


FEL 

4,)  and  was  usually  done  by  a 
servant.  (1  Sam.  xxv.41.  John 
xiii.5, 6.)  Our  eastern  mission¬ 
aries  havp  given  particular 
accounts  of  the  prevalence  of 
this  custom.  At  Smyrna,  the 
washing  of  the  priests’  feet  by 
the  bishop  is  a  distinct  and 
very  imposing  ceremony,  and 
is  designed  to  be  an  exact 
imitation  of  Christ’s  example; 
(See  Clothes,  Dust,  Foot.) 

Foot-chains  are  supposed 
to  be  meant  by  the  wood  chains 
in  Num.xxxi.  50,and  Isa.  iii.  19 
They  were  worn  around  the 
ankles,  and  caused  the  wearer 
to  observe  a  certain  measured 
pace.  The  same  ornaments- 
are  now  worn,  by  the  women 
of  Syria  and  Arabia.  Little 
rings  are  hung  upon  them, 
which  tinkle  when  the  foot  is 
in  motion ;  and  they  are  often 
richly  ornamented. 

FELIX  (Acts  xxiii.  26)  was 
the  Roman  governor  of  Judea, 
a.d.50— 60.  He  persuaded  Bra¬ 
silia  to  leave  her  husband,  and 
marry  him;  and  they  were 
residing  at  Cesarea  when  Paul 
was  brought  there,  in  custody 
of  a  guard  of  soldiers,  to  be 
examined  on  a  charge  of  sedi¬ 
tion, &c. 

On  a  certain  day,  Paul  was 
summoned  to  appear  before 
Felix,  that  he  and  his  wife 
might  hear  from  him  some  ac¬ 
count  of  the  new  religion  of 
which  he  was  a  believer  and 
advocate.  The  apostle  obeyed 
the  summons;  and  so  faithfully 
did  he  reprove  and  admonish 
the  governor,  that  he  made 
him  tremble  in  view  of  his  sins, 
and  of  their  impending  punish¬ 
ment.  We  have  good  reason 
to  believe,  however,  that  the 
impression  was  transient;  for 
hfe  kept  the  apostle  in  custody 
two  years  without  any  warrant 
or  just  cause, — which  was  in 
itself  a  most  cruel  and  arbi¬ 
trary  act,— and  postponed  the 
inquiry  respecting  his  own  sal- 


FIG 

ration,  which  his  conscience 
had  been  excited  to  suggest, 
until  a  more  convenient  sea¬ 
son,  which  probably  never  ar¬ 
rived-  Felix  was  recalled  to 
Borne  soon  after,  and  was  suc¬ 
ceeded  by  Festus. 

FENCED  CITY.  (See  Ci- 

IIES.) 

FERRY-BOAT.  (2Sam.xix. 
18.)  This  word,  as  used  by  us, 
is  of  modern  derivation,  and 
we  know  the  rivers  of  Judea 
were  generally  fordable :  but 
when  the  translators  of  the 
history  found  a  word  denoting 
the  passing  over  the  river,  (it 
■night  have  been  on  a  raft  or  on 
a  nide  bridge  of  some  kind,) 
they  perhaps  adopted  a  term 
to  express  the  fact  most  intel¬ 
ligible  to  modern  readers. 

FERRET.  (Lev.  xi.  30.)  The 
animal  known  to  moderns  by 
this  name  is  tamed  In  tturope, 
and  used  in  catching  rats.  It 
is  of  the  weasel  family;  but 


FIG 

the  ferret  mentioned  in  the 
Levitical  law  is  supposed  by 
many  to  have  been  of  the 
lizard  species,  called  the  gek- 
ko.  which  is  found  in  the  east, 
and  is  said  to  be  poisonous. 

FESTUS,  (PORCIUS,) 
(Acts  xxiv.27,)  succeeded  Felix 
(a.  d.  60)  in  the  government  of 
Judea,  under  the  Romans,  and 
died  in  62.  Paul  had  a  hearing 
before  him  on  sundry  charges 
alleged  against  him  by  the 
Jews.  But  in  the  exercise  ol 
his  right  as  a  Roman  citizen, 
he  appealed  to  the  emperor 
and  was  sent  to  Rome  for  trial. 

FIG,  FIG  TREE.  (Isa. xxxiv. 
4.)  A  well  known  fruit,  which 
formerly  abounded  in  Judea, 
(Deut.  viii.  8,)  and  hence  is 
often  alluded  to  in  the  sarred 
writings.  The  fruit,  in  its  natu¬ 
ral  state,  resembles  the  pear; 
and  with  the  leaf,  and  manner 
of  growth,  may  be  seen  in  the 
annexed  cut. 


The  fig  tree  spreads  its 
branches  high  and  wide,  and 
the  leaves  are  broad,  (Gen.  iii. 
7 ;)  in  one  species  they  are  said 
to  be  found  four  or  five  feet 
long  by  three  broad.  Hence 
the  shade  was  highly  valued. 
(1  Kings  iv.  25.  2Kings  xviii. 
31.  Isa.  xxxvi.  16-  Mic.  iv.  4. 
Zech.  iii.  10.  John  i.  48.) 


One  of  the  most  striking 
peculiarities  of  the  fig  tree  is, 
that  the  fruit  shoots  forth  with¬ 
out  the  appearance  of  a  ny  blos¬ 
som,  and  even  before  the 
leaves.  Hence  a  fig  tree  with 
leaves,  but  without' fruit,  may 
be  known  to  be  barren  for  the 
present  season.  (Matt.  xxi.  19.) 
The  fruit  which  the  tree  bears 
254 


FIG 


ir cc  out  uo  . 

n he  early  Jig.  (Sol.So.li. 
is.  ix.  10.)  These  areripe 


during  ten  months  of  the  year 
ts  of  three  sorts  ‘ 

1.  The 

13.  Hos.  U.  w;  - - ----- 

towards  the  end  of  June.  This 
early  fie  is  the  most  beautiful 
and  delicious.  (Jer.  xxiv.  2.) 

2.  The  sumvier  Jig,  which 
appears  in  June,  about  the 
time  that  the  early  fig  is  ripe, 
and  comes  to  maturity  in  Au¬ 
gust.  These  last  a  long  time, 
and  may  be  kept. 

3.  The  winter  Jig  appears  in 
August,  and  is  ripe  towards  the 
latter  part  of  autumn,  when 
the  tree  has  lost  its  foliage.  If 
the  winter  is  not  severe,  it  is 
plucked  in  the  Bpring  as  a 
dainty.  It  is  larger  than  the 
former,  of  an  oblong  shape, 
and  a  dark  colour. 

These  various  kinds  of  figs 
are  eaten  as  they  come  from 
the  tree,  and  are  also  dried  in 
masses  or  cakes.  (1  Sam.  xxv. 
18.)  They  seem  to  have  been 
an  ordinary  article  of  food,  and 
to  have  possessed  medicinal 
properties.  (2  Kings  xx.  7. 
1  Chron.  xii.  40.) 

The  putting  forth  of  the  fig 
tree  was  one  of  the  earliest  in¬ 
dications  of  summer,  (Sol. Song 
ii  13.  Matt.  xxiv.  32.  Luke 
xxi.  29;)  and  a  failure  of  us 
fruit  was  a  great  calamity. 
(Jer.v.  17;  viii.  13.  Joel  l. 7. 12. 
Hab.  iii.  17,  18.) 

The  cursing  of  the  fig  tree, 
by  our  Saviour,  (Mark  xi.  13. 
21,)  has  perplexed  some  per¬ 
sons,  because  it  is  said  that  the 
time  of  figs  had  not  come,  and 
of  course  they  were  not  to  be 
expected.  The  passage  rather 
means  that  it  was  not  the 
time  to  gather  figs,  and  there¬ 
fore  it  was  reasonable  to  ex¬ 
pect  to  find  some  on  the  tree ; 
but  it  had  none,  (ripe  or  un- 
ripe,)  though  it  had  leaves, 
which,  in  a  bearing  fig  tree, 
are  not  found  until  after  the 
fruit  appears.  It  was  therefore 
cursed  for  its  unfruitfulness. 
The  object  undoubtedly  was 


FIR 

to  inculcate  some  great  moral 
truth  on  the  minds  of  the  dis¬ 
ciples. 

FIR  TREE.  (Hos.  xiv.  8.)  A 
well  known  evergreen,  which 
grew  luxuriantly  upon  mount 
Lebanon  and  in  other  parts  of 
Palestine,  and  was  a  very  va¬ 
luable  tree.  It  was  used  for 
ship  building,  (Ezek.  xxvii.  5,) 
musical  instruments,  (2  Sam. 
vi.  5,)  and  in  the  frame  and 
ornamental  work  of  costly  edi¬ 
fices.  (1  Kings  v.  8.  10;  vi.  15. 
34;  ix.  11.  2Chron.  ii.8;  iii. 5. 
Sol.  Song  i.  17.)  The  fir  is  still 
used  in  the  manufacture  of 
harps,  lutes,  guitars,  &c.  It 
was  a  tall,  straight  tree,  of 
fine  appearance,  in  the  tops  of 
which  the  storks  built  their 
nests.  (Ps.  civ,  17.)  Hence  it 
is  used  to  illustrate  power  or 
grandeur.  (2 Kings  xix.  23.  Isa. 
xiv.  8;  xxxvii.  24;)  and  in 
Nah.  ii.  3,  the  brandishing  of 
weapons  of  war  is  compared 
to  the  shaking  of  the  tops  of 
fir  trees  by  a  violent  wind. 
The  springing  up  of  the  fir  is 
emblematical  of  verdure  and 
plenty.  (Isa.  xli.  19;  lv.  13; 
lx.  13.) 

FIRKIN.  (See  Measures.) 

FIRMAMENT.  (Gen.  i.  17.) 
The  word  expansion  would 
more  perfectly  convey  tha 
meaning  of  the  original  word. 
A  similar  idea  is  suggested,  Ps. 
civ.  2.  Isa.  xl.  22;  and  tha 
same  word  is  used  to  denote  a 
covering,  (Num.  xvi.38, 39,)  or 
a  spreading  over ,  (Isa.  xl.  19,) 
or  spread  forth.  (Isa.  xlii.  5.) 
The  Jews  probably  understood 
the  word  firmament  to  denote 
an  immense  arch  sprung  from 
one  side  of  the  horizon  to  the 
other,  studded  with  stars,  and 
forming  a  sort  of  separating 
wall  between  the  unper  and 
lower  waters.  (See  Ps.  xix.  1. 
Dan.  xii.  3.) 

FIRST-BORN.  (Gen.  xxvii. 
19.)  The  first-torn  male  of 
every  Jewish  family,  though 
by  a  succession  of  wives,  and 
205 


FIR 

of  all  beasts  also,  was  conse¬ 
crated  in  a  solemn  manner 
to  the  service  of  God,  in  com¬ 
memoration  of  the  judgment 
which  God  brought  upon  the 
first-born  of  Egypt  in  the  night 
of  Israel’s  deliverance.  Seve¬ 
ral  provisions  of  the  Jewish 
law  relate  to  the  first-born. 
He  received  a  double  portion 
of  the  estate,  (Deut.  xxi.  17,) 
and  officiated  as  priest  of  the 
family,  in  the  father’s  absence 
or  death.  The  privileges  of 
the  first-born  were  obviously 
great,  in  the  cases  of  Esau 
and  Reuben,  (Gen.  xxvii.  29. 

1  Citron,  v.  I,  2;)  and  there 
is  reason  to  believe  that  they 
extended  to  the  Jewish  fami¬ 
lies  generally;  and  that  the  re¬ 
ligious  pre-eminence  was  far 
more  desirable  than  the  world¬ 
ly.  It  is  supposed,  however, 
that  the  former  ceased  when 
the  priesthood  was  committed 
exclusively  to  the  tribe  of 
Levi.  (Num.  iii.  12—18.)  On 
that  occasion  it  was  designed 
that  a  Levite  should  be  substi¬ 
tuted  for  every  first-born  male; 
but  the  number  of  the  latter 
exceeded  that  of  the  former  by 
two  hundred  and  seventy- three 
persons.  It  was  then  required 
that  a  certain  piece  of  money 
(about  $2.50)  should  be  paid 
for  the  redemption  of  these, 
and  of  all  the  first-born  of  suc¬ 
ceeding  generations ;  and  this 
redemption  money  became 
part  of  the  sacred  revenue. 
(Num.  iii.  12, 13. 40 — 51 ;  xviii. 
15.)  The  first-born  of  all  beasts 
tised  in  sacrifice  were  devoted 
to  the  Lord,  and  could  not  be 
redeemed;  but  the  first-born 
of  beasts  not  lawful  for  sacri¬ 
fice  might  be  redeemed  if  the 
owner  chose  to  redeem  them  ; 
otherwise,  they  were  sold,  ex¬ 
changed,  or  destroyed.  (Ex. 
xiii.  13.  Lev.  xxvii.  27.)  It  is 
supposed  that  dogs  were  never 
redeemed.  (Deut.  xxiii.  18.) 

Several  figurative  expres¬ 
sions  of  the  s“acred  writers  are 


FIS 

derived  from  the  relation  of 
the  first-born;  and  by  all  of 
them  some  extreme  or  superla¬ 
tive  quality  or  circumstance  is 
denoted.  The  first-born  of  the 
poor  (Isa.  xiv.  30)  implies  ex¬ 
treme  poverty  \ -the  first-born 
of  every  creature  (Col.  i.  15) 
denotes  the  beginning  and 
head  of  creation  ;  the  first-born 
of  God  (Heb.  i.  6)  expresses 
the  dignity  and  superior  glory 
of  Christ. 

FIRST-FRUITS.  (Num.xviii. 
12.)  The  first-fruits  of  harvest, 
of  the  vintage,  the  threshing 
floor,  the  wine-press,  the  oil 
press,  the  first  baked.bread  of 
the  new  crop,  and  the  first 
fleeces  of  the  flock  were  re 
quired  by  God  to  be  given  for 
the  use  of  his  ministers,  the 
priests.  (Ex.  xxiii.  19.  Num. 
xv,  19  —  21  ;  xviii.  11—13.) 
These  offerings  were  brought 
to  the  temple.  No  particular 
quantity  was  designated,  but 
it  is  supposed  a  sixtieth  part 
of  the  whole  was  the  least 
measure. 

The  manner  of  offering  the 
first-fruits  is  prescribed.  (Lev. 
xxiii.  10—14.)  A  sheaf  o(  the 
first  ripe  barlev  was  brought 
on  the  second  day  of  the  pass- 
over,  and  waved  by  the  priest 
before  the  Lord ;  and,  after  be¬ 
ing  threshed  in  a  court  of  the 
temple,  a  handful  of  it  was 
cleansed  and  roasted,  and 
pounded  in  a  mortar;  oil  was 
mingled  with  it,  and  it  was 
then  offered  to  the  Lord  in  the 
name  and  behalf  of  the  nation, 
as  an  acknowledgment  of  de¬ 
pendence  and  gratitude.  Until 
this  was  done,  the  harvest  re¬ 
mained  untouched. 

The  first-fruits  are  thus  em 
blematical  of  abundance  and 
excellence,  (Rom.  viii.  23,'  and 
also  the  earnest  or  sample  of 
a  full  harvest  at  hand.  (1  Cor, 
xv.  20.) 

FISH-HOOKS.  (Amos  v.2 
Comp.  Jer.  xvi.  16.)  The  mo 
dern  method  of  taking  fish 


FLO 

with  hooks  was  doubtless 
known  in  the  early  ages  of 
the  world.  (Job  xli.  1, 2.)  The 
spear  was  also  used.  (Job  xli. 
2.  7.) 

The  fish-pools  of  Heshbon 
are  used  to  illustrate  clear¬ 
ness,  brightness,  and  serenity. 
ISol.  Song  vii.  4.)  They  were 
probably  situated  near  a  public 

fate  of  the  town,  and  well 
nown  for  their  qualities.  (See 
Heshbon.) 

FITCHES.  (Isa.xxviii.25.) 
A.  vegetable  resembling  the 
tommtin  pea.  The  word  ren¬ 
dered  fitches  in  Ezek.  iv.  9,  is 
rendered  rye  in  Ex.  ix.  32. 

FLAX.  (Ex.  ix.  31.)  A  well 
known  plant,  which  furnishes 
the  material  of  linen  stuffs  of 
every  variety.  It  was  pro¬ 
duced  of  the  best  quality  in 
Egypt,  (Isa.  xix.  9,)  and  was 
an  article  of  extensive  com- 
merCe. 

The  spinning  of  flax  was 
anciently  the  labour  of  the 
most  noble  ladies.  (Prov.xxxi. 
13.19.24.  See  Linen.) 

FLINT.  (Fs.  cxiv.  8.)  A 
hard  stone,  the  uses  of  which 
are  well  known.  The  figura¬ 
tive  use  of  the  word  in  Deut. 
xxxii.  13,  represents  the  great 
abundance  of  oil;  and  in  Isa.  1. 
7,  and  Ezek.  iii.  9,  it  is  used 
to  denote  firmness  and  con¬ 
stancy. 

FLOATS.  (1  Kings  v.  9.) 
Probably  like  the  rafts  of  mo¬ 
dern  days ;  by  which  the  tim¬ 
bers  already  fitted  lor  the 
building  might  be  floated 
coastwise  to  Joppa,  and  then 
carried  over  land  to  Jerusa¬ 
lem.  (2Chron.  ii.  16.) 
FLOCK.  (See  Sheep.) 
FLOOD.  (Gen.  vi.  17.)  One 
of  the  most  remarkable  events 
in  the  history  of  our  world,  and 
of  course  one  of  the  principal 
epochs  in  chronology.  It  oc¬ 
curred  in  the  year  1656,  or 
2318  years  before  the  birth  of 
Christ.  It  was  a  judgment 
upon  the  world  for  the  great 


FLU 

wickedness  of  its  inhabitants, 
only  eight  of  whom  were  saved. 
These  eight  composed  the  fa¬ 
mily  of  Noah,  a  righteous  man, 
who  was  divinely  instructed  to 
prepare  a  vessel  large  enough 
to  contain  his  family  and  so 
many  animals  as  were  neces¬ 
sary  to  preserve  each  species. 
(See  Ark.)  Having  faith  in 
God,  he  obeyed  the  divine 
command,  and  furnished  the 
vessel, and  was  securely  lodged 
in  it  with  his  family  before  the 
judgment  came.  It  was  in  the 
six  hundredth  year  of  Noah’s 
life,  and  between  the  middle 
of  October  and  the  middle  of 
November,  that  the  waters  be¬ 
gan  to  fall.  The  clouds  from, 
above  descended  in  over¬ 
whelming  torrents,  and  the 
fountains  of  the  great  deep 
were  broken  up;  so  that,  at 
the  end  of  forty  days,  the 
highest  elevation  upon  the 
face  of  the  earth  was  fifteen 
cubits,  or  twenty-two  and  a 
half  feet,  under  water,  and  “all 
flesh  died  that  moved  upon 
the  earth,”  and  Noah  only  re¬ 
mained  alive  and  they  that 
were  with  him  in  the  ark ;  and 
the  waters  prevailed  upon  the 
earth,  or  increased  continual¬ 
ly,  for  one  hundred  and  fifty 
days.  The  several  dates  men¬ 
tioned,  the  account  of  the  de¬ 
luge,  and  the  items  of  evidence 
from  observation,  history,  and 
tradition,  that  such  an  event 
as  the  deluge  happened.will  be 
found  arranged  in  the  Teach¬ 
er’s  Assistant,  vol.  iii.  pp. 
45—50,  and  also  in  Evening 
Recreatipns,  part  i.  pp.  17 — 
28,  both  by  Am.  S.  S.  Union. 

FLOOR.  (See  Threshing.) 

FLUTE.  (Dan.  iii.  5.  7.)  A 
wind  instrument  of  music, 
made  of  reed,  horn,  bone,  or 
wood,  and  used  on  mournful  as 
well  as  on  festive  occasions. 
It  was  played  like  the  clario¬ 
net,  though  there  were  p roe 
bably  various  modes  both  of 
making  and  using  it. 

257 


FOO 

The  mashrokitha  or  pipe 
was,  according  to  eminent 
writers,  a  kind  of  pandean 
pipe, which  was  furnished  with 
bellows,  and  thus  was  in  its 
principle  an  organ.  It  is  trans- 
laXeA  nute  in  Dan.  iii.  fi. 

FLY.  (Isa.  vii.  18.)  The 
name  of  a  large  tribe  of  insects, 


FOO 

some  of  which  are  exceeding¬ 
ly  annoying  and  destructive. 
They  abounded  in  Egypt  and 
Judea;  and  one  species,  which 
is  found  by  modern  travellers 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  Nile,  and 
called  the  Abyssinian  fly,  (see 
cut,)  is  as  large  as  a  bee,  and  it 
so  terriblean  annoyance  to  cat 


tie  and  other  large  animals,  as 
to  oblige  them  to  forsake  their 
pastures  and  ranges,  and  flee 
to  some  place  where  they  can 
roll  themselves  in  the  mud  or 
sand.  Hence  we  may  judge  of 
the  terrible  nature  of  the  judg¬ 
ments  mentioned  in  Ex.  viii. 
24.  Isa.  vii.  18 ;  in  which  last 
passage,  we  are  informed  that 
the  fly  shall  be  found  in  the 
very  places  to  which  the  cattle 
resort  to  rid  themselves  of  their 
presence. 

FOLD.  (See  Sheep.) 

FOOD.  (Gen.  iii.  6.)  We 
may  form  some  judgment  of 
the  ancient  diet  from  what  we 
know  of  the  modern  orientals. 
Vegetable  food  is  much  more 
common  than  animal.  Instead 
of  butter,  lard,  and  suet,  they 
use  olive  oil.  A  soup,  or  rather 
pottage,  of  beans  and  lentiles, 
seasoned  with  garlic  and  oil, 
is  still,  as  it  was  of  old,  a  fa¬ 
vourite  dish.  The  “  red  pottage 
of  lentiles,”  for  which  Esau 
sold  his  birthright,  was  some¬ 
thing  of  this  kind.  Eggs, honey, 
milk,  especially  sour  milk, and 
garden  productions  of  every 


kind,  afford  the  principal  mate 
rials  of  eastern  diet.  The  most 
common  dish  at  this  day  in  the 
east  is  the  p\lau ;  which  con¬ 
sists  of  rice  cooked  with  meat, 
so  as  to  make  a  sort  of  broth, 
seasoned  variously, and  colour¬ 
ed  blue,  red,  or  yellow. 

We  do  not  find  animal  food 
often  occurring,  except  upon 
the  occasion  of  entertainments, 
or  the  exhibition  of  hospitality 
to  a  friend.  (Gen.  xviii.  7.  Luke 
xv.  23.) 

Though,  as  above  stated,  the 
orientals  make  far  less  use  of 
animal  food  than  we  do,  yet 
we  find  it,  in  every  successive 
age,  upon  the  tables  of  the 
rich ;  and  the  animals  used  for 
this  purpose,  especially  neat 
cattle,  were  often  stalled  and 
fattened.  (lSam.xvi.20;  xxviii. 
24.  1  Kings  iv.  23.  Neh.  v.  18. 
Isa.  i.  11;  xi.  6.  Jer.  xlvi.  2L 
Ezek.  xxxix.  18.  Amos  vi.  4. 
Mai.  iv.  2.) 

Wild  game,  lambs,  and  kids 
may  be  considered  as  the  fa¬ 
vourite  viands  in  the  east.  At 
this  day  beef  is  not  much  used, 
though  from  some  texts  above 
268 


FOO 

and  other  similar  authorities, 
we  learn  that  the  flesh  of 
young  bullocks  and  stall-fed 
oxen  was  highly  prized.  (Prov. 
xv.  17.  Matt.  xxii.  4.) 

In  very  ancient  times  it  was 
always  the  masterofthe  house, 
whether  he  were  rich  or  poor, 
who  slew  the  animalitGrecian 
and  Roman  writers  mention 
a  like  custom  of  later  times. 
(Judg.  vi.  19.)  The  preparation 
of  the  food  by  cooking  was  the 
business  of  the  mistress.  The 
shoulder  was  probably  the 
choicest  part.  (1  Sam.  ix. 
24.) 

It  is  customary  for  the  Arabs 
to  serve  up  at  one  meal  the 
whole  of  any  animal  which 
they  have  killed.  This  is 
occasioned  in  some  measure 
by  the  difficulty  of  preserv¬ 
ing  fresh  meat  in  that  cli¬ 
mate.  (Gen.  xviii.7.  Lukexv. 
23.) 

The  people  of  the  east  are 
particularly  fond  of  fish,  and 
in  Egypt  they  constitute  a  very 
important  part  of  their  subsist¬ 
ence.  (Num.  xi.  5.) 

Melons,  cucumbers,  and  on¬ 
ions  are  the  common  food  of 
the  Egyptians  in  summer.  It 
is  said  that  the  Egyptian  onions 
are  the  sweetest  in  the  world. 
End  ive,  or  succory  is  a  common 
food  of  the  poor.  Purslane  is  al¬ 
so  common.  Radishes,  carrots, 
and  the  leaves  of  the  vine  are 
also  eaten.  Leeks  and  garlic 
—the  latter  of  which  is  import¬ 
ed  from  the  Archipelago— are 
a  common  repast.  Goats’ milk 
makes  a  great  part  of  the  diet 
of  the  east,  from  the  beginning 
of  April  till  September,  and 
cows’  milk  the  rest  of  the 
year.  The  food  of  the  common 
people  of  Aleppo,  in  winter, 
is  very  plain,  and  consists  of 
Dread,  the  juice  of  grapes  thick¬ 
ened  to  the  consistence  of  ho¬ 
ney  or  coagulated  sour  milk, 
butter,  rice,  and  a  very  little 
mutton.  We  are  told,  con- 


FOO 

cerning  the  Arabs,  that  roasted 
meat  is  almost  peculiar  to  the 
tablesof  their  emirs, or  princes, 
and  also  lambs  stewed  whole, 
and  stuffed  with  bread,  flour, 
mutton-fat,  raisins,  salt,  and 
aromatic  herbs.  (See  Bedouin 
Arabs,  by  Am.  S.  S..U.,  ch.  vii. 

FOOL,  (Prov.  xv.  5.)  FOOL¬ 
ISH,  (Job  ii.  10.)  FOOLISH¬ 
NESS.  (2  Sam.  xv.  31.)  These 
terms  are  used  by  the  sacred 
writers,  sometimes  to  denote 
weakness  or  defect  of  under¬ 
standing,  as  in  their  modern 
use,  (l  Cor.  i.  27 ;  iv.  10-0  but 
generally  they  denote  sin  or 
wickedness.  (2  Sam.  xiii.  13. 
Ps.  xiv.  1.  Prov.  xix.  1.)  Fool¬ 
ish  talking,  jesting,  foolish  and 
unlearned’  questions,  &c.,  (2 
Tim.  ii.  23,)  are  such  as  are 
vain,  frivolous, or  have  no  use¬ 
ful  tendency. 

The  phrase,  thou  fool, 
(Matt.  v.  22,)  implies  not  only 
an  angry  temper,  by  which 
such  severe  language  is 
prompted,  but  a  scornful,  con¬ 
temptuous  feeling,  utterly  in¬ 
consistent  with  the  love  and 
meekness  which  characterize 
the  disciples  of  Christ,  ard  of 
course  exposing  the  individual 
who  is  under  their  influence  to 
eternal  punishment. 

FOOT,  (Deut  xi.  10,)  FEET. 
(Gen.  xlix.  33.)  In  the  first 
6f  these  passages,  the  phrase 
wateredst  with  thy  foot  is  Sup¬ 
posed  to  refer  to  some  process 
by  which  the  foot  was  employ¬ 
ed  in  irrigating  the  soil;  and 
very  learned  commentators 
trace  the  allusion  io  a  machine 
for  raising  and  distributing 
water,  which  modern  travel¬ 
lers  tell  us  is  still  used  for  this 
purpose  in  eastern  countries, 
and  a  representation  of  which 
is  given  in  the  following  cut. 
(But  see  Water.)  Nakedness 
of  the  feet  was  a  sign  of 
mourning,  (Ezelc.  xxiv.  17,) 
and  of  respect  or  reverence 
(Ex.  iil.  5.  See  Feet.) 

2o9 


FOR 


FOR 


FOOTSTOOL.  (2  Chron.  ix. 
18.1  Kings  and  other  rulers, 
lining  in  state,  required  a  stool 
upon  which  to  rest  their  feet. 
The  divineglory  which  resided 
symbolically  in  the  holy  place, 
Between  the  cherubim  above 
the  ark,  is  supposed  to  use  the 
ark  as  a  footstool.  (1  Chron. 
xxviii.  2.  Ps.  xcix.  5.)  So  the 
earth  is  called  God’s  footstool 
by  the  same  expressive-  figure 
which  represents  heaven  as 
his  throne. 

FOREIGNER.  (Ex.xii.45.) 
Any  one  notof  the  genuine  He- 
Drew  stock.  (Comp.  Eph.  ii. 
12.) 

FOREKNOWLEDGE.  (Acts 
ii.  23 )  A  peculiar  and  essential 
attribute  of  the  Supreme  Be¬ 
ing.  (Acts  xv.  18.  Comp.  Prov. 
xix.  21;  xxvii.  1.  Isa.  xiv.  24. 
James  iv.  14.)  It  implies  the 
absence  of  any  succession  of 
time,  as  past,  present,  and 
future.  (2  Pet.  iii.  8.) 

FORERUNNER.  (Heb.vi. 
20.)  One  who  not  only  goes  be¬ 
fore  to  a  particular  place,  to 
make  arrangements  for  his  suc¬ 
cessor,  but  who  leads  or  pre¬ 
pares  the  way.  The  Athenians 
call  the  figs  that  are  ripe  be¬ 
fore  the  rest  by  the  same  word 
which,  in  the  above  passage, 
is  translated  forerunner ;  that 
la,  the  first-fruits.  (Comp.  ICor. 


xv.  20. 23.)  There  is  also  sup. 
posed  to  be  a  beautiful  meta¬ 
phorical  allusipn  to  the  person 
or  boat  that  carries  the  anchor 
within  the  pier-head,  and 
makes  the  ship  fast,  although 
the  tide  will  not  yet  admit  her 
to  come  up.  Swinging  at  her 
cable's  length,  the  ship  rides 
out  the  gale ;  for  her  anchor  is 
sure  ana  steadfast.  (Heb.  vi. 
19.) 

FOREST.  (1  Kings  vii.  2.) 
Several  tracts  of  country  were 
designated  in  this  way  ;  as fhe 
forest  of  Ephraim ,  &c.  The 
house  of  the  forest  of  Lebanon, 
which  was  built  by  Solomon, 
and  which  was  magnificent  in 
size  and  style,  (1  Kings  vi.) 
was  so  called  probably  from 
the  great  quantity  of  cedar 
which  was  used  in  the  con¬ 
struction  of  it. 

FORGIVENESS.  (Acts  v. 
31.)  Forgiveness  of  sin  is  the 
great  blessing  of  the  gospel. 
To  forgive  sin  is  the  exclu¬ 
sive  prerogative  of  Jehovah,  of 

whose  law  sin  is  the  trane 
gression.  (Ps.  cxxx.4.'Isa.xliii, 
25.  Mark  ii.  7.)  And  the  gos¬ 
pel  makes  known,  not  only 
that  there  is  forgiveness  with 
God,  but  also  how  he  can  for¬ 
give  sin  and  still  maintain 
unsullied  the  infinite  purity, 
and  holiness,  and  perfection 
260 


f 


FOR 

of  his  nature,  government,  and 
law.  and  even  clothe  them  all 
■with  new  glory. 

The  consciousness  of  guilt  is 
universal.  Hence,  in  all  parts 
of  the  world,  Christian  and 
pagan,  savage  and  civilized, 
there  are  found  institutions 
or  customs  which  have  a  di¬ 
rect  reference— more  or  less 
clearly  defined— to  expiation 
and  forgiveness ;  but  the  Chris¬ 
tian  scheme  alone  makes 
known  a  way  of  mercy,  (Acts 
xiii.  38, 39,)  safe  to  man  and  ho¬ 
nourable  to  God,  and,  through 
Christ,  offers  forgiveness— full, 
free,  and  everlasting— to  all 
■who  will  believe  and  obey  the 
gospel.  (Acts  v.  31;  xiiif  38, 39. 
lJohnii.  12.)  The  duty  of 
mutual  forgiveness  is  urged 
upon  man  with  the  most  so¬ 
lemn  sanctions.  (Matt.  vi.  14, 
15 ;  xviii.  15—35.  Luke  xvii. 
3,  4.) 

FORKS.  (1  Sam. xiii. 21.) 
The  oriental  manner  of  par¬ 
taking  of  food  is,  like  their  fur¬ 
niture, very  simple.They  make 
use  of  no  plates, spoons, knives, 
nor  forks ;  nor  are  these  im¬ 
plements  necessary.  Instead 
of  plates,  they  use  their  round 
pieces  of  bread,  upon  which 
they  lay  such  things  as  we 
should  put  on  a  plate.  (See 
Eat,  Eatino.)  Their  bread  is 
broken  with  the  hands,  and 
their  meat  is  usually  cut  into 
small  morsels  before  it  is  serv¬ 
ed  up.  When  this  is  not  the 
case,  as  in  the  instance  of 
boiled  fowisr,they  tear  it  to 
pieces  with  their  fingers,  and 
carry  it  to  the  mouth  in  this 
way;  as  they  also  do  in  helping 
themselves  to  rice,  pulse,  and 
other  articles  of  diet.  The 
dishes  are  of  wood  or  tinned 
copper ;  in  the  Persian  palaces, 
of  silver  and  gold.  Even  broth 
and  milk  are  laded  out  in  the 
hollow  of  the  hand,  or  the 
bread  is  dipped  into  them. 

,  The  forks  mentioned  in  the 


FOX 

above  passage  were  used,  not 
in  eating,  but  in  taking  meat 
out  of  the  vessels  in  which  it 
was  cooked. 

FORNICATION.  (Matt.  v. 
32.)  This  word,  as  used  by  the 
sacred  writers,  denotes  various 
acts  of  lewdness  and  inconti- 
nency;  and  it  is  also  figura¬ 
tively  applied  to  idolatry,  or 
the  mingling  of  the  pure  wor¬ 
ship  of  God  with  the  impure 
rites  of  heathenism. 

FORSWEAR.  (See  Oath.) 

FOUNTAINS.  (Gen.  xvi.7.) 
Springs  or  sources  of  water  are 
olten  mentioned  by  the  sacred 
writers.  In  the  dry  and  thirsty 
land  of  Judea  they  were  of  pe¬ 
culiar  value;  and  hence  the 
figurative  use  of  the  word, when 
applied  to  the  hopes,  blessings, 
and  consolations  of  religion, 
must  have  been  very  forciole 
to  the  Jews.  Perpetual  foun¬ 
tains,  or  springs  of  living  wa¬ 
ter,  were  greatly  valued.  (Ps. 
xxxvi.  7—9.  Isa.  xlix.  10.  Jer. 
ii.  13.  Joel  iii.  18.  Zech.  xiii.  1. 
John  iv.  10.  Rev.  vii.  17.)  The 
word  fountains  is  figuratively 
used  to  denote  children  or  pos¬ 
terity.  (Deut.  xxxiii.  28.  Prov. 
v.  16.) 

FOX.  (Neh.iv.3.)  A  well 
known  animal,  remarkable 
for  its  cunning  and  voracity. 
Foxes,  or  jackals,  abounded  in 
some  districts  of  Judea.  They 
live  on  birds  and  small  quadra 
peds,  and  follow  armies  that 
they  may  feed  on  bodies  that 
may  be  left  on  the  march. 
Hence  the  allusion,  Ps.  lxiii.  10. 
The  method  adopted  by  Sam 
son  (Judg.  xv.  4, 5)  to  destroy 
the  corn,  vineyards,  and  olive- 
yards  of  the  Philistines,  shows 
that  this  animal  must  have 
been  very  common ;  and  that 
there  is  nothing  incredible  in 
the  account  itself  appears  from 
the  fact,  that  in  an  ancient 
Roman  festival  it  was  custom¬ 
ary  to  couple  foxes  in  a  similar 
way,  with  a  brand  between 


I 


FKI 

them.  The  crafty,  artful  nature 
of  the  fox  is  proverbial.  (Ezek. 
xiii.4.  Luke  xiii.  32) 

Volney  says  that  jackals  are 
concealed  by  hundreds  in  Sy¬ 
ria,  in  the  gardens  and  among 
ruins  and  tombs.  Hence  the 
allusion,  Lam.  v.  18.  (For  cut 
and  description,  see  Youth’s 
Friend,  for  Feb.  1826,  by  Am. 
S.  S.  Union.) 

FRANKINCENSE.  (Ex.xxx. 
84.)  A  dry,  resinous,  aromatic 
substance,  of  a  yellow  tinge, 
bitter  . anu  acrid  to  the  taste, 
but  exceedingly  odoriferous. 
The  tree,  whence  the  -gum  is 
obtained  by  incision  of  the 
bark,  grows  in  Arabia,  and  re¬ 
sembles  our  sumach.  It  is  also 
found  iu  India,  but  of  an  in¬ 
ferior  quality ;  and,  as  some 
suppose,  it  was  found  in  the 
mountainous  districts  of  Judea. 
It  is  sometimes  called  incense. 
Isa.  lx.  6.  Jer.vi.20.  Luke  i.  9.) 
t  is  cal  led  frank ,  because  of 
the  freeness  with  which  it 
burns  and  gives  forth  its  odours; 
and  the  p~ure  incense  is  that 
which  is  first  obtained,  and  is 
freest  from  foreign  admixture. 

Sweet  incense,  (Ex.  xxx.  7,) 
might  as  well  be  rendered  in¬ 
tense  of  spices j  and  is  the  com- 
ition  mentioned  Ex.  xxx. 

The  substance  which  is  ge¬ 
nerally  used  in  modern  times 
as  frankincense  is  the  produc¬ 
tion  of  th§  Norway  pine. 

The  use  of  incense  in  the 
Jewish  worship  may  be  learn¬ 
ed  from  Ex.  xxx.  7,  and  Lev. 
xvi.  12, 13,  and  it  is  figuratively 
employed  to  represent  lovely 
and  agreeable  qualities,  (Sol. 
Songfii.6;  iv.  6.  14,)  and  devo¬ 
tional  fervour.  (Ps.  cxli.  2. 
Mai.  i.  11.  Rev.  viii.  3.) 

FRIEND.  (Ex.  xxxiii.  11.) 
There  are  several  passages  in 
which  this  word  is  used  where 
no  actual  friendship  or  affec¬ 
tion  is  intended,  (Matt.  xxii.  12; 
xxvi.  50;)  and  in  these  it  is 
perhaps  employed  as  a  com- 


FRI 

mon  term  of  salutation,  as  the 
word  neighbour  is  often  used 
in  modern  times. 

FRINGES  (Deut.  xxii.  12) 
were  the  hem  or  border  of 
a  particular  Jewish  garment, 
(Matt.  ix.  20 ;  xiv.  36.) 

At  the  time  when  the  Sab¬ 
bath-breaker  was  stoned  to 
death,  (Num.  xv.  32.41,)  Moses 
was  commanded  to  speak  to 
the  children  of  Israel,  and 
“  bid  them  make  fringes  in 
the  borders  of  their  garments, 
throughout  their  generations,’’ 
and  that  they  should  “  put  up¬ 
on  the  fringe  of  the  borders  a 
riband  of  blue,”  as  a  constant 
remembrancer  of  God’s  com¬ 
mandments,  and  a  visible 
warning  against  forbidden  in¬ 
dulgence.  These  fringes  were' 
principally  upon  the  comers 
of  the  dress.  Perhaps  the  hem 
was  of  lace;  for  the  original 
word  denotes  that  which  was 
twisted  like  a  rope,  and  hung 
like  hair.  (Ex.  xxxix.  31.)  It 
was  evidently  a  badge  of  dis¬ 
tinction.  (See  Clothes,  and 
cut.) 

•In  some  parts  of  Europe  and 
Asia  a  Jew  is  instantly  known 
by  his  apparel.  In  all  syna¬ 
gogues,  however,  there  is  worn 
a  kind  of  scarf,  from  three  to 
five  feet  long,  and  one  foot 
wide,  which  is  furnished  with 
fringes  at  the  corners.  Let  us 
hear  the  account  which  they 
give  of  it  themselves : — “  When 
we  put  on  that  garment  on 
which  the fringes  ordained  by 
the  law  are  fixed,  (Num.  xv. 
37.  Deut.  xxii.  12,)  we  pro¬ 
nounce  likewise  the  following 

rayer  of  thanks  :  ‘  Praised 

be  God]  who  hast  sanctified 
us  through  thy  command¬ 
ments,  and  commanded  us  the 
precept  of  the  fringes.’  But 
when  we  cover  ourselves  with 
the  prayer-cloak,  we  say,  in 
place  of  the  concluding  words 
of  the  foregoing,  ‘sanctified  and 
commanded  us  to  envelope  our¬ 
selves  with  the  garment  of, 
262 


ICE 

frine/s'  These  fringes  are  lo 
be  considered  as  marks  of  re¬ 
membrance,  and  tokens,  by 
which  we  are  always  remind¬ 
ed  ol  the  commandments  of 
God;  as  it  is  written,  (Num. 
xv.  39,'>  ‘  These  fringes  shall 
serve  you  for  the  purpose  that 
you  may  see  them,  and  re¬ 
member  all  the  command¬ 
ments  of  the  Eternal,  and 
do  them;  but  not  follow  the 
bent  of  your  heart  and  of  your 
eyes,  by  which  you  are  led  to 
sin ;  ye  will  thereby  remember 
all  my  precepts,  and  obey 
them,  that  you  may  be  holy  to 
your  God.” 

A  Jewish  commentator  on 
Num.  xv.  says,  that  any  man 
clothed  with  this  fringe  is  safe, 
and  shall  be  delivered  from 
all  hurt  and  destruction. 

FROGS.  (Ex.  viii.  2.)  A 
well  knowmamphibious,  loath¬ 
some  reptile,  found  generally 
on  the  margin  of  brooks  and 
ponds,  and  living  on  insects, 
■worms,  Ac.  They  were  sent 
upon  the  Egyptians  in  such 
numbers  as  to  fill  their  beds, 
ovens,  and  kneading-troughs: 
and  when  they  died,  as  they  did 
in  immense  masses,  they  fill¬ 
ed  the  land  with  an  offensive 
and  pestilential  effluvia.  (See 
Youth’s  Friend,  for  August, 
1823,  and  Life  of  Moses,  p.  69, 
both  bv  Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

FKCiNTLETS.  (See  Phy¬ 
lacteries.)  . 

FRUIT.  Lev.  xix.  23,  is  the 
only  passage  in  which  this 
term  is  used  in  a  doubtful 
sense ;  and  it  here  means,  that 
the  fruit  of  a  tree  newly  plant¬ 
ed  shall  be  regarded  as  unfit  Ui 
be  offered  to  the  Lord,  until  the 
Jburlh  year  of  its  growth. 

FUEL  (Isa.  ix.  5)  was  so 
scarce  in  the  east  that  the  peo¬ 
ple  resorted  to  almost  every 
Kind  of  combustible  matter; 
even  the  withered  stalks  of 
herbs  and  flowers,  (Matt,  vi.28 
— 31),)  thorns,  (Ps.lviii.  9.  Eccl. 
wii.  6.)  and  even  excrements. 


FUL 

(Eziek.  iv.  12—16.  See  Duns.) 
It  is  supposed  that  by  the  word 
brand  (Amos  iv.  11)  is  meant  a 
dry  vine,  twig, or  other  brush 
wood,  which  is  so  light  and 
combustible  as  to  be  consumed 
at  once,  if  not  instantly  pluck¬ 
ed  out;  thus  rendering  the 
striking  figure  of  the  prophet 
still  more  expressive. 

FULFILLED.  (Matt.  ii.  17.) 
This  word  is  generally  used  in 
reference  to  the  accomplish* 
ment  of  prophecy. .  It  is  to  be 
observed,  however,  concerning 
the  expression,  that  it  might 
be  fulfilled,—  which  is  Tre 
quenlly-  used,  (Matt.  ii.  15.  23; 
viii.  17;  xii.  17,  Ac.  Ac.,) — the 
event  does  not  happen  merely 
for  the  purpose  of  making 
good  the  prediction.  When 
it  is  said,  for  example,  that 
they  parted  Christ’s  garments 
among  them,  casting  lots,  — 
that  it  might  be  fulfilled  which 
was  spoken  .by  the  prophet, 
Ac.,— it  is  not  intended  that 
this  was  done  in  order  to  se¬ 
cure  the  accomplishment  of 
the  prediction ;  but  rather  that, 
in  or  by  this  was  fulfilled  the 
prophecy,  Ac. ;  or  thus  it  came 
to  pass,  in  fulfilment  of  the  pro¬ 
phecy,  Ac.  Those  concerned 
had  no  knowledge  generally 
of  the  fact  that  they  were 
fulfilling  a  prophecy..  Oui 
Saviour  of  course  knew  it; 
and  hence  the  peculiar  ex 
pression,  John  xix.  28.  (See 
Prophecy.)  The  meaning, 
in  most  of  .the  above  and 
parallel  passages,  would  be 
more  accurately  expressed  by 
the  word  verified.  In  this 
event  was  verified  what  was 

^FU^LER’S  FIELD.  (See 
Conduit.) 

FULNESS.  (Gal.  iv.  4.) 
This  expression  has  a  peculiar 
meaning  in  some  passa°esxf 
the  sacred  writings.  The  fat¬ 
ness  of  limey  in  relation  to  the 
Messiah,  means  the  actual 
presence  of  the  very  time  ap 


FUR 

pointed  for  his  advent.  So, 
when  the  day  of  Pentecost  was 
f  ully  come.  (Acts  ii.  1)  The 
same  word  is  used  (John  i.  16, 
and  Col.  i.  19)  to  signify  the 
perfect  and  complete  suffi¬ 
ciency  of  spiritual  blessings 
in  Christ  Jesus,  to  meet  all 
the  wants  of  our  guilty,  ruined, 
heliil  ess  race. 

The  fulness  of  the  Godhead 
(Col.  ii.  9)  denotes  all  the  attri¬ 
butes  of  the  divine  nature, 
in  their  entire  and  complete 
perfection. 

FUNERAL.  (See Bunv.'i 

FURLONG.  (See  Mea¬ 
sures.) 

FURNACE.  (Gen.  tv.  17.) 
Furnaces  were  used  for  melt¬ 
ing  the  prfecious  metals.  (Prov. 
xvii.  3.)  They  were  also  used 
to  punish  criminals.  The  fur¬ 
nace  into  whichNebuchadnez- 
zar  cast  the  young  Hebrews 
who  refused  to  worship  his 
image  was  probably  an  open 
furnace,  or  place  of  fire,  suffi¬ 
ciently  confined  to  concentrate 


GAB 

AAL  (Judg.  ix.  26)  was  the 
son  of  Ebed,  and  the  lead¬ 
er  of  a  revolt,  against  Abime- 
lech,  king  of  the  Shechemites. 
He  was,  however,  defeated, and 
put  to  flight,  and  his  partisans 
were  scattered  and  destroyed. 

GAASH.  (Judg.  ii.  9.)  A  hill 
in  the  territory  of  Ephraim,  in 
the  vicinity  of  which  was  Tim- 
nath-serah,  where  Joshua  lived 
and  died.  (Josh.  xxiv.  29, 30.) 
The  brooks  tor  valleys)  of 
Gaash  (2  Sam.  xxiii.  30.  1 
Chron.  xi.  32)  were  probably 
in  the  same  neighbourhood. 

GABBATHA.  (Johnxix.  13.) 
A  Hebrew  word,  denoting  an 
elevated  place;  like  the  bench 
of#he  judges  in  modern  court 
rooms.  The  floor  of  this  plat¬ 
form,  and  perhaps  the  whole 
area  of  the  apartment,  was  pro¬ 
bably  paved  with  stone,  — a 


FUR 

the  heat  to  the  last  extreme, 
and  yet  so  open  that  what  took 
lace  in  the  midst  of  it  might 
e  easily  seen.  Such  places 
are  now  found  in  Syria,  and 
were  evidently  used  by  idola¬ 
ters  as  temples  for  the  fires 
which  represented  their  gods, 
and  in  which  they  offered  sa- 

FURNITURE.(SeeCAMEi„) 

FURROW.  (Ps.  lxv.  10.) 
The  phrase,  they  shall  bind 
themselves  in  their  two  fur¬ 
rows,  (Hos.  x.  10,)  is  explained 
by  the  context,  especially 
verses  4,  and  11—13. 

FURY  (Jer.  x.  25)  is  attri¬ 
buted  to  God  like  anger,  meta¬ 
phorically,  or  speaking  after 
the  manner  of  men;  that  is, 
God’s  providential  actions  are 
such  as  would  be  performed  by 
a  man  in  a  state  of  anger;  so 
that,  when  he  is  said  to  pour 
out  his  fury  on  a  person,  or  on 
a  people,  it  is  a  figurative  ex¬ 
pression  for  dispensing  afflic¬ 
tive  judgments. 


GAD 

common  practice  in  palaces 
and  public  offices.  Hence  it 
is  called  in  Greek,  by  a  word, 
signifying  the  pavement. 

GABRIEL.  (Luke  i.  19.)  One 
of  the  ministering  spirits  of 
God, who  was  specially  charged 
with  the  message  to  Zacharias, 
respecting  the  birth  of  John, 
and  to  Mary,  respecting  the 
birth  of  Christ.  At  an  earlier 
period  he  was  sent  to  Daniel  to 
unfold  a  vision.  (Dan.  viii.  16; 
ix.  21.)  The  name  signifies 
the  strength  of  God. 

GAD.  (Gen.  xxx.  9— 11.)  1. 
Tribe  of.  (Num.  i.  25.)  The 
posterity  of  Gad,  the  son  of 
Jacob,  by  Zilpah,  Leah’s  hand¬ 
maid. 

It  was  predicted  of  Gad  by 
his  father,  (Gen.  xlix.  19,)  that 
a  troop  should  overcome  him, 
but  he  should  overcome  at  the 
264 


GAD 

last.  And  in  Deut.  xxxiii.  20, 
21,  Moses  predicts  still  more 
particularly  the  events  which 
distinguish  the  history  of  this 
tribe.' 

After  the  defeat  of  the  kings 
of  Bashan,  the  tribes  of  Gad 
and  Reuben  petitioned  Moses 
to  assign  them  their  portion  in 
that  district  of  the  country,  as 
it  was  favourable  to  their  pas¬ 
toral  pursuits.  Their  request 
was  granted,  and  Gad’s  tribe 
was  located  south  of  Reuben, 
between  the  mountains  of  Gi¬ 
lead  and  the  river  Jordan. 

In  this  position  they  were 
subject  to  frequent  incursions 
from  the  neighbouring  hordes ; 
but  they  were  valorous,  (1  Chr. 
v.  19, 20. 22 ;  xii.  8,)  and,  under 
David,  subdued  all  their  ene¬ 
mies. 

In  the  song  of  Moses,  (Deut. 
xxxiii.  20, 21,)  allusion  is  made 
to  the  enlargementand  courage 
of  theGadites;  to  the  provision 
made  by  Moses  the. lawgiver 
for  that  tribe  before  the  rest,  on 
the  east  of  Jordan,  and  to  the 
fidelity  with  which  the  tribe 
fulfilled  their  agreement  to  go 
up  with  the  other  tribes  to  the 
conquest  of  the  promised  land, 
just  as  if  no  portion  had  been 
assigned  them  in  Bashan. 

2.  (1  Sam.  xxii.  5.)  A  prophet 
and  a  particular  friend  of  Da¬ 
vid.  He  was  on  more  than  one 
occasion  God’s  messenger  to 
David,  (1  Sam.  xxii.  5.  2  Sam. 
xxiv.  13—19.  1  Chron.  xxi.  9— 
117)  and  was  also  one  of  his 
biographers.  (1  Chron.  xxix. 
29.) 

GADARENES,  country  of. 
(Mark  v.  1.)  Gadara  was  one 
of  the  ten  cities  called  Deca- 
polis.  (See  Decapolis.)  It  was 
on  the  east  of  Jordan,  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  lake  of  Genne- 
saret,  beyond  the  brook  Jar- 
muk,  aliout  eight  miles  above 
its  junction  with  the  Jordan. 
It  gave  its  name  to  the  district 
or  canton  of  which  it  was  the 
chief  town.  Gergesa  or  GE- 


GAI 

resa  was  another  city  in  the 
same  neighbourhood,  which 
gave  to  another  district  the 
name  of  the  country  of  the 
Gergesenes.  Gergesa  was  si¬ 
tuated  about  twenty  miles  east 
of  the  Jordan, and  lenortwelve 
south-east  of  Gadara ;  so  that 
the  region  generally  might  be 
designated'  by  either  name, 
(Malt.  viii.  28.  Mark  v.  1 ;)  and 
the  discrepancy  rather  con¬ 
firms  than  invalidates  the 
sacred  history,  as  it  might  so 
easily  have  been  avoided. 

Dr.  Seetzen  discovered,  m 
the  year  1816,  what  he  sup¬ 
poses  to  be  the  ruins  of  Gerge¬ 
sa,  now  called  Djerash,  where 
three  temples,  two  superb 
amphitheatres  of  marble,  and 
hundreds  of  columns  still  re¬ 
main,  among  other  monuments 
of  Roman  power. 

It  was  in  this  vicinity  that 
Christ  wrought  a  wonderful 
miracle  on  two  demoniacs. 
(Luke  viii. 26 — 36.)  Gadara,  in 
the  time  of  Josephus,  was  an 
important  city,  and  the  metro¬ 
polis  of  Perea,  or  the  country 
beyond  Jordan.  It  now  lies  in 
ruins,  being  wholly  deserted 
on  account  of  the  scarcity  of 
water,  though  the  foundations 
of  its  spacious  streets  are  visi¬ 
ble.  In  the  vicinity  are  famous 
medicinal  springs ;  and  we  are 
told  by  modern  travellers,  that 
the  rocks  by  which  the  coast 
is  bound  contain  the  remains 
of  tombs,  cut  out  by  the  early 
inhabitants  of  Galilee,  which 
even  now  seem  a  fit  resort  for 
the  wretched  outcasts  of  soci¬ 
ety  who  had  their  dwellm| 
among  them  two  thousand 
years  ago.  (Luke  viii.  27.) 

GAIlfS.  (Acts  xix.  29.)  A 
Macedonian,  resident  in  Co¬ 
rinth,  at  whose  house  Paul 
stayed  while  labouring  as  a 
missionary  in  that  city.  (Rom. 
xvi.23.)  He  was  probably  con¬ 
verted  under  Paul’s  ministry 
(I  Cor.  i.  14,)  and  accompanied 
him  to  Ephesus,  and,  with 
2o5 


fl  Ah 

Aristarchus,  another  of  Paul’s 
adherents,  was  seized  by  the 
mob,  during  the  uproar  occa¬ 
sioned  by  the  apostle’s  preach¬ 
ing.  Probably  reference  is 
made  to  this  individual.  Acts 
xx.  4,  and  3  John  1 ;  though 
some  have  supposed  two  indi¬ 
viduals  to  be  intended. 

GALATIA.  (Actsxvi.G.)  A 
province  of  Asia  Minor,  lying 
east  of  Phrygia,  and  called 
Galatia  by  the  Gauls,  who 
were  the  original  settlers  of  <it. 

Christianity  was  introduced 
into  this  province  by  the  apos¬ 
tle  Paul,  who  was  there  once 
with  Silas  and  Timothy,  (Acts 
xvi.  G,)  about  the  year  53,  and 
again,  four  or  five  years  after¬ 
wards,  on  his  return  from  Co¬ 
rinth.  (Acts  xviii.  23.) 

GALATIANS,  epistle  to, 
is  the  ninth  in  the  order  of  the 
boohs  of  the  New  Testament, 
and  was  written  by  Paul  about 
tire  year  53-54.  Its  design  evi¬ 
dently  is,  to  correct  some  erro¬ 
neous  opinions  they  had  been 
taught,  particularly  respecting 
the  doctrine  of  justification 
by  faith  ;  and  to  instruct  them 
as  to  the  true  scope  and  intent 
of  the  gospel.  This  epistle  is 
peculiarly  interesting,  as  it 
contains  a  record  of  the  evi¬ 
dences  of  Paul’s  aposlleship,  a 
sketch  of  Itis  life  after  his  con¬ 
version,  and  a  masterly  eluci¬ 
dation  and  defence  of  the  great 
but  simple  plan’  of  salvation 
through  faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ.  (SeeUNiONQtiESTioNS, 
vol.  viii.,  by  Am.  S.  S.  Union, 
for  a  complete  analysis  of  this 
interesting  epistle.) 

GALBANUM.  (Ex.  xxx.  34.) 
A  resinous  gum,  produced  in 
Syria  and  its  vicinity,  from  the 
sapor  milk  of  a  plant  of  the 
same  name,  which  grows  eight 
or  ten  feet  high.  It  was  an  in¬ 
gredient  of  the  sacred  incense, 
and  is  still  valuable  for  its 
medicinal  properties. 

GALILEANS.  (Lukexiii.l.) 
A  sect  jr  party  of  the  Jews 


GAL 

who  took  their  name  from 
their  leader,  Judas,  a  Gaulan- 
ite,  or  Galilean.  It  is  supposed 
that  the  party  originated  in 
opposition  to  a  tax  imposed 
hy  the  Roman  government  on 
the  Jews,  a.  d.  10—12.  Judas 
and  his  party  resisted  the  go¬ 
vernment,  (Acts  v.  37,)  and 
maintained  their  opposition 
until  the  destruction  of  Jerusa¬ 
lem  and.  the  temple.  Jewish 
historians  tell  us  tiiat  the  Gali¬ 
leans  agreed  with  the  Phari 
sees,  but  were  distinguished 
by  an  unconquerable  love  of 
liberty,  contending,  on  the 
strength  of  Deut.  xvii.  15,  tha< 
God  only  was  their  sovereign, 
and  that  all  exactions  of  earth¬ 
ly  princes  were  oppressive  and 
unlawful. 

The  Galileans  who  are  men¬ 
tioned  as  Staving  been  offer¬ 
ing  sacrifices  at  Jerusalem, 
when  they  were  suddenly  as¬ 
saulted,  and  put  to  death  by 
order  of  Pilate,— so  that  their 
blood  (lowed  out  and  actually 
mingled  with  the  very  sacri¬ 
fices’ they  were  offering.  (Luka 
xiii.  J,2,)— were  probably  the 
subjects  of  Herod,  between 
whom  and  Pilate  there  was  a 
deep-rooted  hostility.  (Luke 
xxiii.  12.)  Their  sudden  and 
violent  death,  in  the  very  act 
of  worship,  seems  to  have 
marked  them,  in  the  view  of 
some,  as  the  special  objects  of 
divine  indignation. 

GALILEE.  (Matt.  iv.  12. 
Mark  i.  9.  Luke  ii.  39.)  In  the 
time  of  Christ,  Palestine  was 
divided  into  three  parts:  of 
which  the  northern  was  Gali¬ 
lee,  bounded  on  the  north  by 
Anti-Libanus ;  east,  by  Jor¬ 
dan  and  the  sea  of  Galilee ; 
south,  by  Samaria;  and  west 
by  Phoenicia,  which  occupied 
tlie  coast  north  from  Carmel  to 
Tyre.  It  was  distinguished 
into  Upper  and  Lower;  the  for 
mer  lying  on  the  north,  and 
inhabited  partly  by  Syrians, 
Pltenicians,  and  Arabians ; 

26<» 


GAL 

whence  it  was  called  Galilee 
of  the  Gentiles,  (Isa.  ix.  1 ,)  or 
Nations,  (Matt.  iv.  15;)  the 
latter,  especially  the  valley 
along  the  sea  of  Tiberias,  was 
fertile  and  populous. 

Within  the  limits  of  Galilee 
were  comprehended  Issachar, 
Zebulon,  Naphtali,and  Asher. 
Christ  is  called  Jesus  of  Gali¬ 
lee,  (Matt.  xxvi.  69,)  because 
he  was  brought  up  in  that  pro¬ 
vince,  and  there  lived,  taught, 
and  called  his  first  disciples, 
(Malt.  iv.  13 — 23;xiii.55.  Mark 

i.  39.  Luke  iv.  44;  viii.  1 ;  xxiii. 
5.  John  vii.  1 ;)  and  it  became  a 
name  of  contempt,  (John  i.46; 
vii.  52.  Acts  ii.  7,)  both  among 
Jews  and  Gentiles,  because 
they  were  a  mongrel  race,  and 
used  a  corrupted  dialect,  which 
originated  in  the  amalgama¬ 
tion  of  the  Jews,  who  settled 
there  after  the  captivity,  with 
the  Gentile  foreigners.  (Matt, 
xxvi.  69.  73.  Mark  xiv.  70.) 

Galilee,  says  a  modern  tra- 
vell»  r,  would  be  a,  paradise, 
were  it  inhabited  by  an  indus¬ 
trious  people,  under  an  en¬ 
lightened  government.  Vine 
stocks  are  to  be  seen  here  a 
foot  and  a  half  in  diameter, 
forming,  by  their  twining 
branches,  vast  arches  and  ex¬ 
tensive  ceilings  of  verdure.  A 
cluster  of  grapes,  two  or  three 
feet  in  length,  will  give  an 
abundant  supper  to  a  whole 
family.  The  plains  ofEsdrae- 
lon  are  occupied  by  tribes, 
around  whose  Drown  tents 
the  sheep  and  lambs  gambol 
to  the  sound  of  the  reed,  which 
at  nightfall  calls  them  home. 

Sea  of  Galilee'.  (See  Chin- 
nereth.) 

GALL.  (Ps.  lxix.  21.)  An 
animal  fluid,  of  exceedingly 
bitter  taste,  secreted  by  the 
liver.  Allusion  is  made  to  it 
inJobxvi.  13;  xx.  14. 25.  Lam. 

ii.  11,  and  elsewhere.  But  by 
the  same  word  in  Ps.  lxix.  21, 
reference  is  made  to  the  ex¬ 
traction  of  a  very  bitter  herb, 


GAL 

(Dent.  xxix.  18;  xxxii.  32,) 
perhaps  hemlock.  (Hos.  x.  4.) 
It  was  so  bitter  as  to  be  used  as 
a  generic  term  for  bitter  sub¬ 
stances;  as  sour  wine,  sour 
cider,  Ac.  is  called  vinegar. 
(Comp.  Matt,  xxvii.  34.  Mark 
xv.23.Acts.viii.23.  SeeMVRRH.) 

GALLERIES.  (See  Dwell¬ 
ings.) 

GALLEY.  (See  Ship.) 

GALL  10  (Acts  xviii.  12) 
was  the  brother  of  Seneca, 
the  famous  philosopher,  who 
describes  him  as  a  man  of 
uncommon  mildness  and  sim¬ 
plicity.  He  was  appointed 

groconsul  of  Achaia  by  the 
oman  emperor  Claudius, A. D. 
53.  He  resided  chiefly  at  Co¬ 
rinth;  and  when  Paul  was 
reaching  in  that  city,  and 
ad  excited  the  jealousy  of 
the  Jews  by  the  success  of  his 
mission,  they  took  him  by 
violence  before  Gallio,  and 
charged  him  with  persuading 
men  to  worship  God  contrary 
to  the  law.  Gallio  was  disin¬ 
clined  to  interfere  with  con¬ 
troversies  of  that  kind,  which 
were  not  cognizable  by  the 
law  which  he  was  appointed  to 
administer;  and  so  he  dismiss¬ 
ed  the  parties.  As  they  were 
leaving  the  place,  a  tumult 
occurred,  in  which  Sosthenes, 
an  officer  of  the  Jewish  church, 
was  severely  treated  by  a 
party  of  Greeks.  It  does  not 
appear  but  Gallio  had  left  the 
bench  before  this  event  occur¬ 
red  ;  and  even  if  he  were  pre¬ 
sent,  the  expression,  that,  he 
cared,  for  none  of  these  things, 
may  imply  nothing  more  than 
that  he  diunot  concern  himself 
with  the  controversies  of  the 
various  sects  and  parties  into 
which  the  community  around 
him  was  divided.  This  course, 
so  far  from  evincing  hostility 
or  indifference  to  Paul,  or  ta 
religion  generally,  was  cer¬ 
tainly  wise  and  prudent  for  a 
commissioner  of  the  Roman 
government,  appointed,  as  he 


GAM 

was,  to  a  temporary  office  in  a 
foreign  provide. 

GAMALIEL.  (Acts  v.  34.)  A 
distinguished  Jewish  rabbi,  a 
doctor  or  teacher  of  the  law, 
and  possessed  of  a  large  share 
of  public  confidence.  It  is 
said  he  was  for  thirty-two  years 

{tresiilent  of  the  Jewish  san- 
ledrim.  He  is  first  introduced 
to  our  notice  in  connexion 
with  the  attempt  made  at 
Jerusalem,  A.  d.  33,  by  the  op- 
posers  of  the  gospel,  to  stop  the 
mouths  of  Peter  and  the  other 
apostles.  The  faithful  mis¬ 
sionaries  were  brought  before 
the  Jewish  council,  and  there 
boldly  proclaimed  their  in¬ 
flexible  purpose.  This  excited 
their  enemies  to  madness ;  and 
they  had  already  made  up  their 
minds  to  put  them  to  death, 
when  Gamaliel,  by  a  plain 
and  seasonable  exh.bition  of 
the  folly  of  such  a  step, 
changed  their  counsel;  ana, 
after  having  scourged  the  apos¬ 
tles,  they  discharged  them.  So 
distinguished  was  this  rabbi  for 
his  wisdom  and  learning,  that 


GAR 

Paul  went  up  to  Jerusalem  to 
receive  instruction  from  him, 
and  afterwards  mentions  this 
fact  in  his  oration  to  the  peo¬ 
ple  of  Jerusalem,  (a.  d.  CO,)  as 
evidence  that  he  had  the  best 
opportunity  to  know  the  na¬ 
ture  and  requisitions  of  the 
law.  (Acts  xxii.  3.) 

GAMMADIMS.  (Ezek.xxvii. 
11.)  The  prevailing  opinion 
respecting  this  term  is,  that  it 
is  rather  descriptive  of  the 
character  of  a  people ;  as,  the 
brave ,  the  warlike,  the  invin- 
cibles,  than  the  name  of  any 
particular  nation  or  tribe. 
GARDEN.  (Isa.  i.  8.)  The 
ardens  of  the  Hebrews  were 
oubtless  very  rude  and  sim¬ 
ple.  Allusions  to  them  are 
made,  Gen.  xxi.  33.  Num.  xxiv. 
6.  Jobviii.  16;  and  there  is 
reason  to  suppose  that  they 
were  chiefly  devoted  to  fruit 
and  shade  trees,  and  aromatic 
plants  and  herbs.  (1  Kings  xxi. 
2.  Sol.,  Song  iv.  12—16.)  A  re¬ 
servoir  of  water  was  considered 
an  indispensable  appendage 
either  in  the  form  of  a  fouiv 


268 


GAR 

tain,  well,  or  stream,  passing 
through  it.  (Gen.ii.lO;  xiii.  10.) 
The  gardens  around  Damascus 
are  described  as  abundantly 
watered  by  little  currents 
which  are  made  to  flow  through 
every  part  of  them.  Beau¬ 
tiful  allusions  to  this  are 
made  Pro v.  xxi.  1.  Isa.  lviii.  11. 
Eccl.  ii.  5, 6.  The  gardens  of 
Persia,  at  the  present  day,  are 
well  laid  out,  and  cultivated 
with  much  care.  Gardens  were 
used  to  some  extent  as  burying 
places,  (John  xix.  41, — see  Bu¬ 
rial,)  and  also  as  places  of 
religious  worship  and  retire¬ 
ment.  (Isa.  i.29;'lxv.3.)  Gar¬ 
dens  were  probably  often 
unfenced,  and  formerly,  as 
now,  esculent  vegetables  were 
planted  on  some  fertile  spot  in 
the  open  field.  A  custom  pre¬ 
vails  in  Hindostan,  as  travel¬ 
lers  inform  us,  of  planting, 
at  the  Commencement  of  the. 
rainy  season,  in  the  extensive 
plains,  an  abundance  of  me¬ 
lons,  cucumbers,  gourds,  &c. 
In  the  centre  of  the  field  is  an 
artificial  mound,  with  a  hut  on 
the  top  just  large  enough  to 
shelter  a  single  person  from 
the  storm  ana  heat.  Here  a 
solitary  being  is  posted,  night 
and  day,  in  the  midst  of  tern- 
pests  and  storms,  for  two  or 
three  months,  to  protect  the 
crop:  and  if  any  depredation 
is  attempted,  the  alarm  is 
given  to  some  adjacent  vil¬ 
lage.  This  custom  fully  ex¬ 
plains  the  allusion  in  Isa.  1.8. 

At  this  season,  Niebuhr  re¬ 
lates  that  he  observed  in  Ye¬ 
men,  that  men  were  placed 
in  tree3,  or  upon  some  such 
elevation,  to  watch  the  fields, 
and  keep  off  birds,  beasts,  and 
thieves.  So  also  among  the 
Hebrews,  watchmen  were  sta¬ 
tioned  to  guard  the  harvest, 
who  relieved  one  another. 
As  the  keepers  of  a  field  are 
they  against  Jerusalem  round 
about :  watchers  come  from  a 
far  country,  and  give  out  their 
23* 


GAT 

voices  against  the  cities  of 
Judah.  (Jer.  iv.  16,  If.)  Be 
(the  wicked)  buildelh  his 
house  as  a  moth ,  and  as  a 
booth  that  the  keeper  maketh. 
(Job  xxvii.  18.)  These  keepers 
were  not  allowed  to  prevent 
one  from  taking  from  tne  field 
enough  for  the  supply  of  his 
immediate  wants.  (Deut.  xxiii. 
25.) 

GARLANDS.  (Acts  xiv.  13.) 
The  heathen  adorned  the.  vic¬ 
tims  of  their  sacrifices  in  a 
variety  of  ways.  Probably  the 
garlands  mentioned  in  this 
passage  were  to  decorate  the 
head  of  the  ox  which  they  de¬ 
signed  to  sacrifice  to  the  sup¬ 
posed  gods. 

GARLICK.  (Num.  xi.  5.)  A 
well  known  bulbous  root  or 
vegetable,  which  was  in  com¬ 
mon  use  in  Egypt,  and  much 
esteemed  by  the  Jews. 

GARMENTS.  (See 
Clothes.) 

GARRISON.  (See  War.) 

GATE.  0  Sam.  iv.  18.)  The 
entrances  to  walled  cities  are 
secured  by  gates,  either  of 
wood,  iron,  or  brass.  (Acts 
xii.  10.)  Houses  also  were 
protected  in  the  same  way, 
and  we  may  suppose  that 
sometimes  a  door  or  passage 
was  made  in  the  gate,  (as  is 
common  in  many  parts  of  our 
own  country,)  so  as  to  save  the 
necessity  of  opening  the  whole 
gate  every  time  a  single  per- 
son  would  pass.  (Acts  xii.  13.) 
In  many  Asiatic  cities,  there 
are  broad  streets  covered  over 
wholly 'or  in  part,  and  appro- 
priated  to  merchants  or  trades¬ 
men  in  particular  branches  of 
business ;  and  there  were  also 
open  squares  in  which  the 
booths  and  stalls  of  venders 
were  erected.  These  were  fre¬ 
quently  at  the  gates  of  the  city, 
which  were  of  course  places  of 
the  greatest  concourse.  (2Sain. 
xv.  2.  2Kingsvii.  1.  Neh.  via. 
1.  Job  xxix.  7.  Prov.  xxn.  22; 
xxxi.  23.)  The  gates  were  often 


GAT 

also  the  places  of  judicial  pro¬ 
ceedings,  (Deut.  xvii.  5 ;  xxv. 
7.  Amos  v.  10.  12. 15 ;)  the  mode 
of  conducting  which  may  be 
learned,  Ruth  iv.  1 — 12;  and 
of  general  resort,  (Gen.  xix.  1,) 
and  of  course  frequented  by 
idlers  and  loungprs.  (Fs.  lxix. 
12.)  In  Arabia,  the  gate  of  the 
city  is  still  the  place  of  judg¬ 
ment.  .The  king  or  governor 
asses  certain  hours  of  the 
ay  there,  and  not  only  hears 
a  id  decides  controversies,  but 
t  ansacts  business  with  the 
people  who  are  passing  in  and 
out.  As  the  possession  of  the 
gates  of  the  city  was  a  posses¬ 
sion  of  the  city  itself,  the  word 
is  sometimes  used  to  signify 
power.  (Gen  xxii.  17.  Isa. 
xxiv.  12.)  We  are  told,  that  it 
is  common  in  many  parts  of 
Asia,  to  build  the  gate  or  door 
of  the  house  of  iron,  very 
strong,  and  so  low  as  to  pre¬ 
vent  the  incursion  of  the  Arabs,'’ 
who  often  ride  on  horseback 
into  the  houses  of  those  whom 
they  wish  to  harass  and  rob. 
Sometimes  the  gate  is  not  more 
than  three  feet  high ;  and  to 
elevate  or  exalt  it,  was  only  to 
court  the  notice  of  the  destroy¬ 
er,  or  to  admit  a  friend.  (Ps. 
xxiv.  7.  9.)  There  are  other 
figurative  uses  of  the  word 
which  are  sufficiently  obvious 
in  themselves.  (See  Hell, 
Jerusalem,  Lazarus,  Tem¬ 
ple.) 

GATH.  (Josh.  xi.  22.)  An 
ancient  city  in  the  territory  of 
Dan,  celebrated  as  the  birth¬ 
place  of  Goliath.  (1  Sam.  xvii. 
4.)  It  was  situated  about  thirty- 
two  miles  west  from  Jerusalem. 
In  the  days  of  David,  it  was  in 
the  possession  of  the  Philis¬ 
tines,  and  Achish  was  its  king. 
(ISam.  xxi.  10—15;  xxvii.  1— 
7.)  David  afterwards  captured 
it.  (2  Sam.  xv.  18.  IChron. 
xviii.  1.)  It  was  afterwards 
subject  to  frequent  revolutions. 
1  Kings  ii.  59.  2  Kings  xii.  17; 


GAZ  1 

xiii.  25.  2Chron.  xi.  8,;  xxvl. 
6.)  The  inhabitants  of  Gath 
are  called  GiUites,  (Josh.  xiii. 
3,)  and  the  place  Giltuh-he - 
pher.  (Josh  xix.  13.) 

GATH-HEFHEK.  (2  Kings 

xiv.  25.)  A  city  in  the  tribe  of 
Zebulon,  and  probably  in  the 
land  of  Heplier.  (1  Kings  iv. 
10.)  It  is  noted  as  the  birth¬ 
place  of  the  prophet  Jonah. 

GATH-RIMMON.  (Josh. xix. 
45.)  It  would  seem  there  were 
at  least  three  cities  of  this 
name:  one  in  the  tribe  of  Dan, 
(Josh.  xxi.  24 ;)  a  second  in  the 
half  tribe  of  Manasseh,  (Josh, 
xxi.  25;)  and  a  third  in  the 
tribe  of  Ephraim.  (1  Chron. 
vi.  (19.) 

GAZA.  (Gen.  x.  19.)  A  city, 
and  one  of  the  five  principali¬ 
ties  of  the  Philistines,  was 
situated  on  th6  coast  of  the 
Mediterraneans  the  southern 
extremity  of  Canaan,  within 
the  tribe  of  Judah,  (Judg.  i. 
18.  1  Sam.  vi.  17,)  and  about 
sixty  miles  south-west  of  Jeru¬ 
salem.  In  the  reigns  of  Jotham 
and  Ahaz,  it  recovered  its  in¬ 
dependence,  but  was  again 
subdued  by  Hezekiah.  (2Kings 
xviii.  8.)  It  was  afterwards 
subject  to  the  Persians  and 
Chaldeans,  and  was  captured 
by  Alexander  the  Great  about 
b.  c.  300.  In  the  time  of  Euse¬ 
bius,  it  was  a  flourishing  city, 
but  has  been  often  reduced 
since  that  day,  and  now  con- 
sists  of  three  sma  1  villages, 
with  from  3,000  to  5,000  in¬ 
habitants.  Messrs.  King  and 
Fisk,  American  missionaries, 
spent  a  Sabbath  there  in  1823. 
They  tell*  us  that  the  city 
stands  on  an  elevation ;  the 
houses  are  built  of  stone,  but 
make  a  very  mean  appear¬ 
ance.  The  scenery  around  is 
beautiful.  They  found  several 
Greeks  there,  and  a  Greek 
priest,  who  said  the  church 
there  had  been  built  twelve 
centuries.  They  sold  twenty 
ovn 


GEB 

five  copies  of  the  Scriptures, 
fin  Greek,  and  gave  away  thir¬ 
teen. 

The  place  once  abounded 
in  monuments  of  the  power, 
opulence,  and  greatness  of  the 
city.  Many  traditions  are  held 
by  the  inhabitants  respecting 
Samson  and  his  feats ;  and 
they  formerly  showed  the 
sunken  arches  of  the  temple 
which  Samson  pulled  down 
upon  himself  and  the  people 
around  him,  and  also  the  hill 
to  whose  summit  he  bore  the 
gates  of  the  city. 

Mr.Thompson,  anAmerican 
missionary,  was  at  Gaza  in  the 
spring  of  1834,  and  speaks  of 
the  number  of  Christians  in 
the  place  as  exceeding  his  ex¬ 
pectations,  and  also  mentions 
a  flourishing  school  there. 

GEB  A,  (2  Kings  xxiii.  8,) 
called  also  Geba  of  Benjamin, 
(Josh  xxi.  17.  1  Kings  xv.  22,) 
probably  to  distinguish  it  from 
another  town  of  the  same 
name,  was  one  of  the  most 
northerly  towns  'of  Judea. 
Hence  the  expressions,  2Kings 
xxiii.  8,  and  Zech.  xiv.  10,  de¬ 
note  the  length  of  the  land. 
It  was  in  the  vicinity  of  this 
place  that  the  Philistines  were 
defeated  by  David’s  army. 
(2  Sam.  v.  25.) 

GEBAL.  (Ezek.  xxvii.  9.)  A 
city  of  Phenicia,  north  of  Bey- 
root,  called  Byblos  by  the 
Greeks  and  Romans,  and  lat¬ 
terly  Jiblah,  or  Jibail.  It  now 
exhibits  little  else  than  ruins, 
which  are  sufficiently  magni¬ 
ficent  to  indicate  its  former 
greatness.  In  the  days  of 
Tyre’s  glory,  it  was  famous  for 
ship-building.  (Ezek.  xxvii.  9.) 
The  land  of  the  Giblites  (Josh, 
xiii.  5)  was  the  extensive  plain 
which  stretches  around  this 
city.  In  Ps.  lxxxiii.  7,  Gebal 
most  probably  refers  to  a  dis¬ 
trict  in  Idumea,  east  of  the 
El-Ghor, known  to  the  Romans 
as  Gebalene,  and  at  present 
Qjebal. 


GEN 

GEDALIAH  (Jer.  xl.  5)  was 
appointed  by  Nebuchadnezzar 
to  take  charge  of  the  govern¬ 
ment  of  Palestine,  after  he 
had  subdued  it,  and  destroyed 
the  temple  and  capital  of  the 
nation.  (2 Kings  xxv.  22.)  He 
was  assassinated  by  a  party  of 
the  royal  family  of  Judah, 
headed  by  Ishmael ;  of  which 
event,  we  have  the  particulars 
in  Jer.  xli.  Several  other  per¬ 
sons  ofthesame  nameare  mere¬ 
ly  mentioned  in  the  Bible. 

GEDEON.  (See  Gideon.) 

GEHAZI.  (2  Kings  iv.  12.) 
The  servant  and  constant  at¬ 
tendant  of  the  prophet  Elisha. 
When  the  prophet  had  accom¬ 
plished,  by  divine  power,  the 
wonderful  cure  ofNaaman,the 
latter  offered  him  a  munificent 
present,  as  a  token  of  his  grat¬ 
itude;  which  the  prophet  de¬ 
clined.  Gehazi  coveted  what 
his  master  refused,  and  by  a 
deliberate  falsehood  obtained 
a  portion  of  Naaman’s  gift. 
As  a  punishment  for  his  of¬ 
fence,  the  very  disease  of 
which  Naaman  had  just  been 
cured  was  visited  upon  him 
and  liis  family.  (2  Kings  v.  15 
-27.) 

GEMAR1AH.  (Jer.  xxix.  3, 
Zedekiah’s  ambassador  to 
the  kin»  of  Babylon,  by  whom 
Jeremiah  sent  a  letter  to  his 
countrymen  in  captivity, warn¬ 
ing  them  against  the  indul¬ 
gence  of  any  false  hopes  of 
redemption.  There  was  also 
a  minister  of  Jehoiachim  of  the 
same  name.  (Jer.  xxxvi.  12.) 

GENEALOGY.  (IChron.v. 
1.)  The  lineage  of  a  family,  or 
list  of  ancestors,  was  preserved 
with  extraordinary  care  (Ezra 
ii.  62.  Heb.  vii.  3)  by  the  Jew¬ 
ish  nation,  (1  Chron.  v.  17 ;  ix. 
1.  2  Chron.  xii.  15,)  not  only 
because  it  was  through  Abra¬ 
ham  that  the  privileges  of  the 
Jewish  church  were  transmit¬ 
ted,  but  chiefly  because  of  the 
deep  interest  which  was  felt  in 
the  predictions  concerning  the 
on 


GEN 

Messiah, and  thetribeorfamily 
from  which  he  was  to  spring. 
(Heb.  vii.  14.)  The  variance 
which  seems  to  exist  in  many 
of  the  genealogical  tables,  or 
statements  of  the  sacred  wri¬ 
ters,  has  been  in  a  great  mea¬ 
sure  reconciled  by  those  who 
have  diligently  investigated 
and  compared  them.  It  is  a 
matter  of  astonishment  that 
records  of  such  high  antiquity 
— and  concerned  principally 
with  names  of  families  and 
individuals,  which  are  very 
liable  to  many  inaccuracies— 
are  preserved  so  perfectly. 
These  public  tables,  or  genea¬ 
logical  records,  were  in  exist¬ 
ence  as  lately  as  the  time  of 
Josephus;  for  he  undertakes  to 
show  his  descent  by  them. 

The  genealogies  against 
which  the  apostolic  admoni¬ 
tions  are  directed,  (1  Tim.  i.  4. 
Tit.  iii.  9,)  were  probably  spe¬ 
culations  on  the  subject  of 
genealogy,  when  the  reason 
for  regarding  it  so  particularly 
was  done  away  by  the  appear¬ 
ance  of  the  Messiah,  and  the 
introduction  of  a  new  dispen¬ 
sation  by  him. 

GENERATION.  (Gen.v.l.) 
This  word  is  used  to  denote  a 
particular  class  of  people.  (Ps. 
xxiv.  6.  1  Pet.  ii.  a.)  It  signi¬ 
fies  the  history  as  well  as  the 
lineage  of  a  man,— as  in  the 
passage  first  cited,  and  Matt.i. 
1, — and  also  the  history  ofother 
things.  (Gen.  ii.  4.)  It  is  em¬ 
ployed  to  denote  a  period  of 
time,  (Matt.  xxiv.  34.  Acts  ii. 
40,)  and  sometimes  posterity 
or  future  ages.  (Isa.  xxxiv.  10.) 
When  used  to  mark  the  lapse 
of  time,  its  import  is  very  un¬ 
certain.  Perhaps  it  may  gene¬ 
rally  mean,  as  it  does  in  our 
day,  the  period  which  one 
generation  or  race  of  men 
spend  on  earth. 

GENESIS.  This  is  the  name 
of  the  first  book  of  the  Bible, 
and  in  the  original  it  denotes 
the  contents  of  the  book ;  viz. 


GEN 

an  account  of  the  generation  ot 
production  of  all  tilings.  Moses 
is  universally  regarded  as  its 
author,  and  its  authenticity  is 
settled  by  the  most  indisputa¬ 
ble  evidence.  It  has  been 
remarked  that  passages  of  this 
book  are  cited  in  the  New 
Testamenttwenty-seven  times 
literally,and  thirty-eight  times 
substantially.  The  history  it 
contains  embraces  a  period  of 
at  least  2370  years,  and  pre¬ 
sents  to  us  an  account  of  the 
creation  and  fall  of  man,  the 
religion,  arts,  settlements,  ge¬ 
nealogies,  corruption  and  de¬ 
struction  of  the  antediluvian 
world,  excepting  eight  souls, 
— the  re-peopling  and  division 
of  the  earth,  the  dispersion  of 
its  inhabitants,  and  the  inte¬ 
resting  biographies  of  Abra¬ 
ham,  Isaac,  Jacob,  and  Joseph. 

It  is  well  observed,  that 
without  this  history  the  world 
would  be  in  comparative  dark¬ 
ness  ;  but  that,  in  the  first 
mge  of  Genesis,  a  child  may 
earn  more  in  an  hour,  than 
all  the  philosophers  in  the 
world  learned  without  it  in 
thousands  of  years.  (For  an 
analysis  of  the  contents  of  this 
book,  and  explanatory  and 
illustrative  notes,  &c..,  see 
Union  Questions,  vol.  iii., 
and  Teacher’s  Assistant 
in  the  use  of  the  same  work, 
both  by  the  Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

GENNESARET.  (See  Chin 

NERETH.) 

GENTILE.  (Rom.  ii.9.; 
This  was  the  name  by  which 
the  Jews  distinguished  all  the 
rest  of  the  world  from  them¬ 
selves.  All  who  were  not  Jews 
and  circumcised, they  regarded 
as  Gentiles,  or  heathen  ;  and, 
as  such,  they  were  excluded 
from  the  religious  privileges 
and  relations  by  which  the 
Jews  were  so  greatly  exalted. 
Hence  they  became  accustom¬ 
ed  to  look  on  the  Gentiles  as 
outcasts  from  the  favour  of 
God  ;  and,  mistaking  the  end 
272 


GER 

of  their  peculiar  dispensaticfa, 
and  supposing  it  to  be  perpe¬ 
tual,  we  cannot  wonder  at  tiie 
strong  prejudices  they  enter¬ 
tained  against  a  Saviour  and  a 
gospel  which  placed  Jews  and 
Gentiles  on  the  same  footing, 
(Acts  x.  1 — 48.  Rom.  ix.  SO¬ 
BS;  xi.  1—360  thus  displaying 
the  riches  of  that  grace  and 
mercy  through  which  all  that 
call  on  the  name  of  the  Lord 
are  saved.  And  now,  in  the 
wonderful  order  and  economy 
of  the  divine  government,  the 
Gentiles  compose  the  great 
body  of  God's  people,  anil  the 
Jews,  who  reject  the’Messiah, 
have  become  a  reproach  and 
by-word  in  the  earth.  Those 
who  embraced  Judaism,  but 
were  not  Jews,  were  called 
proselytes.  The  word  Greeks, 
in  the  writings  ofPaul,  usually 
denotes  the  Gentiles  ;  and,  in 
the  New  Testament  generally, 
those  are  called  Gentiles  who 
were  subject  to  the  Greek  go¬ 
vernment,  either  in  the  east 
or  west. 

Court  op  the  Gentiles. 
(See  Temple.) 

Isles  of  the  Gentiles 
(Gen.  x.  5)  are  supposed  to  de¬ 
note  Asia  Minor  and  the  whole 
of  Europe,  which  were  peopled 
by  the  children  of  Japheth. 

GERAK.  (See  Measures.) 

GERAR,  (Gen.  x.  19.)  a 
capital  city  of  the  Philistines, 
was  situated  south-west  of  Ga¬ 
za,  between  Kadesh  and  Shur. 
(Gen.  xx.  1.)  It  is  remarkable 
that  both  Abraham  and  Isaac 
retired  to  this  place  during 
the  prevalence  of  a  famine, 
and  were  both  guilty  of  de¬ 
ceiving  Abimelech,  the  king 
of  the  place,  respecting  their 
wives.  (Gen.  xx.  1 ;  xxvi.l.) 

Vallev  of,  (Gen.  xxvi.  17,) 
was  the  residence  oflsaac,  and 
probably  ill  the  vicinity  of  the 
city  above  described. 

GER(JESENES,GERGESA. 
(See  GA  DAREN  ES.) 

GLRIZ1M.  (See  Ebal.) 


GET 

GESHTJR.  (2  Sam  xiii.  38.) 

A  district  of  Syria,  (2  Sam.  xv. 

8,)  lying  on  the  east  of  Jordan, 
north  of  Bashan,  and  near 
mount  Hermon.  (Josh.  xiii.  1 1. 
13.)  The  Geshurites  aie  also 
spoken  of  as  inhabiting  an¬ 
other  territory  south  of  Judea. 

(1  Sam.  xxvii.  8.)  The  district 
above  mentioned  retained  its 
independence  in  the  time  of 
David.  (2  Sam.  xiii.  37.)  Tra-1^, 
vellers  tell  us  of  a  bridge  over 
the  Jordan,  between  the  sea  of 
Tiberias  and  mount  Hermon, 
called  the  Geshur,  (Jisr,  or 
Jisser ,  Beni-Jakub,)  the  bridge 
of  the  sons  of  Jacob. 

GETHSEMANE.  (Matt, 
xxvi.  36.)  A  retired  place,  con¬ 
taining  about  half  an  acre  ol 
land  on  the*western  side  of 
mount  Olivet,  commanding  a 
full  view  of  the  city  of  Jerusa¬ 
lem.  The  name  indicates  the 
fertility  of  the  spot,  especially 
in  olives.  It  was  called  a 
garden,  though  it  was  proba¬ 
bly  a  grove,  laid  out  in  walks, 
and  furnished  with  fountains, 
affording  shade  and  seclusion 
to  those  who  resorted  thither 
from  the  noise  and  distraction 
of  the  adjacent  city.  Messrs. 
Fisk  and  King,  American 
missionaries,  were  there  in 
1823.  They  tell  us  that  the 
garden  is  about  a  stone’s  cast 
from  the  brook  Cedron ;  that 
it  now  contains  eight  large 
and  venerable  looking  olives, 
whose  trunks  show  their  great 
antiquity.  The  spot  is  sandy 
and  barren,  and  appears  like  a 
forsaken  place.  A  low  broken 
wall  surrounds  it.  Mr.  IC.  sal 
down  beneath  one  of  the  trees, 
and  read  Isa.  liii.,  and  also  the 
gospel  history  of  our  Redeem 
er’s  sorrow  during  that.-  memo¬ 
rable  night  in  which  he  was 
there  betrayed ;  and  the  inte¬ 
rest  of  the  association  was 
heightened  by  the  passing 
through  the  place  of  a  parly 
of  Bedouins,  armed  wilh  spears 
and  swords.  It  is  said  that  the 
273 


GIB 

monks,  to  whom  this  ground  I 
now  belongs,  preserve  the  ker¬ 
nels  of  the  olives  that  grow 
there,  to  use  as  beads  for  rosa¬ 
ries.  (See  Views  of  Pales¬ 
tine,  p.  14,  and  Selumiel,  ch. 
vii.,  both  by  Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

GEZER.  (Josh.  xvi.  3.)  A 
town  of  Ephraim  on  the  border 
of  Benjamin,  north-west  of  Je¬ 
rusalem.  It  remained  in  the 
possession  of  the  Canaanites 
(Josh.  x.  33;  xvi.  10.  Judg.  i. 
29)  ti?l  the  king  of  Egypt  sub¬ 
dued  it,  and  gave  it  to  his 
daughter,  the  wife  of  Solomon. 
(1  Kings  ix.  16.)  Solomon  re¬ 
built  it.  (1  Kings  ix.  17.) 

GHOST.  (Gen.  xxv.  8.)  To 
give  up  the  ghost  is  a  common 
term,  with  the'sacred  writers, 
to  express  death.  It  is  the 
yieldiug  up  of  the  spirit  or  soul 
to  God  who  gave  it.  When 
used  to  express  the  death  of 
Christ,  a  different  word  is  em¬ 
ployed  in  the  original,  which 
implies  the  voluntary  charac¬ 
ter  of  the  act,  or  the  power  to 
give  life  up,  or  retain  it  at 
pleasure. 

Holy  Ghost.  (See  God, 
Spirit.) 

GIANT.  (IChron.  xx.6.)  Some¬ 
times  this  word  is  employed  to 
denote  men  of  great  violence. 
cruelty,1  and  crime;  and  at 
others,  it  denotes  men  of  ex¬ 
traordinary  size  or  height.  The 
sons  of  Anak  were  the  most 
noted  of  the  latter  class  which 
the  sacred  writers  mention. 
They  dwelt  in  Hebron,  and 
were  such  mighty  men  that 
the  Israelites  thought  of  them¬ 
selves  as  mere  grasshoppers 
in  comparison ;  an  expression, 
however,  by  no  means  indica¬ 
tive  of  exact  relative.size,  but 
simply  denoting  a  fearful  odds 
in  strength  and  stature.  The 
king  of  Bashan  (Deut.  iii.  11) 
and  Goliah  (1  Sam.  xvii.  4) 
were  men  of  extraordinary 
size.  (See  Rephaim.) 

GIBBETHON.  (Josh.  xxi. 
23.)  A  city  of  the  Philistines, 


GIB 

within  the  tribe  of  Ban,  where 
Baasha  killed  Nadab,  son  of 
Jeroboam.  (1  Kings  xv.27.) 

GIBEAH.  (1  Sam.  xiii.  2.)  A 
city  a  few  miles  north  of  Jeru¬ 
salem,  called  Gibeah  of  (the 
children  of)  Benjamin ,  (2  Sam. 
xxiii.  29,)  in  distinction  from 
one  in  Judah.  (Josh.  xv.  67.) 
It  was  also  called  Gibeah  of 
Saul ,  (2  Sam.  xxi.  6,)  because 
it  was  his  birth-place  and  resi¬ 
dence.  (1  Sam.  x.  26.  Isa.  x. 
29.)  Its  inhabitants  were  emi¬ 
nently  wicked,  as  they  evinced 
by  their  conduct,  recorded 
Judg.  xix.  30,  to  which  Hosea 
refers  as  proverbial.  (Hos.  ix. 

9 ;  x.  9.)  The  city  was  terribly 
destroyed.  (Judg.  xx.  46.) 

GIBE  ON.  (Josh.  x.  2. 

1  Chron.  xvi.  89.)  A  great  city  ' 
in  Benjamin,  five  to  seven 
miles  northerly  of  Jerusalem, 
inhabited  by  Hivites,  who  se¬ 
cured  the  protection  and  alli¬ 
ance  of  Joshua  by  stratagem, 
(Josh.  ix.  4 — 15 ;)  and  were  con¬ 
sequently  attacked  by  the  five 
Canaanitish  kings,  but  deli¬ 
vered  by  the  aid  of  the  Israel¬ 
ites.  (Josh.  x.  10.  Isa.  xxviii. 
21.)  In  the  close  of  David’s, 
and  beginning  of  Solomon’s 
reign,  the  sanctuary  was  there, 
(1  Chron.  xvi.  39,  40;  xxi.  29.) 
Near  to  it  was  a  pool ;  probably 
the  “  great  waters”  referred  to 
by  Jer.  xli.  12,  where  Abner 
was  defeated  by  Joab;  and  also 
a  “  great  stone”  or  monument¬ 
al  pillar,  perhaps  to  the  twen¬ 
ty-four  men  of  David  and  Ish- 
bosheth  who  fell  there.  (2  Sam. 
ii.  13 ;  xx.  8.  See  Servant.) 

The  WILDERNESS  OF  GlBEON 
(2  Sam.  ii.  24)  was  doubtless  in 
the  vicinity  of  the  city  of  the 
same  name ;  as  was  also  the 
valley  of  Gibeon,  famous  for 
the  victory  over  the  five  allied 
kings  above  described.,  and  for 
the  wonderful  miracle  per¬ 
formed  there.  (Josh.  x.  12.) . 

It  is  supposed  that  the  four 
cities  named,  Josh.  ix.  17,  en¬ 
joyed  a  sort  of  democratic 
274 


GIF  * 

fnvernment.  (Comp.  Josh.  x. 
,  and  ix.  11.) 

GIDEON.  (Judgkvi.  11.)  The 
son  of  Joash  the  Abi-ezrite, 
and  the  same  with  Jerubbaal 
the  seventh  judce  of  Israel, 
a  (nighty  man  of  valour,  and 
peculiarly  favoured  with  the 
presence  of  the  Lord.  He  was 
a  very  humble  man;  and  when 
the  angel  proposed  to  him  to 
go  in  the  strength  of  the  Lord 
to  save  Israel  from  'the  hands 
of  the  Midianites.  he  replied, 
“Behold,  my  family  is  poor  in 
Manasseh,  and  I  am  the  least 
of  my  father’s  house.”  The 
Lord  was  pleased  to  favour 
Gideon  with  most  remarkable 
tokens  of  his  power  and  grace, 
which  are  particularly  men¬ 
tioned  in  Judg.  vi.,  vii.,  and 
<viii.  He  is  honourably  men¬ 
tioned,  Heb.  xi.  32. 
GIER-EAGLE.  (See  Eagle.) 
GIFT,  (Ex.  xxiii.  8,)  GIFTS. 
(Rom.xii.6.)  The  practice  of 
making  presents  as  a  token  of 
honour,  respect,  or  affection, 
prevailed  very  extensively  in 
eastern  countries  in  early 
ages,  and  is  still  maintained. 
Hence  to  refuse  making  pre¬ 
sents  to  a  king  was  esteemed 
a  mark  of  contempt.  (1  Sam. 
x.  27.)  Kings  and  princes 
often  made  splendid  gifts  of 
garments  to  their  favourite  of¬ 
ficers,  and  to  others  whom  they 
were  disposed  to  honour.  (Gen. 
xlv.  22,  23.) 

The  peculiar  offerings  under 
the  law  are  spoken  of  as  gifts. 
<T)eut.  xvi.  17.  Matt.  v.  23, 24.) 
And  it  is  with  singular  force 
that  the  blessings  of  the  gos¬ 
pel,  and  especially  the  great 
blessing  of  eternal  life,  through 
Jesus  Christ  our  Lord,  are  call¬ 
ed  gifts ;  inasmuch  as  they 
never  could  be  purchased,  and 
nothing  can  be  given  in  return 
for  them.  The  word  gifts  is 
also  employed  to  describe  those 
graces  or- qualities  with  which 
Christ  trtily  can  endue  his  dis¬ 
ciples.  (Eph.  iv.  8.  11,  12.) 


GIL 

Some  of  these,  which  were  be¬ 
stowed  on  the  early  apostles, 
were  miraculous,  and  designed 
to  confirm  their  claims  to  apos¬ 
tolic  authority;  such  as  the 
gift  of  tongues,  of  prophecy, 
&c.,  and  wfien  the  end  of  con¬ 
ferring  them  was  answered, 
they  ceased. 

GIHON.  1.  (Gen.  ii.  13.) 
One  of  the  rivers  of  Eden,  sup¬ 
posed  by  some  to  be  the  Araxes 
which  empties  into  the  Caspian 
Sea.  Gihon  signifies  impetu¬ 
ous  ;  and  this  is  the  course  of 
the  Araxes.  Others  suppose 
that  the  river  known  to  mo¬ 
dern  geographers  as  the  Oxus, 
which  the  Arabs  at  this  day 
call  Jihon,  is  the  same  with  the 
Gihon. 

2.  (1  Kings  i.  33.)  A  fountain 
or  stream  near  the  city  of  Je¬ 
rusalem,  (2Chron.  xxxii.  30,) 
beside  which  Solomon  was 
anointed.  (1  Kings  i.  38, 39.) 

GILBOA.  (1  Sam.  xxviii.  4.) 
A  ridge  of  mountains  west  of 
the  plain  of  Jordan,  which  the 
Arabs  of  this  day  call  Ujebel 
Gilbo.  It  is  memorable  as  the 
field  of  battle  on  which  Saul 
and  his  three  sons  fell.  (1  Sam. 
xxxi.8,  2Sam.i.,21.  See  Omab, 
by  Am.  S.S.  Union,  pp.118,119.) 

GILEAD,  1.  A  place, (2Kings 
x.  33,)  orGALEED,  (Gen.  xxxi. 
47,48,)  so  called  because  ofthe 
monument  which  was  erected 
by  Laban  and  Jacob  to  perpe¬ 
tuate  the  remembrance  of  their 
covenant,  was  a  mountainous 
region,  embracing  Trachonitis, 
east  of  the  Jordan.  The  term 
is  used  rather  indefinitely  by 
the  sacred  writers.  The  pos¬ 
sessions  of  the  tribe  of  Gad  are 
described  as  all  the  cities  cf 
Gilead,  and  half  the  land  of 
the  children  of  Ammon.  (Josh, 
xiii.  25.)  And  the  half  tribe 
of  Manasseh  are  said  to  have 
received,  as  part  of  their  inhe¬ 
ritance,  all  Bashan  and  half 
Gilead,  (Josh.  xiii.  30,31 ;)  and 
in  Deut.  iii.  12,  13.  16,  half 
mount  Gilead  is  said  to  have 
275 


GIL 

refill  given  to  Reuben  and 
Gad,  and  the  rest  of  Gilead  to 
Manasseh;  while,  in  verse  15, 
we  are  told  that  Gilead  was 
given  to  Machir. 

It  would  seem  that  the  pos¬ 
sessions  of  Manasseh  lay  north 
of  the  Jabbok,  and  were  di¬ 
vided  between  his  two  sons, 
Jair  and  Machir;  the  former 
taking  the  land  of  Argob,  and 
the  latter  the  land  of  Gilead, 
or  the  northern  part  of  it;  and 
that  the  Reubenites  and  Gad- 
ites  look  the  tract  between 
the  Jabbok  and  the  Arnon,  in¬ 
cluding  the  southern  section 
of  Gilead. 

The  land  op  Gilead,  (Deut. 
xxxiv.  1,)  as  used  in  this  pas¬ 
sage,  probably  denotes  the 
whole  country  east  of  the  Jor¬ 
dan  to  Arabia,  including  the 
modern  Belka. 

Mount  Gilead,  properly 
speaking,  is  the  ridge  or  sum¬ 
mit  which  rises  six  miles  south 
of  the  Jabbok,  and  extends 
five  or  six  miles  from  east  to 
west.  It  is  now  called  Dje- 
laad.  It  was  at  this  point  that 
a  part  of  Gideon’s  army  desert¬ 
ed  him.  (Judg.  vii.  3.) 

There  was  a  tree  in  Gilead, 
the  gum  of  which  (hence  called 
the  balm  of  Gilead )  possessed 
medicinal  properties,  (Jer.viii. 
22;  xlvi.  11;  li.  8,)  and  was 
an  important  article  of  com¬ 
merce.  (Gen.  xxxvii.  25.) 

Strabo,  the  prince  of  ancient 
geographers,  speaks  of  a  field 
near  Jericho,  in  Palestine, 
which  was  full  of  these  bal¬ 
sam  trees.  The  sap  is  like 
viscid  and  tenacious  milk,  and 
coagulates  rapidly.  It  was  va¬ 
luable  for  inflammations;  and, 
in  the  time  of  Alexander,  was 
estimated  at  twice  its  weight 
in  silver.  (See  Balm.) 

2.  A  person.  (Num.  xxvi. 
29,3d,  and  Judg.  xi.  1,  2;)  in 
both  which  cases  the  name  is 
probably  derived  from  the  fact 
that  the  individuals  resided, 


GIT 

or  had  their  inheritance,  in 
Gilead. 

GILGAL  (Josh.  iv.  20:)  The 
origin  of  this  name  is  given  us 
in  Josh.  v.  9  It  was  a  village 
in  the  plains  of  Jericho,  east 
of  that  city,  and  north-east  of 
Jerusalem ;  it  was  from  three 
to  five  miles  west  of  the  river 
Jordan,  and  was  the  first  place 
of  encampment  of  the  army  of 
the  Israelites  after  passing  that 
river.  There  the  twelve  stones 
were  set  up  as  a  memorial  of 
the  miracle.  ,It  was  the  rest¬ 
ing-place  of  the  tabernacle 
until  it  was  taken  to  Shiloh, 
whence  it  was  again  returned 
to  Gilgal,  (1  Sam.  x.  8 ;  xv.  33,) 
and  also  the  seat  of  govern¬ 
ment,  or  place  of  rendezvous, 
during  Joshua’s  wars  with  the 
Canaanites.  In  Samuel’s  day, 
it  was  one  of  the  places  for 
holding  a  circuit  court,  (1  Sam. 
vii.  16,)  but  afterwards  became 
devoted  to  idolatry.  (Hos.  xii. 
11.  Amos  iv.  4.) 

The  word  quarries ,  in  Judg. 
iii.  19,  is  rendered  graven 
images  in  the  margin,  and, 
if  correctly  rendered,  shows 
the  prevalence  of  idol  worship 
there.  Other  interesting  in¬ 
cidents  connected  with  this 
place  are  recorded,  1  Sam.  xi. 
14,  15;  xiii.  xv. 

There  was  another  Gilgal 
“beside  the  plains  of  Moreh,” 
not  far  from  Shechem.  (Deut. 
xi.30.  Josh.  xii.  23.  See  Omar, 

E.  137,  and  Selumiel,  p.  157, 
oth  by  Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 
GIRD,  GIRDLE.  (See 

ri.flTHUfi  N 

GIRGASITE,  (Gen.x.  16,)  or 
GIRGASHITES.  (Gen.xv.21.) 
A  tribe  of  the  Canaanites,  who 
are  supposed  to  have  inhabited 
a  section  of  the  country  east 
of  the  sea  of  Galilee ;  whence 
the  name  of  the  city  of  Ger * 
gesa. 

GITTAH-HEPHER.  (See 
Gath-hepher.)  % 
G1TTITES.  (See  Gath.) 

276 


GLO 

GITTITH.Psalms  viii.lxxxi. 
and  lxxxi  v.  are  inscribed  to  the 
chief  musician  upon  Giltilh. 
The  word  may  refer  to  a  parti¬ 
cular  instrument  of  music,  or 
to  a  particular  tune,  or  it  may 
have  relation  to  some  circum¬ 
stance  in  the  time  or  occasion 
of  its  composition,  which  the 
word  Gittitn  denotes,  but  which 
has  not  been  preserved. 

GLASS.  (1  Cor.xifi.12.)  The 
substance  which  we  call  glass 
was  invented  in  the  twelfth 
century ;  but  the  ancients  pro¬ 
bably  used  some  semi-transpa¬ 
rent  substance,  through  which 
a  degree  of  light  was  admitted, 
and  external  objects  very  in¬ 
distinctly  seen.  Specimens 
of  such  substances  are  often 
found  among  Roman  anti¬ 
quities.  Looking  glasses  (Ex. 
xxxviii.8.  Jobxxxvii.  18)  were 
doubtless  made  of  polished  me-, 
tal.  One  of  the  latter  is  sup¬ 
posed  to  be  meant  in  James  i. 
23,  and  one  of  the  former  in 

1  Cor.  xiii.  12. 

GLEAN.  (Ruthii.2.)  In 
the  joyful  season  of  harvest, 
the  Jewish  farmer  was  not  al¬ 
lowed  to  forget  the  poor  and 
the  stranger.  A  special  com¬ 
mand  was  given  (Lev.  xix.  9, 
10)  that  he  should  leave  some 
of  the  fruits  for  them  to  gather. 

GLEDE.  (Deut.  xiv.  13.)  A 
rapacious  bird  of  the  hawk  or 
vulture  species.  The  original 
word  is  rendered  vulture,  in 
Lev.  xi.  14. 

GLORY,  GLORIFY.  (Ps. 
xlix.  16.  Isa.  xxiv.  15.)  These 
terms  are  of  frequent  occur¬ 
rence  throughout  the  Bible; 
and  are  so  common  that  many 
fail  to  see  how  very  significant 
they  are. 

To  glorify  is  to  render  glori¬ 
ous.  (Dan.  v.  23.  Acts  iii.  13. 

2  Pel.  i.  I7.)  Hence  the  com¬ 
prehensive  precept  of  the  apos¬ 
tle,  (1  Cor.  vi.  19,20,)  requiring 
the  devotion  of  our  whole  pow¬ 
ers  and  faculties  to  this  one 

24 


GOA 

great  end,  the  glory  of  God, 
(1  Cor.  x.  31,)  or  making  God 
lorious.  The  glory  of  God  is 
isplayed  to  his  creatures  in 
the  works  of  creation,  provi¬ 
dence,  and  grace ;  so  that  they 
are  without  excuse  who  see 
only  the  things  that  are  made, 
and  the  evidence  they  furnish 
of  his  eternal  power  and  God¬ 
head,  and  yet  neglect  or  refuse 
to  glorify  him  as  God.  (Rom. 
i.  20 — 32.) 

Under  the  Mosaic  economy, 
the  glory  of  God  often  appear 
ed  in  some  visible  emblem,  but 
dwelt  especially  within  the 
vail,  between  the  cherubim. 
(1  Kings  viii.  11.  Ps.  lxxx.  1. 
Zech.  ti.  5.) 

It  is,  however,  in  the  plan  of 
redemption  that  we  have  exhi¬ 
bited  to  us  at  once  a  complete, 
consistent,  and  perfect  display 
of  the  glory  of  the  divine  cha¬ 
racter,  to  which  every  other 
manifestation  of  it,  whether  in 
creation  or  providence,  or  in 
the  former  dispensations  of  his 
grace, were  and  are  subservient. 
The  wisdom,  power,  and  good¬ 
ness  of  God,  as  well  as  his  holi¬ 
ness,  faithfulness,  and  justice, 
areheremagnified  tothehighest 
degree ;  so  that  the  expressions 
of  the  apostle  have  great  force, 

THE  LIGHT  OF  THE  KNOWLEDGE 
OF  THE  GLORY  UF  GOD,  IN  THE 

face  of  Jesus  Christ.  (John 
i.  14.  2  Cor.  iv.  6.  Heb.  i.3.) 

GNASH,  GNASHING.  (Ps. 
cxii.  10.  Matt.  viii.  12.)  A 
striking  or  grinding  of  the 
teeth  in  the  paroxysms  of  an¬ 
guish  or  despair. 

GNAT.  (Matt,  xxiii.  24.)  A 
very  small  but  troublesome  in¬ 
sect,  common  in  hot  countries. 
In  the  passage  cited,  the  words 
strain  at  should  rather  be 
strain  out;  the  phrase  will 
then  better  express  the  gross 
inconsistencies  which  our  Sa¬ 
viour  reproved. 

GOAD.  (Judg.  iii.  31.)  This 
was  a  rod  or  pole,  about  eight 
feet  long,  armed  at  the  largest 
277 


GOA 

end  with  a  piece  of  iron,  with 
which  the  ploughshare  was 
freed  from  clods  and  earth,  and 
at  the  smallest  with  a  small 
spike,  by  which  the  oxen  were 
urged  on  in  their  labour. 

A  modern  traveller  in  the 
east  says:  “The  country  people 
were  now  everywhere  at  work 
ploughing  in  the  fields,  in  order 
to  sow  cotton.  It  was  observa¬ 
ble,  that  in  ploughing  they 
used  goads  of  an  extraordinary 
Size.  Upon  the  measuring  of 
several,  I  found  them  about 
eight  feet  long,  and  at  the  big¬ 
ger  end  six  inches  in  circum¬ 
ference.  They  were  armed  at 
the  lesser  end  with  a  sharp 
prickle  for  driving  the  oxen, 
and  at  the  other  end  with  a 
small  spade  or  paddle  of  iron, 
strong  and  massy,  for  cleansing 
the  plough  from  the  clay  that 
encumbers  it  in  working.  May 
we  not  from  hence  conjecture, 
that  it  was  with  such  a  goad  as 
one  of  these,  that  Shamgar 
made  that  prodigious  slaughter 
related  of  him  1  (Judg.  iii.  31.) 

I  am  confident  that  whoever 
should  see  one  of  these  instru¬ 
ments,  would  judge  it  to  be  a 
weapon  not  less  fit,  perhaps 
fitter,  than  a  sword  for  such  an 
execution.  Goads  of  this  sort 
I  saw  always  used  hereabouts, 
and  also  in  Syria ;  and  the  rea¬ 
son  is,  because  the  same  single 
person  both  drives  the  oxen 
and  also  holds  and  manages 
the  plough,  which  makes  it 
necessary  to  use  such  a  goad 
as  is  above  described,  to  avoid 
tire  encumbrance  of  two  in¬ 
struments.” 

GOAT.  (Lev.  iii.  12.)  Goats 
were  among  the  chief  posses¬ 
sions  of  the  wealthy  m  the 
early  ages  of  the  world.  (Gen. 
xxvii.9.  ISam.  xxv.2.  2Chron. 
xvii.ll.)  Resemblingthe sheep 
in  its  general  structure  and 
appearance,  it  is  covered  with 
hair  instead  of  wool,  and  is 
much  more  active,  bold,  and 
wandering  in  its  habits.  It 


GOA 

feeds  on  bark  and  tender 
twigs,  and  its  feet  are  formed 
for  leaping  and  climbing 
among  rocks  and  mountains. 
Its  milk  is  valuable  for  food, 
(Prov.  xxvii.  27,)  the  hair  for 
manufactures  of  various  kinds, 
(Ex.  xxv.  4.  Num.  xxxi.  20. 
Heb.  xi.  37,)  and  the  skin  for 
vessels  or  bottles,  (Josh,  ix.4 
Ps.  cxix.  83.  Matt.  ix.  17,)  and 
in  modern  times  for  leather 
(.morocco.) 

It  was  a  clean  animal  by  thf 
Jewish  law,  (Deut.  xiv.  4,)  aDj 
was  much  used  in  sacrifice! 
(Lev.  iii.  12.  Num.  xv.  27.  Ezn 
vi.  17.) 

The  peculiar  qualities  ol 
goats  occasion  frequent  figu 
rati  ve  allusions  to  them.  Tlx 
boldness  and  strength  of  th> 
leaders  of  the  flocks  are  al 
luded  to,  Prov.  xxx.  31.  Zech 
x.  3;  and  they  are  made  to  ra 
present  oppressors  and  wickef 
men  generally.  (Ezek.  xxxiv 
17 ;  xxxix.  18.  Matt.  xxv.  33.j 

Wild  Goats,  (Deut.  xiv.  5„ 
now  called  the  ibex,  or  mown, 
tain  goat,  were  of  the  samt 
species:  but  being  confined  tc 
the  high  and  almost  inacces¬ 
sible  summits  of  mountains, 
were  seldom  taken,  and  were 
of  little  domestic  use. 

The  mountain  goat  is  still 
found  in  many  parts  of  Syria, 
and  the  flesh  is  nearly  of  the 
flavour  of  vpnison.  The  Be¬ 
douins  make  bags  or  bottles  of 
their  skins,  and  rings  of  their 
horns.  When  they  are  found 
among  the  rocks,  they  usually 
elude  the  pursuit  of  the  hun¬ 
ter,  sometimes  leaping  twen¬ 
ty  feet,— but  in  thejilains  they 
are  often  taken.  Their  habits 
are  alluded  to,  1  Sam.  xxiv.  2, 
Job  xxxix.  1.  Ps.  civ.  18.  (See 
Youth’s  Friend,  by  Am.  S.  S. 
Union,  vol.  ii.No.6;  iii.  No.7; 
and  iv.  No.  10.) 

Scape-goat.  (Lev.  xvi.  26.) 
In  this  chapter  we  hkve  an  in¬ 
teresting  account  of  the  man. 
ner  in  which  goats  were  ein> 
278 


GOD 

ployed  under  the  Jewish  law 
to  prefigure  the  atoning  sacri¬ 
fice  of  Christ.  It  was  on  the 
great  day  of  atonement.  Two 
goats  were  taken;  one  to  be 
presented  as  a  sin-offering,  and 
the  other  to  stand  while  the 

{iriest  laid  his  hands  upon  its 
lead,  and  confessed  over  it  the 
sins  of  the  people;  after  which 
it  was  led  or  sent  away  into 
the  wilderness;  thus  repre¬ 
senting  the  taking  or  bearing 
away  of  guilt.  (See  the  cere¬ 
mony  and  its  meaning  fully 
illustrated  in  Biblical  Anti¬ 
quities,  vol.  ii.  ch.  vi.  §  5,  and 
Elisama,  pp.  169 — 172,  both  by 
Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

GOB.  (2  Sam.  xxi.  18, 19.)  A 
place  or  plain  where  the  Isra¬ 
elites  fought  two  battles  with 
the  Philistines.  It  is  supposed 
to  be  the  same  with  Gezer. 
(1  Chron.  xx.  4.  See  Gezer.) 
GOBLET.  (See  Cup.) 

GOD.  (Gen.  i.  1.)  The  name 
of  the  uncreated  Creator  of 
all  things.  He  is  revealed 
to  us  in'  an  endless  variety 
of  ways  in  his  works  and  pro¬ 
vidential  government,  (Rom. 
i.  20,)  but  more  fully  in  the 
Holy  Scriptures,  as  a  Spirit 
infinitely  wise,  holy,  just, 
and  benevolent;  and  though 
he  is  truly  and  essentially  one 
in  his  being,  nature,  and  at¬ 
tributes,  and  the  only  proper 
object  of  religious  worship, 
(Deut.  vi.  4.  Isa.  xliv.  8 ;  xlv.  5, 
6. 14. 18. 21, 22,)  yet  he  is  clear¬ 
ly  revealed  to  us  as  the  Father, 
the  Son,  and  the  Holy  Spirit, 
(Isa.  xlviii.  16, 17.  Matt,  xxviii. 
19,20.  John  i.  1—3;  v.  23;  x. 
30;  xiv.23.  Phil.  ii.  6.  1  Tim. 
iii.  16,)  to  each  of  whom  are  as¬ 
cribed  the  essential  attributes 
of  the  supreme  God,  while  they 
are  distinguished  from  each 
other  in  the  sacred  writings  by 
all  the  acts  and  all  the  forms 
of  spee,ch  by  which  men  are 
accustomed  to  designate  differ¬ 
ent  persons.  Among  a  multi¬ 
tude  of  passages,  the  following 


GOG 


may  be  cited:  Gen.  i.  26;  iii. 
22;  xi.  6, 7.  Acts  v.  3, 4.  2  Cor. 
xiii.  14.  Col.  ii.  9.  As  every 
thing  concerning  the  mode  or 
manner  of  the  divine  existence 
must  be  necessarily  and  en¬ 
tirely  a  matter  of  divine  reve¬ 
lation,  it  is  to  be  received  as 
such,  with  the  most  profound 
and  humble,  reverence.  The 
student  of  the  Bible,  however, 
and  especially  the  teacher, 
would  do  well  to  settle  in  his 
mind  distinctly  and  definitely 
what  are  the  facts  or  trutl 
which  the  Bible  makes  known 
to  us  respecting  this  grea 
mystery  of  our  holy  religion ; 
and  so  to  arrange  and  classify 
them,  that  they  shall  exhibit 
at  one  view,  to  his  mind,  and  to 
the  minds  of  those  he  teaches, 
.exactly  what  is  revealed,  and 
no  more:  and  in  doing  this,  es^ 
pecially  when  the  matter  is  of 
sucn  great  solemnity  and  im 
portance,  it  is  safest  to  abide 
as  closely  as  possible  by  the 
language  of  inspiration. 

The  words  God  and  Gods 


are  frequently  used  to  express 
the  office,  power,  or  excellence 
of  some  created  being ;  as,  an¬ 
gels,  (Ps.  xcvii.  7,)  magistrates, 
(Ex.  xxii.  28,)  the  devil.  (2Cor. 
iv.4.  See  Jehovah,  Christ 
Jesus.) 

GODHEAD.  (Col.  ii.  9.)  The 
nature  or  essential  being  of 
God.  (Actsxvii.29.  Rom.  i. 20.) 

GODLINESS.  (2 Pet.  iii.  11.) 
Piety,  resulting  from  the  know 
ledge  and  love  of  God,  and 
leading  to  the  cheerful  and 
constant  obedience  of  his  com 
mands.  In  1  Tim.  iii.  16,  it 
imports  the  substance  of  re¬ 
vealed  religion. 

GOG  AND  MAGOG.  (Ezek. 
xxxviii.  2.)  Magog  was  the 
name  of  one  of  Japheth’s  sons. 
(Gen.  x.  2.)  It  was  also  a  ge¬ 
neral  name  of  a  country  north 
of  the  Caucasus  or  mo  ult  Tau¬ 
nts,  or  for  the  people  of  that 
district.  Gog  was  the  king  of 
the  country.  Probably  tney 
279 


GOL 

were  remarkable  lor  their  in¬ 
vasive  anil  predatory  habits ; 
and  perhaps  the  phrase  was 
descriptive  of  barbarians  and 
spoilers  generally.  (Rev.xx.8.) 

GOLAN.  (Deut.  iv.  43.)  A 
considerable  city  belonging  to 
the  half  tribe  of  Manasseh,  and 
Situated  in  the  north-western 
part  of  the  old  kingdom  of  Ba- 
shan  ;  whence  the  district,  of 
which  it  was  the  capital,  is 
called  Gaulonitis.  It  was  east 
of  the  sea  of  Tiberias,  and  still 
bears  the  name  of  Jolan.  Golan 
was  one  of  the  citie3  of  refuge. 
(Josh.  xx.  8.) 

GOLD.  (Gen.  ii.ll.)  The 
heaviest  and  most  malleable 
of  metals,  is  found  at  the  pre¬ 
sent  day  chiefly  in  Africa  and 
South  America.  Several  places 
are  mentioned  by  the  sacred 
writers  as  abounding  in  gold; 
such  as  Ophir,  (Job  xxviii.  16,) 
Parvaim,  or  Ceylon ,  as  some 
suppose,  (2Chron.  iii.  6,)  and 
Sheba  and  Raamah.  (Ezek. 
xxvii.  22.)  The  use  of  gold  was 
very  common  among  the  He¬ 
brews.  Several  parts  of  the 
temple,  its  furniture  and  uten¬ 
sils,  were  overlaid  with  this 
preciouB  metal,  (Ex.  xxxvi.  34 
— 38.  1  Kings  vii.  48 — 50.;)  and 
many  of  the  vessels  of  the 
wealthy,  as  well  as  their  per¬ 
sonal  ornaments  and  insignia 
of  office,  were  of  gold.  (Gen. 
xli.  42.  1  Kings  x.  17—22.  Esth. 
i.  C,  7.  Dan.  v.  29.  Luke  xv.  22. 
James  ii.2.) 

GOLDEN  CANDLESTICK. 
(See  Candlestick.) 

GOLGOTHA.  (See  Cal¬ 
vary.) 

Goliath,  o  Sam.  xvii.  4.) 

A  renowned  champion  of  the 
Philistines.  His  native  place 
was  Gath.  He  was  more  than 
nine  feet  in  height,  and  his 
armour  corresponded  with  his 
Stature  and  strength.  The  par¬ 
ticulars  of  his  defeat  in  single 
combat  with  David  are  given, 
1  Sam.  xvii,  (See  Life  of  Da¬ 
vid,  ch.  iii,  by  Am.S  .S.  Union.) 


GOP 

In  2  Sam.  xxi.  16—22,  is  an 
account  of  several  contests,  in 
one  of  which  Elhanan,  a  Beth- 
lehemite, is  spoken  of  as  having 
slain  Goliath  the  Gittite.  In 
another,  which  occurred  in 
Gath,  a  man  of  stature,  with 
twelve  finders  and  twelve  toes, 
is  represented  as  having  been 
slain  by  Jonathan,  David’s  ne¬ 
phew.  In  a  third  a  giant,  named 
Saph  was  slain  by  Sibbechai, 
the  Hushathile;  and  a  fourth 
was  between  Ishbi-benob  and 
Abishai,  in  which  the  former 
was  slain.  These  four,  it  is 
said,  were  born  to  the  giant  in 
Gath. 

The  probability  is,  that  som « 
other  giant  than  Goliath  is  in¬ 
tended  in  this  verse,  as  one  of 
the  four  persons  named  was  his 
brother,  and  not  his  son,  and 
that  the  true  reading  of  2  Sam 
xxi.  19  is  given  ini  Chron.xx.5 

GOMER.  (Ezek.  xxxviii.  6.J 
The  eldest  son  of  Japheth, 
whose  posterity  peopled  a  large 
district  of  Asia  Mir.or,  embrac 
ing  Phrygia.  From  them  came 
the  natives  of  northernEurope. 
Hence,  too  the  Gauls  and  Celts, 
and  the  bands  ofOomer,  and  in 
later  times,  the  people  of  Ger¬ 
many,  France,  and  Britain. 

GOMORRAH.  (See  Sodom.) 

GOPHER  WOOD.  (Gen.vi. 
14.)  The  ark  wets  constructed 
of  gopher  wood.  It  has  been 
supposed  that  this  may  mean, 
(1.)  The  wood  of  those  trees 
w’hich  shoot  out  horizontal 
branches,  such  as  the  fir,  ce¬ 
dar,  &c.;  (2.)  Squared  limber; 
(3.)  Smooth  or  planed  limber; 
(4.)  Any  light,  floating  wood; 
(5.)  Any  wood  that  does  not 
readily  corrupt;  (6.)  Pitched 
wood;  (7.)  Wicker  or  basket 
work,  made  of  osier  or  other 
pliable  material  of  the  same 
species ;  (8.)  Or  any  of  the 
kinds  of  wood  that  abound 
with  resinous,  inflammable 
juices..  The  weight  of  author, 
ity,  or  rather  conjecture,  is 


GOS 

between  the  cypress  and  ce¬ 
dar.  The  Greek  name  of  cy¬ 
press  bears  a  resemblance  to 
the  Hebrew  of  gopher.  It  was 
considered  by  the  ancients  as 
the  most  durable  wood,  least 
exposed  to  worms  and  natural 
decay;  it  abounded  in  Assyria, 
was  used  very  commonly  for 
ship-building,  and  wa3  almost 
the  only  wood  which  could 
furnish  suitable  timber  for  so 
large  a  vessel.  The  cedar  is 
light,  incorruptible,  and  resin¬ 
ous.  It  was  used  by  the  Egyp¬ 
tians  and  Assyrians  in  the 
construction  of  ships ;  and 
some  of  the  oldest  rabbins 
suppose  it  was  used  for  the 

a  GOSHEN.  1.  (Gen.  xlv.  10.) 
A  fertile  section  of  pasture 
land  in  the  north-eastern  divi¬ 
sion  of  Egypt,  between  the  Red 
Sea  and  the  river  Nile,  upon 
the  southern  border  of  Canaan, 
allotted  by  Joseph  to  his  father 
and  his  brethren ;  where  they 
dwelt  for  upwards  of  two  hun¬ 
dred  years.  It  was,  for  grazing 
purposes,  the  best  of  the  land. 
(Gen.  xlvii.  6. 11.) 

Mr.  Smith,  an  American 
missionary,  passed,  with  a  ca¬ 
ravan,  through  the  northern 
district  of  ancient  Goshen  in 
1827 ;  and  he  describes  it  as 
an  immense  sandy  desert, 
drifted  with  sand-banks ;  and 
presenting  here  and  there,  in 
small  patches,  a  few  shrubs 
of  evergreen,  like  our  whortle¬ 
berry  bushes,  on  which  the 
Bedouins  pasture  their  flocks. 
Raineses  and  Pithon  are  men¬ 
tioned  as  cities  of  Goshen,  and 
the  supposed  ruins  of  them 
are  described  by  modern  tra¬ 
vellers.  The  pacha  of  Egypt 
has  lately  established  a  colony 
of  five  hundred  Syrians  in  the 
ancient  land  of  Goshen,  for  the 
urpose  of  cultivating  the  mul- 
erry  and  rearing  silkworms. 
2.  (Josh.  xv.  51.)  A  city  in 
the  territory  of  Judah,  which 
,ave  the  name  of  the  land  of 
6  24* 


GOS 

Goshen  to  the  country  around 
it. 

GOSPEL.  (Mark  i.  1.)  The 
word  which  is  rendered  gospel 
in  this  passage  is  elsewhere 
rendered  good  or  glad  tidings, 
(Luke  ii.  10.  Actsxiii.  32;)  and 
in  both  cases  it  describes  the 
books  written  by  the  four  evan¬ 
gelists.  Hence,  when  we  say 
the  gospel  according  to  Mat¬ 
thew,  we  mean,  the  history  of 
Jesus  Christ  the  Son  of  God, 
and  an  account  of  the  salvation 
offered  by  and  through  him,  as 
the  same  was  prepared  under 
the  guidance  ol  the  Holy  Ghost 
by  Matthew,  one  of  our  Sa¬ 
viour’s  disciples.  A  harmony 
of  the  gospels  is  an  arrange¬ 
ment  of  these  four  histories  in 
such  a  manner  as  to  show  their 
harmony  with  each  other,  and 
to  present  them  in  connected 
chronological  order.  One  of 
these  harmonies  maybe  found 
in  The  Help  to  the  Gos¬ 
pels,  published  by  the  Am.  S. 
S.  Union. 

The  gospel  of  Matthew  was 
undoubtedly  written  first,  and, 
as  it  is  generally  supposed, 
about  the  year  65.  It  is  not 
certain  whether  it  was  origi¬ 
nally  written  in  Greek  or 
Hebrew. 

The  gospel  by  Mark  was 
probably  written  under  the 
influence  and  direction  of  the 
apostle  Peter;  and  tradition 
says  it  was  written  at  Rome, 
and  published  after  the  death 
of  Peter  and  Paul. 

The  gospel  of  Luke  is  su;  >- 
posed  to  have  been  written  by 
the  beloved  physician, the  com¬ 
panion  of  Paul  in  his  travels, 
and  under  the  direction  or 
oversight  of  the  apostle,  and 
after  the  destruction  of  Jerusa- 
lem. 

The  gospel  of  John  is  to  be 
regarded  as  supplementary 
and  it  was  written  last  of  all 
Some  have  fixed  the  period  at 
the  year  96,  when  John  was 
eighty  years  old, and  after  Mat- 


GOU 

thew’s  gospel  had  been  publish¬ 
ed  thirty  years. 

It  is  termed  the  gospel  of 
peace ,  (Rom.  x.  15,)  aud  the 
word  of  reconciliation ,  (2  Cor. 
v.  19,)  because  it  shows  the 
only  way  in  which  man.  can 
be  at  peace  with  God  through 
Jesus  Christ;  and  hence  it  is 
also  called  the  gospel  of  the 
grace  qf  God,  (Acts  xx.  24,)  as 
it  is  a  declaration  of  God’s  free 
favour  and  good  will  towards 
those  who  are  utterly  worthless 
and  undeserving. 

The  lour  gospels  were  writ¬ 
ten  by  different  men,  each  of 
whom  was  under  the  immedi¬ 
ate  inspiration  of  God,  and 
was  led  to  adopt  a  style  and 
arrangement  suited  to  the  pur¬ 
pose  he  had  in  view.  When  it 
is  considered  what  an  endless 
variety  of  places,  persons,  and 
incidents  are  introduced  into 
the  sacred  narratives,  and  what 
a  variety  of  expressions  are 
reported,  on  the  accuracy  of 
which,  and  the  circumstances 
underwhich  they  were  spoken, 
sp  much  of  their  force  depends ; 
when  we  consider,  moreover, 
the  character  and  education  of 
the  writers,  and  the  peculiar 
disadvantages  of  their  situa¬ 
tion  ;  we  shall  be  ready  to  ad¬ 
mit  the  extraordinary  claims 
of  these  books,  and  to  allow 
that  the  immaterial  discrepan¬ 
cies  which  they  present  con¬ 
firm  rather  than  invalidate 
those  claims. 

GOURD.  (Jonah  iv.  6.)  A 
,  climbing  vine  of  quick  growth, 
allied  to  the  family  of  the  cu¬ 
cumber,  melon,  squash,  & c. 
its  fruit  is  found  in  a  hard 
ligneous  shell,  of  which  drink¬ 
ing  cups  and  other  household 
utensils  are  formed.  It  was  cul¬ 
tivated  from  the  earliest  times 
in  Asia  and  Africa.  The  pulp  is 
eatable ;  and  the  lower  classes 
in  Egypt  and  Arabia  boil  it  in 
vinegar,  or  make  it  into  a  sort 
of  pudding  by  filling  the  shell 
with  rice  and  meat.  In  a  wild 


GRA 

state,  they  were  probably  poi¬ 
sonous,  as  the  wild  parsnip  is 
among  us.  (2Kingsiv.38 — 41.) 

GOVERNOR.  (Matt,  xxvii. 
2.)  After  Judea  became  a  pro¬ 
vince  of  the  Roman  empire, 
governors  or  procurators  were 
appointed  and  sent  thither 
from  Rome.  This  was  the 
office  held  by  Pontius  Pilate 
at  the  time  of  our  Saviour’s 
crucifixion.  Sometimes  the 
word  governor  is  used  as  a 
general  title  for  ruler.  (Gen. 
xlii.  6.  See  Feast.) 

GOZAN.  (1  Chron.  V.  26.)  A 
river,  which  probably  rises  in 
Media,  to  the  vicinity  of  which 
the  captive  Israelites  were 
transported.  (2  Kings  xvii.  6.) 
This  river  is  now  known  as 
the  Kizzil  Ozan,  and  empties 
into  the  Caspian  Sea.  There 
was  also  a  province,  and  per¬ 
haps  a  city,  of  the  same  name, 
(Isa.  xxxvii.  12,)  now  called 
Gausania,  lying  between  the 
Caspian  Sea  and  the  moun¬ 
tains  which  separate  Media 
from  Assyria.  Through  this 
province  the  river  Gozan  or 
kizzil  Ozan  runs. 

GRACE.  (lTim.i.2.)  The 
theological  use  of  this  word 
denotes  the  free  favour  of  God, 
bestowed  upon  men  without 
any  merit  or  claim  on  their 
part.  Hence  the  New  Testa 
ment,  which  reveals  the  plan 
by  which  this  grace  is  bestow 
ed  consistently  with  the  divine 
attributes,  (viz.  the  atonement, 
mediation,  and  intercession  of 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  in  and 
through  whom  alone  the  free, 
rich,  and  eternal  fulness  ot 
God’s  favour  is  dispensed,)  is 
called  the  gospel  of  the  grace 
of  God.  (Acts  xx.  24.) 

GRAFF.  (Rom.  xi.  17.)  To 
graff  or  graft  is  to  insert  a  shoo! 
or  bud  of  one  tree  into  the 
branch  of  another;  the  stock 
of  the  latter  is  usually  infe¬ 
rior,  the  graft  valuable.  The 
sap  of  the  natural  tree  being 
conveyed  into  the  graft  is,  bj 


GRA 

a  peculiar  process,  changed 
into  the  natural  sap  of  the 
graft;  and  hence  the  fruit  of 
the  graft  will  be  of  its  own 
kind,  and  the  fruit  of  the  natu¬ 
ral  tree  of  another  kind.  The 
force  and  beauty  of  the  apos¬ 
tle’s  figure  in  the  passage  above 
cited  are  sufficiently  obvious. 

GRAIN.  (See  Corn.) 

GRAPES.  (Gen.  xlix.  11.) 
The  fruit  of  the  vine.  When 
fully  ripe  and  dried,  they  are 
called  raisins.  (1  Sam.  xxv. 
18;  xxx.  12.  2  Sant.  xvi.  1. 
1  Chron.  xii.  40.) 

The  soil  and  climate  of  Judea 
were  well  suited  to  the  growth 
of  the  vine ;  and  it  was  among 
the  principal  productions  of 
the  country. 

Particular  districts  of  Judea 
were  famed  for  the  excellency 
of  their  grapes ;  as  Engedi, 
and  the  vales  of  Eshcol  and 
Sorek.  The  word  Sorek  is  not 
only  the  name  of  a  region  in 
the  tribe  of  Judah,  but  also 
signifies  the  noblest  variety  of 
the  vine  and  its  clusters,  which 
there  abounded.  This  grape 
was  white,  with  del  icious  juice, 
and  with  seeds  so  small  and  soft 
as  to  be  almost  imperceptible. 
In  Persia,  the  best  raisins  are 
made  of  this  grape.  It  is  of 
this  that  the  celebrated  Kish- 
mish  wine  of  Shiraz  is  made. 
Very  fine  grapes  were  in  old 
times,  as  at  present,  produced 
on  mount  Lebanon,  and  Hel- 
bon,  or  Aleppo-.  Travellers 
agree  in  relating  that  Pales¬ 
tine,  even  in  its  present  state 
of  subjugation  to  the  Mussul¬ 
mans,  who  are  forbidden  to 
use  wine,  produces  clusters  of 
twelve  pounds  weight  each, 
the  single  grapes  of  which  are 
as  large  as  plums.  They  tell 
us  that  the  clusters  of  Judea,  a 
few  miles  westward  from  Jeru¬ 
salem,  are  larger  than  any  in 
Europe;  and  that  they  have 
often  seen  them  of  such  size 
that  it  was  impossible  for  a 
single  man  to  carry  one  of 


GRA 

them  uninjured  for  any  dis¬ 
tance.  It  is  pleasing  to  find 
this  corroboration  of  the  scrip¬ 
tural  account.  (Num.  xiii.  23. 
See  Eshcol.)  Brocard  informs 
us  in  his  travels,  that  the  best 
vines  grow  in  the  environs  of 
Bethlehem,  in  the  vale  of  Re- 
phaim,  (between  Bethlehem 
and  Jerusalem,)  and  in  the 
vale  of  Eshcol. 

The  grapes  of  the  Holy  Land, 
with  the  exception  of  the  So¬ 
rek,  above  mentioned,  are 
mostly  red  or  black.  Hence  the 
juice  is  called  the  blood  of  the 
grape;  translated,  in  our  ver¬ 
sion,  red  wine.  (Isa.  xxvii.  2.) 

The  vines  of  the  east  attain 
a  very  great  size,  reaching  the 
tops  of  the  highest  trees,  and 
are  sometimes  much  thicker 
in  the  trunk  than  a  man’s 
body.  (SeeWiNE,WiNE-PRESJ, 
Vines,  Vineyards.) 

The  Jews  were  expressly  re 
.  quired  by  their  law  not  ta 
gather  the  grapes  until  the 
vine  was  three  years  old,  (Lev 
xix.  23,)  and  to  leave  some  on 
the  vines  and  on  the  ground, 
(Lev.  xix.  10;)  and  it  was  the 
privilege  of  the  poor  and  de 
pendent,  to  gather  these  for 
their  own  use,  provided  they 
were  eaten  on  the  ground. 
They  were  not  allowed  to  taka 
any  away.  (Deut.  xxiii.  24; 
xxiv.  21.)  The  grapes  thus  left 
were  called  the  gleanings, 
and,  as  they  hung,  here  and 
there  one,  on  the  vines,  or 
scattered  on  the  ground,  they 
were  strikingly  emblematical 
of  the  depopulation  of  a  city  or 
country.  (Isa.  xvii.  6;  xxiv.  13. 
Jer.  vi.9;  xlix.  9.  Obad.5.) 

The  proverb  to  which  refer¬ 
ence  is  made  in  Jer.  xxxi.29, 
is  explained  in  the  whole  of 
Ezek'.  xviii.  The  Jews  com¬ 
plained  that  they  suffered  be¬ 
cause  of  the  iniquity  of  their 
fathers.  The  prophet  shows 
them  their  error  and  delusion, 
and  triumphantly  vindicates 
the  divine  proceedinas. 


GRA 

So  in  Isa.  v.  2,  before  cited, 
the  Jewish  nation  is  repre¬ 
sented  to  us  under  the  figure 
of  a  vineyard  favourably  plant¬ 
ed,  and  cultivated  with  the 
utmost  skill  and  labour,  and 
every  preparation  made  for 
the  vintage,  and  yet  the  hus¬ 
bandman’s  hopes  are  all  blast¬ 
ed  ;  for  instead  of  a  full  crop 
of  genuine  fruit,  he  finds  upon 
the  vines  a  bitter,  poisonous, 
wild  fruit,  entirely  unfit  for 
use.  A  more  striking  illustra¬ 
tion  of  the  perverseness  ar.d 
ingratitude  of  the  Israelites, 
cannot  be  conceived. 

GRASS.  (Isa.  li.  12.)  This 
word  is  frequently  applied  in 
the  Scriptures  to  herbage  gene¬ 
rally,  (Isa.  xv.  6,)  though  some¬ 
times  a  distinction  is  made 
between  such  herbs  as  are  used 
Dy  man,  as  grain  and  vegeta- 
oles,  and  such  as  are  used 
chiefly  by  cattle.  (Ps.  civ.  14.) 

The  quick  growth  and  ten¬ 
derness  of  this  species  of  vege¬ 
tation  furnish  several  of  the 
most  striking  illustrations  of 
the  Scriptures.  (Ps.  xc.  5,  6 ; 
xcii.  7;  ciii.  15,  16.  Isa.  xl.  6 
— 8;  li.  12.  James  i.  10.  IPet. 
i.  24.) 

The  passage  in  Prov.  xxvii. 
25,  would  be  more  accurately 
rendered  thus:  “The  grass  (hay) 
appeareth,  and  the  green  herb 
( tender  grass )  showeth  itself, 
and  the  plants  (herbs)  of  the 
mountains  are  gathered.”  So 
in  Isa.  xv.  6:  “  The  grass  (hay) 
withereth,  the  green  -herb 
(grass)  faileth,  there  is  no 
green  thing.” 

Nothing  can  exceed  in  beau¬ 
ty  and  appropriateness  the 

radation  of  images  employed 

y  the  prophet,  2  Kings  xix.  26; 
the  weakness  and  tenderness 
of  the  first  shoots  of  any  green 
herb;  the  frailty  of  the  few 
spires  of  grass  that  sometimes 
spring  up  in  the  vegetable 
mould  or  shallow  earth  upon 
the  housetop,  or  the  withered 


GEE 

and  wilted  blade  of  corn,  blast¬ 
ed  before  it  rises  into  a  stalk. 

The  dry  stalks  of  herbs  were 
often  used,  as  faggots  are  now 
for  the  purpose  of  heating 
ovens.  (Matt.  vi.  30 ;  xiii.  3(5. 
Lukexii.28.) 

GRASSHOPPER.  (Eccl.xii. 
5.)  An  insect  of  the  locust  spe. 
cies,  often  mentioned  in  the 
sacred  writings.  The  word  ren¬ 
dered  grasshopper  in  the  above 
cited  passage  is  rendered  locust 
in  2  Chron.  vii.  13. 

The  grasshopper  was  al¬ 
lowable  food  under  the  Jewish 
law.  (Lev.  xi.22.)  Their  timi¬ 
dity  is  proverbial.  (Job  xxxix. 
20.)  They  are  often  found  in 
great  multitudes,  (hence  the 
figurative  language,  Judg.vi.  5, 
and  vii.  12.  Jer.  xlvi.  23,)  and 
prove  destructive  tovegetation, 
especially  in  its  early  stages. 
(Amos  vii.  1.) 

The  allusion  in  Nah.  iii.  15 
— 17,  is  to  a  common  habit  of 
this  insect.  When  benumbed 
with  the  cold,  they  assemble 
in  vast  numbers  upon  the 
hedges  or  other  shrubbery ; 
and  such  is  their  multitude, 
that  the  places  they  occupy 
are  darkened,  and  resemble 
the  encamping  ground  of  a 
great  army.  As  soon,  how¬ 
ever,  as  they  are  revived  by  the 
warmth  of  the  sun,  they  fly 
away  no  one  knows  whither. 

The  grasshopper  is  used  to 
illustrate  comparative  insigni¬ 
ficance,  (Num.  xiii.  33.  Isa. 
xl.  22;)  and  in  the  passage 
from  Ecclesiastes,  first  cited, 
reference  is  probably  made  to 
that  degree  of  weakness  and 
infirmity  in  old  age  which 
makes  the  weight,  or  even  the 
chirping,  of  a  grasshopper  bur¬ 
densome. 

GRATE,  brazen.  (See  Al¬ 
tar.) 

GRATE.  (See  Burial,  En¬ 
grave,  Hell.) 

GREAT  SEA  (Num.  xxxiv. 
6)  is  the  same  with  the  Medi- 
264 


ORE 


GKO 


terranean,  and  constitutes  that 
large  mass  of  waters  between 
Europe,  Asia,  and  Africa, which 
receives  its  name  ( midland ) 
from  its  position,  and  has  its 
only  communication  with  the 
ocean  by  the  straits  of  Gibral¬ 
tar.  It  is  also  called  the  utmost 
sea,  (Joel  ii.  20.)  the  hinder  sea, 
(Zech.  xiV.  8,J  and  was  the 
western  boundary  of  the  pro¬ 
mised  land. 

GREAVES.  (See  Armour.) 

GREECE,  (Zech.  ix.  13,)  or 
GRECIA,  (Dan.  viii.  21,)  was 
known  to  the  Hebrews  by  the 
name  of  Javan.  (Isa.  lxvi.  19. 
Ezek.  xxvii.  13. 19.)  As  used  in 
the  New  Testament,  it  more 
generally  comprehends  Greece 
proper,  Ionia,  and  Asia  Minor. 
In  the  time  of  Alexander,  the 
Greeks  were  masters  of  Eg 
Syria.,  and  the  countries 
provinces  beyond  the  Eu¬ 
phrates,  and  hence  the  name 
Greek  became  somewhat  in¬ 
definite,  and  was  applied  by 
the  Jews  to  all  Gentries  who 
were  subject  to  Grecian  power. 
Indeed,  as  some  hold,  the  word 
Greek  was  to  the  Jews  syno- 
nymous  with  Gentile,  (Mara 
vii.  2B;)  that  the  world  was  di¬ 
vided  by  them  between  Jews 
and  Greeks.  All  that  were  not 
Jews  were  Greeks.  (Acts  xx. 
21.  Rom.  i.  16.  1  Cor.  i.  22. 24.) 
The  New  Testament  was  writ¬ 
ten  originally  (with  the  excep¬ 
tion,  perhaps,  of  Matthew)  in 
Greek.  The  invasion  and  con¬ 
quest  of  the  eastern  nations  bv 
Alexander  the  Great,  which 
took  place  about  three  centu¬ 
ries  before  the  Christian  era, 
led  to  a  general  use  of  the 
Greek  language.  And  it  is  pro¬ 
bable  that  a  book  designed  for 
the  world,  as  it  then  was,  and 
was  likely  to  be,  would  find 
more  readers  in  that  language 
than  in  any  other.  The  pre¬ 
vailing  language  of  our  Saviour 
and  histapostles,  and  probably 
of  the  people  of  Judea,  was 
Syriac,  though  the  commercial 


yptj 

and 


intercourse  of  the  Jews  made 
them  familiar  with  the  Greek; 
and  a  version  of  tile  New  Tea- 
lament  in  the  Syriac  language 
was  extant,  as  is  generally  be¬ 
lieved,  during  the  apostolic 
age,  which  all  admit  to  have 
been  made  as  early  as  the  se¬ 
cond  century.  When  Greeks 
are  opposed  to  barbarians,  as 
in  Rom.  i.  14,  the  former  term 
implies  the  learned,  and  the 
latter  the  illiterate  class,  or 
such  as  do  not  speak  the  lan¬ 
guage  of  the  country  where 
they  reside.  (See  Barbarian.) 

GREYHOUND.  (Prov.  xxx 
31.)  The  motion  of  the  animal 
known  in  modern  times  by 
this  name,  is  both  graceful  and 
fleet.  It  is  by  many  supposed 
that  the  original  word  refers  to 
some  entirely  difl'erent  animal; 
but  there  appears  to  be  no  satis¬ 
factory  reason  for  the  opinion. 

GRIND.  (Job  xxxi.  10.)  This 
expression  here  denotes  not 
only  thelowest  menial  service, 
but  also  that  the  person  of  the 
patriarch’s  wife  may  be  at  the 
disposal  of  another,  as  female 
slaves  in  the  east  are  at  the 
present  day.  (See  Mills.) 

GRINDERS.  (Eccl.  xii.  3.) 
The  grinders  ceasing  because 
they  are  few,  in  Solomon’s 
allegorical  exhibition  of  the 
decline  of  life,  is  supposed  to 
represent  the  loss  of  the  teeth, 
or  their  failure  to  perform  their 
office  in  masticating  or  grind, 
ing  one’s  food. 

GRIZZLED.  (Gen.  xxxi.  10. 
Zech.vi.3.6.)  Black  and  white 
intermingled  in  small  spots. 

GROVE.  (Judg.  iii.  7.)  The 
idolatrous  heathen  worshipped 
their  gods  on  the  tops  of  hills 
and  mountains,  and  in  groves 
of  trees.  (Deut.  xii.  2, 3.  Hos. 
lv.  13.)  The  use  of  groveu  as 
places  for  religious  worship 
seems  to  havr  been  very  early, 
(Gen.  xxi.  33  .)  and  the  selec¬ 
tion  of  such  i  laces  originated 
probably  eiti  «r  in  a  desire  to 
make  the  se*  ‘mo  more  agree 


GRO 

able  to  the  worshippers,  or 
more  inviting  to  the  gods ;  or 
Decause  the  gloom  of  the  forest 
is  calculated  to  excite  awe; 
or  because  the  concealment  of 
these  odious  rites  and  impuri¬ 
ties  was  more  effectual ;  or  pro¬ 
bably  because  it  was  supposed 
that  the  spirits  of  the  departed 
often  hovered  over  the  place 
where  their  bodies  are  buried  ; 
and,  as  it  was  very  common  to 
bury  under  trees,(Gen.xxxv.8. 
ISam.  xxxi.  13,)  the  erection 
of  altars  or  places  of  devotion 
to  their  spirits,  or  to  other  spi- 


GUE 

rits,  good  or  evil,  in  or  near 
such  trees,  was  very  natural. 
Hence  it  became  common  to 
plant  groves  (Deul.  xvi.  21) 
with  a  view  to  idolatrous 
worship;  and  as  these  were 
constantly  furnished  with  the 
images  of  the  gods,  the  terms 
grove  and  idol  became  con¬ 
vertible.  (2  Kings  xx'iii.  6.) 

GUARD  CHAMBER. (IKings 
xiv.  28.)  The  apartment  occu¬ 
pied  by  the  king’s  guard. 

GUEST.  (See  Feast.) 

GUEST-CHAMBER.  (See 
Chamber.) 


HAB 

ABAKKUK.  One  of  the 
twelve  minor  prophets,  of 
whose  birth  we  know  neither 
the  time  nor  place.  He  lived 
in  the  reign  of  Jehoiakim,  and 
was  of  course  contemporary 
with  Jeremiah ;  and  it  is  gene¬ 
rally  supposed  he  remained  in 
’udea,  and  died  there. 

Profhecy  of,  is  the  thirty- 
fifth  in  the  order  of  the  books 
of  the  Old  Testament.  It  was 
uttered  about  six  hundred  years 
before  Christ,  and  relates  chief¬ 
ly  to  the  invasion  of  Judea  by 
the  Chaldeans,  the  overthrow 
of  the  Babylonish  empire,  and 
the  final  deliverance  of  God’s 
faithful  people.  Some  passages 
of  this  prophecy  are  not  sur¬ 
passed  in  sublimity  and  sim¬ 
plicity  of  style,  nor  in  the 
strength  and  fervour  of  piety 
which  they  express. 

The  dedication  with  which 
the  prophecy  closes  has  refer¬ 
ence  probably  to  the  ode  or 
prayer  which  constitutes  the 
third  chapter.  The  word  ne- 
ginoth  ( stringed  instruments ) 
signifies  an  instrument  which 
was  played  by  friction  or  pul¬ 
sation,  (as  violins,  harps,  Ac.,) 
in  contradistinction  from  wind 
instruments;  and  the  compo¬ 
sition  was  directed,  as  several 
of  the  psalms  are,  (Ps.  iv.  vi. 


HAD. 

liv.  lxi.  lxvii.  lxxvi.  title,)  to 
the  leader  of  some  particular 
department  of  the  temple 
music. 

HABERGEON.  (See  An. 

MOUR.) 

HABOR.  (2  Kings  xvii.  6.) 
A  city  or  country  of  Media,  on 
the  river  Gozan,  and  one  of  the 
places  to  which  Tiglath-Pile- 
ser  first  transported  a  part,  and 
Salmanezer,  afterwards,  the 
whole  of  the  ten  tribes  of  Israel. 
Habor,  or  Chabor,  is  thought 
by  some  to  be  the  mountain¬ 
ous  region  called  Chaboras 
by  Ptolemy.  But  others,  with 
greater  precision,  fix  upon  the 
modern  town  of  Abhar,  near 
the  river  Kizzil  Ozan,  or  Go¬ 
zan,  as  the  more  probable  Bite 
of  ancient  Habor. 

HACH1LAH,hill  0F.(lSam. 
xxiii.  19.)  A  stronghold  at  the 
southern  extremity  of  the  wil¬ 
derness  of  Judea,  where  David 
concealed  himself  fiom  his 
persecutors. 

HADAD.  (1  Kings  xi.  14.)  A 
descendant  of  the  royal  family 
of  Edom.  When  David  con¬ 
quered  that  country,  (2  Sam. 
viii.  14,)  and  cut  off  its  male 
population,  certain  of  the 
king’s  household  escaped  the 
general  massacre,  and  fled, 
taking  with  them  Hadad,  then 
284 


had 

a  little  child.  After  a  time, 
they  went  into  Egypt,  and 
young  Hadad  was  presented  to 
the  king,  and  probably  his  roy¬ 
al  descent  was  made  known. 
The  king  received  him  with 
great  favour,  and  in  process  of 
time  he  married  the  queen’s 
Bister,  and  the  families  were 
afterwards  on  terms  of  the 
closest  intimacy.  After  David’s 
death,  Hadad  requested  Pha¬ 
raoh  to  let  him  return  to  Edom. 
And  this  he  probably  did,  as 
we  find  him  mentioned  as 
Hadad  the  Edomite,  and  the 
adversary  of  Solomon,  1  Kings 
xi.  14 — 22. 

HADADEZER,  (2  Sam.  vm. 
3,)  or  HAD'AREZER.  (2  Sam. 
x.  16.  IChron.  xviii.  3.)  A  Sy¬ 
rian  king,  with  whom  David 
had  several  contests.  In  one 
of  them  he  took  twenty 
thousand  footmen  and  seven 
hundred  horsemen  of  Hada- 
dezer’s  army  prisoners,  be¬ 
sides  chariots  of  war.  On 
another  occasion,  when  Hada- 
dezer  had  formed  an  alliance 
with  a  neighbouring  province, 

David  again  defeated  him, and 

took  twenty-two  thousand  of 
his  army  prisoners.  Among 
the  spoils  were  gold  shields, 
and  a  great  quantity  of  brass 
or  copper.  '  TT 

Some  years  afterwards,  Ha- 
dadezer  and  three  other  Syrian 
princes  formed  an  alliance  to 
assist  the  Ammonites  against 
David;  but  the  whole  Syrian 
army  was  defeated  on  the  east 

ank  of  the  Jordan,  by  the 
sraelites,  under  the  command 
of  Joab.  Between  forty  and 
fifty  thousand  of  the  enemy 
were  killed,  including  their 
principal  general;  and  they 
thenceforth  became  tributary 
to  David.  (I  Chron.  xix.) 

HADAD-RIMMON.  (Zech. 
xii.  11.)  From  comparing  this 
passage  with  2  Chron.  xxxv. 
22  -£o,  we  infer  that  Hadad- 
rimmon  was  a  city  or  village 
in  the  valley  oi  Megiddo;  and 


HAG 

that  such  was  the  lamentation 
of  the  people  for  Josiah,  that 
the  expression  used  by  the 
prophet  had  become  proverbi¬ 
al,  to  denote  general  conster¬ 
nation  and  mourning. 

HADASSAH.  (See  Es¬ 
ther.)  „ 

HADRACH,  land  of.  (Zech. 
ix.  1.)  A  district  in  the  vicinity 
of  Damascus. 

HAGAR.  (Gen.  xvi.  1.)  An 
Egyptian  woman  who  lived  in 
the  family  of  Abraham  as  a 
servant  or  bond- woman.  Sarah 
being  childless,  she  proposed 
to  Abraham  that  he  should  re¬ 
ceive  Hagar  as  his  wife  :  ana 
when  Hagar  found  herself 
about  to  receive  the  blessing 
which  was  denied  to  her  mis¬ 
tress,  she  was  very  much 
elated,  and  treated  Safah  dis. 
dainfully.  Provoked  by  this 
conduct  in  her  handmaid, 
Sarah  used  her  with  great 
severity ;  so  that  she  was  com- 
pelled  to  flee  from  the  house. 
She  made  her  way  towards 
Egypt,  her  native  country,  as 
far  as  the  wilderness  of  Shur, 
and  while  resting  herself  near 
a  fountain  by  the  wayside,  she 
was  informed  by  an  angel  that 
the  child  which  she  was  to 
have  should  be  a  son,  and  his 
name  should  be  Ishmael;  that 
he  should  be  a  wild  man,  tha- 
he  should  be  hostile  te  every 
body  and  every  body  hostile  to 
him,  and  yet  that  he  should 
dwell  in  the  presence  of  his 
brethren,  and  that  his  posterity 
should  be  innumerable.  The 
angel  at  the  same  time  direct- 
ed  her  to  return  home,  and 
submit  herself  to  her  mistress. 
This  extraordinary  interview 
happened  at  a  watering  place 
south  of  Judea ;  which  was 
hence  called  Beer-lahai-roi, 
(meaning  the  well  of  him  that 
liveth  and  seeth  me.) 

When  Ishmael  was  four 
years  old,  God  re-assured  Abra- 
ham  that  the  divine  blessing 
should  rest  on  the  lad,  and 
2S7 


HAG 

that  he  should  be  the  founder 
of  a  great  nation. 

In  process  of  time  Isaac  was 
born,  Ishmael  being  then  four¬ 
teen  years  of  age.  At  the  age 
of  two  or  three  years,  the  child 
was  weaned,  and  Abraham  ce¬ 
lebrated  the  event  by  a  great 
feast,  (which  is  still  the  custom 
in  Persia  when  a  male  child  is 
weaned,)  and  on  that  occasion 
Sarah  saw  Ishmael  mocking 
or  making  sport  of  her  child, 
and  perhaps  ill  treating  him. 
She  immediately  requested 
Abraham  to  banish  Ishmael 
and  his  mother  from  their 
home.  Abraham,  who  seems 
to  have  been  a  stranger  to  the 
proud  and  revengeful  feelings 
n(  his  wife,  was  grieved  at  her 
request;  but,  being  divinely 
admonished  to  comply,  he  rose 
up  early  in  the  morning,  and, 
supplying  Hajgar  with'bread 
and  a  bottle  of  water,  sent  her 
and  her  child  away.  She  found 
her  way  to  the  wilderness  of 
Beersheba;  but  her  supply  of 
water  was  exhausted,  and  she 
saw  nothing  before  her  and 
her  orphan  boy  but  famine  and 
death.  The  lad,  fatigued  and 
hungry,  lay  down  under  a 
shrub,  and  his  mother  with¬ 
drew  from  him  a  little  way, and 
lifted  up  her  voice  and  wept. 
The  cries  of  the  lad  also,  in 
this  hour  of  his  suffering  and 
distress,  came  up  before  God. 
A  fountain  of  water  was  dis¬ 
closed  to  Hagar,  at  which  she 
supplied  her  wants  and  those 
of  her  son,  and  there  also  re¬ 
ceived  from  God  a  promise  that 
he  would  make  of  Ishmael  a 
’  great  nation. 

The  lad  grew  up  in  the  wil¬ 
derness,  became  an  archer, 
and  married  an  Egyptian  wo¬ 
man.  (See  Abraham,  Ish¬ 
mael.) 

HAGARENES.  (Ps.  lxxxiii. 
6,)  or  HAGARITES,  (1  Chron. 
v-  10.  20,)  are  the  descendants 
of  Hagar,  and  are  of  course  the 
same  with  the  Ishmael ites  or 


HA  I 

Arabians.  They  are  sometimes 
joined  with  the  Moabites,  as 
in  the  first  passage  above  cited. 

HAGGAI.  Hajmai  was  a  He¬ 
brew  prophet,  ana  supposed  to 
have  been  born  during  the 
captivity,  and  to  have  returned 
with  Zerubbabel.  (Hag.  ii.2.) 

Prophecy  op,  is  the  thirty- 
seventh  in  the  ordpr  of  the 
books  of  the  Old  Testament. 
It  was  littered  five  hundred 
and  twenty  years  before  Christ, 
and  of  course  after  the  return 
of  the  Jews  to  their  own  land. 
It  is  principally  composed  of 
keen  reproof,  and  of  affecting 
exhortations  respecting  the 
building  of  the  second  temple, 
which  they  had  abandoned  for 
fourteen  or  fifteen  years,  be¬ 
cause  of  the  opposition  and 
intrigue  of  their  enemies  ;  and 
it  also  contains  predictions  of 
Christ  and  the  universal  esta¬ 
blishment  of  his  kingdom. 

It  is  supposed  that  the  glory 
of  the  temple,  which  is  pre¬ 
dicted  with  great  clearness, 
(Hag.  ii.  7 — 9,)  was  to  be  occa¬ 
sioned  by  the  coming  of  Christ; 
and,  though  Herod  made  im¬ 
portant  alterations  in  it,  still 
the  temple  of  Zerubbabel  was 
always  regarded  as  the  second 
temple,  and  Christ,  the  desire 
of  all  nations,  did  appear  and 
teach  in  it.  It  is  known,  more¬ 
over,  that  the  Jews  expected 
the  true  Messiah  would  ap¬ 
pear  in  this  temple,  even  until 
it  was  destroyed  by  Vespasian; 
and,  to  make  their  rejection 
of  Jesus  Christ  consistent,  they 
forced  themselves  to  believe 
that  a  third  temple  is  to  be 
erected,  of  which  their  expect¬ 
ed  deliverer  is  to  be  the  elory. 

HAIL.  1.  (Luke  i.  28.)  This 
word  was  used  by  way  of  salu¬ 
tation,  and  importea  a  wish 
for  the  health  and  universal 
prosperity  of  the  individual 
addressed. 

2.  (Rev.  viii.  7.)  A 'storm 
of  hailstones  was  one  of  the 
plagues  of  Egypt,  and  is  do- 
288 


HAt 

scribed,  Ex.  ix.  23 — 32.  Pg. 
Ixxviii.  47 ;  cv.  32,  33.  It  was 
employed  for  the  destruction 
of  Joshua’s  energies.  (Josh.  x. 
11.)  Hence  it  is  figuratively 
used  to  represent  terrible  judg¬ 
ments.  (Isa.  xxviii.  2.  Rev. 
xvi.  21.) 

HAIR.  (Hum.  vi.  5.)  The 
Hebrews  were  accustomed  to 
cut  the  hair  very  much  as  we 
do,  except  that  they  used  a 
razor  or  knife,  and  not  scissors, 
(Isa.  vii.  20.  Ezek.  v.  1 ;)  and 
excepting  also  in  the  case  of  a 
vow  or  religious  obligation  to 
let  it  »row,”as  in  the  case  of 
the  Nazarites.  (Judg.  xiii.  5. 
See  Nazarites)  The  precept 
(Ezek.  xliv.  20)  requires  an 
avoidance  of  extremes;  so  that 
the  Israelites  should  neither 
resemble  the  priests  of  the  hea¬ 
then  gods,  who  shaved  their 
hair  close,  nor  yet  the  Naza¬ 
rites,  who  did  not  cut  the  hair 
at  all.  It  was  prohibited  (Lev. 
xix.  27)  to  round  the  corners 
of  the  head;  that  is,  as  it  is 
generally  understood,  to  shave 
oft'  the  hair  about  the  temples. 
The  hair  (especially  black  or 
dark  hair)  was  doubtless  con- 


HAI 

sidered  an  ornament,  and  it 
was  anointed  with  aromatic 
oil,  particularly  on  festivals 
and  other  joyous  occasions,. 
(Ps.  xxiii.  5;  xcii.  10.  Eccl.  ix. 
8,)  and  perhaps  daily,  (Ruth 
iii.  3 ;)  and  decorated  with  jew'- 
els  and  precious  stones.  (lTim. 
ii.  9.  1  Pet.  iii.  3.)  Some  eastern 
travellers  of  modern  days  tell 
us,  that  for  men  to  wear  long 
hair  is  regarded  as  effeminate, 
and  even  infamous.  (1  Cor.  xi. 
14.  See  Baldness.) 

The  hair  is  spoken  of  by  the 
apostle  as  a  natural  veil  or  co¬ 
vering  to  women,  which  it  is  a 
shame  to  put  off.  (1  Cor.  xi. 
13.)  It  was  plaited  or  braided, 
as  is  the  custom  at  this  day 
among  the  Asiatic  women.  In 
India  the  hair  is  never  cut  off 
by  the  women,  except  as  a 
sign  of  widowhood. 

The  practice  of  shaving  the 
head, in  token  of  great  affliction 
and  humiliation  for  sin,  was 
common  among  the  Hebrews 
even  as  early  as  Job’s  day. 
(Job  i.  20.)  So  that  the  exhor¬ 
tation  to  cut  off  the  hair  is 
equivalent  to  an  exhortation 
to  begin  a  course  of  deep 


25 


HAM 


HAM 


mourning  .and  sorrow.  (Jer. 
vii.  29.) 

Two  of  the  eastern  modes 
ef  dressing  the  hair  appear  in 
the  foregoing  cuts;  the  one 
being  plaited,  and  the  other 
hanging  loosely  upon  the  neck. 

A  change  in  the  colour  of  the 
hair  was  one  of  the  earliest  in¬ 
dications  of  the  leprosy ;  and 
hence  the  removal  of  the  hair, 
as  the  seat  of  disease,  was  par¬ 
ticularly  enjoined.  (Lev.  xiii. 
4. 10.31,32;  xiv.  8,9.) 

HALAH.  (2  Kings  xvii.  G; 
xviii.  11.)  A  province  of  As¬ 
syria,  supposed  by  some  to  be 
the  same  with  Calah,  (Gen.  x. 
12,)  and  with  Holwan  or  Chol- 
wan  of  the  modern  Arabs. 

HAM.  (Gen.  ix.  22.)  The 
youngest,  sou  of  Noah.  He  had 
four  sons,  one  of  whom  was  the 
ancestor  of  the  Canaanites. 
The  empires  of  Assyria  and 
Egypt  were  founded  by  the 
descendants  of  Ham,  and  the 
republics  of  Tyre,  Zidon,  and 
Carthage  were  for  ages  the 
monuments  of  their  commer¬ 
cial  enterprise  and  prosperity. 
(See  Canaan.)  Africa  in  gen¬ 
eral,  and  Egypt  in  particular, 
are  called  the  land  of  Iiam. 
(Ps.  lxxviii.51 ;  cv.  23;  cvi.  22.) 
A  place  east  of  the  Jordan, 
called  Ham,  is  mentioned, 
(Gen.  xiv.  5.)  which  may  be 
the  same  with  Hamath ;  and 
the  descendants  of  Ham  are 
mentioned  as  having  once  oc¬ 
cupied  the  southern  border  of 
the  province  of  Canaan,  as¬ 
signed  to  the  tribe  of  Simeon. 
(1  Chron.  iv.  40.) 

HAM  AN.  (Esth.  iii.  1.)  A 
wicked  and  ambilious  courtier, 
who  became  prime  minister  of 
Ahasuerus,  a  Persian  monarch . 
Because  Mordecai,  a  Jew,  in 
an  humble  station  at  court,  re¬ 
fused  to  pay  him  the  homage 
which  his  pride  and  vain-glory 
craved,  Hainan  resolved  on  his 
destruction;  and  to  accomplish 
it,  was  willing  to  sacrifice  the 
whole  body  ril  Jews  who  were 


then  scattered  throughout  the 
Persian  dominions.  He  suc¬ 
ceeded,  by  falsehood  and  in¬ 
trigue,  in  obtaining  a  decree 
for  this  cruel  purpose;  but  the 
queen,  through  the  influence 
of  Mordecai,  was  prompted  to 
interpose  for  their  deliverance, 
which  she  accomplished;  and 
Hainan  ended  his  career  on 
the  very  gibbet  which  he  had 
caused  to  be  prepared  for  the 
execution  of  Mordecai.  (See 
Hammedatha.  For  an  inte¬ 
resting  history  of  Haman’s  life 
and  character,  with  illustra¬ 
tive  engravings,  reflections, 
&c.,  see  Hadassah,  by  the 
Arn.  S.  S.  Union.) 

HAMATH,  (Num.  xiii.  21,) 
(called  Hamath  the  Great , 
Amos  vi.  2,)  was  a  province  of 
Syria,  having  a  capital  city  of 
the  same  name  on  the  Oronie *. 
It  was  originally  the  residence 
of  Canaanites,  (Gen.  x.  18,) 
and  is  frequently  mentioned 
as  (he  extreme  limit  of  the 
Holy  Land  towards  the  north. 
(Num.  xxxiv.  8.  Judg.  iii.  3.) 
Toi  was  its  king  in  the  days  of 
David,  (2  Sam.  viii.  9,)  but  in 
Kezekiah’s  reign  (B.  c.  753)  it 
fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Assy¬ 
rians.  (2  Kings  xvii.  24;  xviii. 
34.  Isa.  x.  9.)  It  was  called 
Epiphania  for  some  time,  but 
has  long  since  resumed,  and 
.now  retains,  its  ancient  name. 
It  was  the  residence  of  the  ce¬ 
lebrated  Abulfeda,an  Arabian 
prince  and  geographer.  It  is 
built  on  both  sides  of  the  river, 
and  contains  a  population  ol 
about  30, 00C.  The  principal 
trade  of  Hamath  is  with  the 
Arabs,  who  buy  here  their  ton( 
furniture  and  clothes.  The 
government  of  Hamath  com¬ 
prises  about  one  Hundred  and 
twenty  inhabited  villages,  and 
seventy  or  eighty  which  nave 
been  abandoned.  The  westers 
part  of  its  territory  is  the  gra¬ 
nary  of  northern  Syria ;  though 
the  harvest  never  yields  more 
than  ten  for  one,  chiefly  in 
,  290 


HAN 

consequence  of  the  immense 
numbers  of  mice,,  which  some¬ 
times  wholly  destroy  the  crops. 

By  the  phrase,  the  entering 
in  of  Hamath ,  (Judg.  iii.  3. 
2  Kings  xiv.  25,)  is  meant  the 
narrow  pass  leading  from  the 
land  of  Canaan  into  Syria, 
which  constitutes  the  northern 
boundary  of  Palestine.  It  is 
supposed  to  be  the  Sjjme  with 
Hammath-dor ,  (Josh.  xxi.  32 ;) 
and  some  have  supposed  they 
are  both  the  same  with  Tibe¬ 
rias. 

HAMMEBATHA.  (Esth.  iii. 
1.)  Hainan's  father.  He  is 
called  the  Agagite ;  and  Jose¬ 
phus  says  he  was  a  descendant 
from  Amalek,  and  probably  of 
the  family  or  stock  of  Agag. 
If  Agag  was  the  common  name 
’  of  their  kings,  it  is  not  im¬ 
probable  that  an  Amalekite 
would  be  called  an  Agagite, 
as  one  of  the  people  of  Atrag. 

HAMOR.  (See  Dinah.) 

HANANIAH.  (See  Abed- 
nbqo.) 

HANDS,  LACING  ON  OP. 
(Heb.  vi.  2.)  Both  the  hands 
of  the  high-priest  were  laid  on 
the  head  of  the  scape-goat 
when  the  sins  of  the  people 
were  publicly  confessed.  It 
was  also  a  ceremony  by  which 
persons  were  inducted  into 
sacred  office,  or  were  made  the 
recipients  of  divine  gifts.(Num. 
viii.  10;  xxvii.  18;  Acts  vi.  6; 
viii.  14—19;  xiii.  3;  xix.  1— 
6.  1  Tim.  iv.  14.)  The  various 
figurative  uses  of  the  word 
hand,  by  the  sacred  writers, 
are  too  obvious  to  require  ex¬ 
planation. 

HANDBREADTH.  (See 
Measures.) 

HANDKERCHIEF.  (See 

{ ' t  nTtirq  ^ 

HAND  STAVES.  (Ezek. 
rxxix.  9.)  These  were  wea¬ 
pons  of  war,  resembling  jave¬ 
lins.  They  were  cast  with  the 
hand. 

HANES.  (Isa.  xxx.  4.)  Sup¬ 
posed  to  be  a  royal  city  south 


HAR 

of  Memphis,  upon  an  island  of 
the  Nile,  a  few  remains  of 
which  are  still  to  be  seen. 

HANG.  (Deut.  xxi.  22.) 
Hanging  on  a  tree  or  gibbet 
seems  to  have  been  a  mark  of 
infamy,  inflicted  on  the  dead 
bodies  of  criminals,  rather 
than  a  punishment,  as  modern 
nations  employ  it.  It  implies 
that  the  offender  is  accursed  of 
God, and  an  abomination  in  his 
sight.  (Deut.  xxi.  23.)  Yet  such 
a  curse,  deserved  by  us  as 
transgressors  of  the  divine  law, 
Christ  bore  for  us  in  his  own 
body.  (Acts  v.  30.  Gal.  iii.  13. 
1  Pet.  ii.  24.) 

HANNAH.  (1  Sam.  i.  2) 
One  of  the  wives  of  Elkanah, 
and  the  mother  of  the  prophet 
Samuel. 

HANUN.  (2 Sam.  x.  2.)  A 
king  of  the  Ammonites.  We 
are.  informed  that  David  had 
received  tokens  of  kindness 
from  Nahash,  the  father  and 
predecessor  of  Hanun.  After 
the.  death  of  Nahash,  David 
sent  messengers  to  Hanun  to 
comfort  him,  and  to  express 
his  respect  for  the  memory  of 
the  deceased  king.  But  Hanun 
thought,  or  pretended  to  think, 
that  David  sent  them  as  spies ; 
so  he  took  them  and  shaved  off 
one  half  their  beards,  and  cut 
off  their  garments  in  the  mid¬ 
dle,  and  in  this  condition  sent 
them  home.  David  heard  of 
their  situation,  and  sent  to 
meet  them,  with  directions  to 
stay  at  Jericho  until  their 
beards  were  grown.  This  un¬ 
generous  conduct  of  Hanun 
was  the  occasion  of  a  Ion.® 
war,  in  which  multitudes  of 
lire  Ammonites  and  their  al¬ 
lies,  Syrians  and  others,  were 
slain. 

HARAN.  1.  A  person.  (Gen. 
xi.  26.)  The  brother  of  Abra¬ 
ham  and  the  father  of  Lot. 

2.  A  place.  (Gen.  xi.  31  ) 
Situated  in  the  north-east  of 
Mesopotamia,  and  between  the 
Euphrates  and  the  Chebar. 

291 


HAR 

where  Terah  died,  and  was 
juried,  (Acts  vii.  4 ;)  in  which 
passage  it  is  called  Charran. 
It  was  also  the  residence  of 
Laban,  Rebecca’s  brother. 
(Gen.  xxvii.  43;  xxviii.  10.)  It 
had  commercial  intercourse 
with  Tyre,  (Ezek.  xxvii.  23,) 
and  was  subdued  by  the  Assy¬ 
rian  army.  (2  Kings  xix.  12. 
Isa.  xxxvii.  12.)  It  is  still 
known  by  its  ancient  name, 
and  is  inhabited  principally 
by  wandering  Arabs. 

HARE.  (Deut.  xiv.  7.)  The 
hare,  known  in  this  country  as 
the  rabbit,  is  also  a  common 
animal  in  Syria,  and  was  de¬ 
clared  unclean  by  the  Jewish 
law,  (Lev.  xi.  6,)  because  it  di¬ 
vides  not  the  hoof,  though  it 
chews  the  cud.  This  last  is 
probably  the  fact  respecting 


HAR 

some  species  of  the  animal, 
though  it  is  said  not  to  be  so 
generally. 

HARLOT.  (Prov.  xxix.  3.) 
This  term,  though  generally 
applied  to  an  abandoned  wo¬ 
man,  is  used  figuratively  by 
the  sacred  writers  to  denote 
the  wicked  and  unchaste  con¬ 
duct  of  the  Israelites,  in  for¬ 
saking  their  covenant  with 
God,  and  giving  themselves  up 
to  idolatry  and  impurity.  (Isa. 
i.  21.) 

HARNESS.  (1  Kings  xx.  11.) 
In  this  passage  and  some  others 
the  word  denotes  armour.  It 
might  be  supposed  that  the 
convenience  of  modern  trav¬ 
elling,  known  as  harness,  was 
of  very  rude  construction  in 
the  time  of  Solomon;  but  H 
seems  from  the  following  cut, 


copied  from  an  Egyptian  tomb, 
supposed  to  be  upwards  of 
3000  years  old,  that  in  general 
■construction  and  use  very  little 
change  has  been  made.  The 
phrase  made  ready  his  chariot 
(Ex.  xiv.  6)  literally  means,  in 
modern  phraseology,  tackled, 
er  rut  to, his  horses. 

That  bridles  with  bits  were 
very  early  known  as  part  of 
the  harness  of  a  horse  is  obvi¬ 
ous  from  Isa.  xxxvii.  29,  and 
James  iii.3.  The  word  harness¬ 
ed.  (Ex.  xiii.lfi,)  probably  means 


furnished,  arranged,  and  gov¬ 
erned  according  to  the  esta¬ 
blished  usages  and  customs 
of  caravans  or  travelling  com¬ 
panies. 

HAROD,  well  op.  (Judg. 
vii.  1.)  A  fountain  or  watering 
place  in  Jezreel,  near  the  foot 
of  mount  Gilboa,  (1  Sam.  xxix. 
1,)  and  probably  the  native 
village  of  two  of  David’s  va¬ 
liant  men.  (2  Sam.  xxiii.  25.) 

HAKOSHETH.  (Judg.iv.2. 
13.16.)  The  city  of  Sisera,  the 
captain  of  Jabtn’s  host,  who 


HAR 


HAR 

was  defeated  by  Deborah  and 
Barak.  It  was  in  Naphtali, 
afterwards  Galilee  of  the  Gen* 
tiles,  not  far  from  Hazor. 

HARP.  (.Gen.  iv.  21.)  A 
musical  instrument,  invented 
by  Jubal,  and  used  by  the  Jews 
when  mirth  and  joy  were  ex¬ 
pressed.  (Gen.  xxxi.  27.  Ps. 
lxxxi.  2;  cxxxvii.  1,  2.  Isa. 
xxiv.  8.)  David  was  particu¬ 
larly  skilful  in  the  use  of  it. 
(1  Sam.  xvi.  16.23.  See  Psal¬ 
tery.)  Tire  simplest  form  of 
the  harp  or  lyre  is  given  in  the 
following  cut;  the  bones  of 


animals  forming  the  two  sides 
and  the  upper  connecting 
niece,  and  a  tortoise  shell  be¬ 
ing  used  for  the  foot. 

Another  harp  (perhaps  the 
Bame  with  the  psaltery  anil 
instrument  with  ten  strings, 
Ps.  xcii.  3)  was  made  in  the 
form  of  the  human  ear,  and  is 
represented  in  the  following 
cut,  which  is  copied  from  a 
tomb  at  Thebes.  It  closely 
resembles,  in  every  respect, 
the  Burmese  harp  of  the  .pre¬ 
sent  day. 

The  strings  of  the  ancient 
harp  were  stretched  over  an 
oval  sounding  board,  and  play¬ 
ed  with  a  key.  Sometimes  it 
had  only  eight  strings,  and,  as 
some  suppose,  was  then  called 
sheminith.  (1  Chron.  xv.  21.) 
Ps.  vi.  xii.  title.)  It  was  light 
and  portable,  or  it  could  not  bs 


used,  as  it  doubtless  often  was, 
in  the  act  of  dancing.  (Ex.  xv. 
20.  1  Sam.  xviii.  6  )  The  in¬ 
strument  used  by  David  was 
more  properly  a  lyre,  and 
might  have  been  played  with 
the  hand  or  with  a  key.  (1  Sam. 
xvi.  23.  See  Musical  Instru¬ 
ments.) 

HARROW,  (t Chron.  xx.  3.) 
The  harrow  was  a  rude  imple¬ 
ment  of  Jewish  husbandry ; 
being,  as  is  generally  supposed, 
a  mere  plank  or  log  of  wood, 
upon  which  stones  were  heap¬ 
ed  and  the  labourer  sat,  and 
which  was  drawn  over  the 
ground  by  oxen,  to  break  in 
pieces  the  clods  and  level  the 
surface,  (Isa.  xxviii.24,  25;)  or 
perhaps  one  or  more  branches 
of  trees  might  be  used  in  the 
same  way.  We  know,  how¬ 
ever,  that  an  implement  of  the 
kind  was  used  for  some  pur¬ 
poses,  which -was  wholly  or  in 
partofiron.  (2  Sam.  xii.  31.) 

HART.  (Ps.  xlii.  1.)  Deer 
is  a  general  name  of  a  class 
of  quadrupeds,  as  the  stag,  fal¬ 
low-deer,  rein-deer,  elk,  &c., 
but  the  animal  is  never  men¬ 
tioned  by  this  generic  name  in 
the  Bible. 

The  fallow-deer  (1  Kings  iv. 
23)  was  a  clean  animal  by  the 
Levilical  law.  (Dent.  xiv.  5.) 


HAS 

It  is  supposed  to  have  resem¬ 
bled  our  red  deer,  or  hart,  in 
size  and  colour ;  whence  the 
the  name  of  fallow ,  (pale  red 
or  pale  yellow.)  Some  have 
supposed  the  buffalo  of  modern 
times  is  intended  in  the  above 
passages. 

The  hart  is  the  male  stag, 
and  is  one  of  the  most  graceful 
and  beautiful  of  all  animals. 
It  was  clean  by  the  Levitical 
law,  (Deut.  xii.  15 ;  xiv.  5 ;)  and 
the  grace  and  agility  of  ns 
motions  are  alluded  to  in  Sol. 
Song  ii.  9.  Isa.  xxxv.  6.  The 
stag  lolls,  or  pants,  like  the 
dog,  and  is  soon  exhausted  by 


HAK 

hunger.  (Jer.  xiv.  6.  Lam.  I. 

6.) 

The  Toe,  or  roe-buck,  is  an 
other  name  for  the  hart ;  and 
its  swiftness  of  foot  and  ele¬ 
gant  form  are  often  alluded  to 
in  the  Bible.  (2 Sam.  ii.  18.) 

The  roe  of  the  Scriptures  is 
generally  supposed  to  be  the 
gazelle  of  later  times,  which  is 
still  found  chiefly  in  Asia  and 
Africa.  It  was  a  clean  animal 
by  the  Levitical  law,  (Deut. 
xii.  15,)  and  a  favourite  of  the 
chase.  (Prov.  vi.  5.  Isa.  xiii. 
14.)  The  following  is  a  cut 
of  the  roe  or  gazelle  of  tha 
Bible: 


The  hind  is  the  female  stag. 
She  is  smaller  and  weaker 
than  her  mate,  the  hart,  and 
has  no  horns.  She  is  sure  and 
swift  of  foot,  and  leaps  fearless¬ 
ly  among  the  rocks  and  pre¬ 
cipices.  (2Sam.  xxii.  34.  Ps. 
xviii.  33.  Hab.  iii.  19.)  The 
instinctive  affection  of  the 
Uart  and  hind  are  alluded  to, 


Prov.  v.  18,  19,  and  Sol.  Song 
ii.  7;  iii.  5. 

The  figurative  prediction  of 
Jacob,  respecting  Naphtali, 
(Gen.  xlix.21,)  would  be  mors 
appropriately  rendered, ‘Naph¬ 
tali  is  a  deer  roaming  at  large, 
he  shooteth  forth  noble  ant 
lers.’  The  antlers  or  horns  in 
dicate  the  strength  and  health 


BAT 


HAV 


* 


of  the  stag,  and  the  whole  me¬ 
taphor  expresses  the  increase 
of  the  tribe,  and  the  fertility 
of  their  portion  in  Judea.  The 
above  cut  represents  the  hart. 
(See  Youth’s  Friend,  by  Am. 
S.  S.  Union,  vol.  v.  Nos.  11  and 
12,  for  cuts  and  descriptive  ar- 
tides.) 

HARVEST.  (See  Seasons.) 

HATE,  (Gen.  xxiv.  60,)  HA¬ 
TRED,  (Reel.  ix.  1,)  HATE¬ 
FUL.  (Ps.  xxxvi.  2.)  To  hate 
is  to  abhor,  to  abominate,  or  to 
regard  with  a  passioi)  contrary 
to  love.  (Jer.  xliv.  4.)  God’s 
hatred  is  towards  all  sinful 
thoughts  and  ways.  It  is  a 
feeling  of  which  all  holy  be¬ 
ings  are  conscious  in  view  of 
sin,  and  is  wholly  unlike  the 
hatred  vyhich  is  mentioned  in 
the  Scripture  among  the  works 
of  the  flesh.  (Gal.  v.  20.)  To 
hate  sometimes  means  to  love 
in  a  less  degree.  When  our 
Saviour  says  that  he  who  would 
follow  him  must  hate  father 
and  mother,  he  means  that 
even  these  dearest,  earthly 
friends  must  be  loved  in  a  sub¬ 
ordinate  degree;  ami  in  the 
same  sense  the  follower  of 
Christ  is  to  hate  his  own  life, 


or  be  willing  to  sacrifice  It  for 
the  love  and  service  of  the 
Redeemer.  A  careful  exami¬ 
nation  of  the  passages  and  con¬ 
nexion  in  which  these  words 
occur,  will  best  show  their  true 
force  and  meaning. 

HAVILAH,  land  op.  (Gen. 
ii.  11 ;  where  the  sacred  his¬ 
torian  uses  the  name  which 
was  afterwards  applied  to  this 
land,  and  which  was  probably 
derived  from  Havilah  the  son 
of  Cush,  (Gen.  x.  7,)  whose 
descendants  peopled  it.  It  is 
supposed  to  be  the  same  with 
Colchis,  between  the  Black 
Sea  and  the  Caspian.  Another 
country  of  this  name  lay  be¬ 
tween  the  Euphrates  and  Ti¬ 
gris,  towards  trie  Persian  gulf, 
whpre  Chavelaei  (or  Chavilah) 
of  later  times  is  found.  One  of 
these  provinces  may  have  been 
settled  by  Havilah,  the  de¬ 
scendant  of  Joktan.  (Gen.  x. 
29.) 

A  third  Havilah  is  supposed 
to  be  intended  in  Gen.  xxv.18, 
though  that  passage  may  also 
describe  the  vast  region  last 
mentioned,  between  the  Per. 
sian  Gulf  on  the  east,  and  Shut 
by  the  Red  Sea  on  th_e  west. 


HAY 

The  phrase  from  Havilah 
unto  Shur,  iu  Gen.  xxv.  IS, 
and  1  Sam.  xv.  7,  and  many 
other  passages,  seems  to  be 
used  to  designate  the  opposite 
extremes  of  Arabia;  in  which 
sense,  Havilah  maybe  regard¬ 
ed  as  the  eastern  border  of  the 
country  inhabited  by  the  Ish- 
maelites  and  Amalekites. 

HA VOTH-J AIR.  (Num. 
xxxii.  41.)  The  general  name 
of  thirty  villages  in  the  land 
of  Gilead,  owned  by  the  thirty 
sons  of  Jair,  one  of  the  judges 
of  Israel.  (Judg.  x.  2 — 4.) 

HAURAN,  (Ezek.  xlvii.  16. 
18,)  (in  the  Greek,  Auranitis.) 

A  district  of  country  east  of 
the  Jordan,  supposed  by  some 
to  be  the  same  with  Iturea, 
and  to  have  reached  from  a 
point  opposite  the  sea  of  Tibe¬ 
rias,  as  far  north  as  Damascus. 
In  modern  times  its  limits 
have  been  extended  as  far 
south  as  Bozrah,  and  the  whole 
tract  is  represented  as  volcanic 
and  porous, with  here  and  there 
a  spot  of  vegetation  for  the 
Arab’s  pasturage. 

HAWK.  (Job  xxxix.  26.)  A 
fierce  and  rapacious  bird  of 
the  falcon  tribe,  unclean  by 
the  Levitical  law,  (Lev.  xi.  16. 
Deut.  xiv.  15,)  but  so  sacred 
among  the  Greeks  and  Egyp¬ 
tians,  that  to  kill  one,  even 
unintentionally,  was  a  capital 
crime.  The  allusion,  in  the 
passage  first  cited,  is  to  God’s 
providential  care  of  birds  of 
passage;  providing  them  with 
instincf  to  determine  the  time 
and  course  of  their  flight,  to 
reach  a  warmer  climate.  (See 
Youth’s  Friend,  vol.  vi.  No. 
10,  by  Am.  S.  S.  Union,  for  de¬ 
scription  and  cut.) 

HAY  (Prov.  xxvii.  23.)  We 
are  not  to  suppose  that  this 
word,  as  used  in  the  Bible,  de¬ 
notes  dried  grass,  as  it  does 
with  us.  The  management  of 
grass  by  the  Hebrews,  as  food 
for  cattle,  was  entirely  differ¬ 
ent  from  our's.  It  was  cut 


HAZ 

green,  as  it  was  wanted ;  and 
the  phrase  mown  grass  (Ps. 
lxxii.  6)  would  be  more  pro¬ 
perly  rendered  grass  that  has 
just  been  fed  off.  So  in  Prov. 
xxvii.  25,  the  word  translated 
hay  means  the  first  shoots  ol 
the  grass ;  and  the  whole  pas¬ 
sage  might  better  be  rendered, 
‘The  grass  appeareth,  and  the 
green  herb  snoweth  itself,  and 
the  plants  of  the  mountains 
are  gathered.’  And  in  Isa. 
xv.  6,  hay  is  put  for  grass,  and 
grass  is  put  for  the  green  herb. 
The  tenderness  of  grass,  the 
rapidity  of  its  growth,  and  the 
early  period  at 'which  it  is  cut 
down  and  consumed,  afford  the 
sacred  writers  some  striking 
and  beautiful  illustrations.  (Ps. 
ciii.  15.  Isa.  xl.  6.  James  i.  11. 
See  Mowings.) 

HAZAEL.  (1  Kings  xix  15.) 
An  officer  in  the  court  of  Syria, 
whom  Elijah  was  commanded 
to  anoint  as  successor  to  Ben- 
hadad,  and  at  the  same  time 
to  anoint  Jehu  to  be  king  of 
Israel.  The  latter  commission 
he  did  not  execute,  (2  Kings 
ix.  1—10,)  nor  are  we  informed 
whether  he  executed  the  first. 
It  is,  however,  supposed  that 
the  word  anoint,  tn  this  con¬ 
nexion,  may  denote  only  a  spe¬ 
cial  designation  to  the  office. 
About  eleven  years  aftPr  this, 
Benhadad,  residing  at  Damas¬ 
cus,  and  being  taken  sick, 
instructed  Hazael  to  take  a 
princely  present  to  the  prophet 
Elisha,  (who  happened  to  be 
at  Damascus,)  and  consult  him 
as  to  the  issue  of  his  sickness 
The  prophet  informed  Hazael 
that  his  royal  master’s  disease 
would  not  prove  mortal,  but 
still  that  he  would  not  live; 
and  he  proceeded  to  predict 
the- elevation  of  Hazael  to  the 
throne  of  Syria,  and  a  series  of 
the  most  horrilde  cruelties  of 
which  he  would  be  guilty  to¬ 
wards  the  children  of  Israel. 
Hazael  expressed  the  utmost 
abhorrence  of  such  conduct* 
296 


HEA 

but  tbe  very  next  day  he  stifled 
Benhadad  to  death,  took  the 
throne,  and  in  process  of  time 
perpetrated  all  the  barbarities 
that  lt\e  prophet  had  described. 
(2  Kings  x.  32,  33 ;  xii.  17,  18; 
xiii.  3.  7. 22.  2  Chron.  xxiv.  23.) 

HAZAZAN-TAMAR.  (See 
Engedi.) 

HAZEL.  (Gen.  xxx.  37.)  It 
is  generally  supposed  that  the 
almond  tree  is  intended  in  this 
passage.  The  original  word  is 
susceptible  of  this  rendering. 

HAZOR.  (Josh.  xi.  10.)  A 
capital  city  of  the  Canaanites, 
where  Jabin  dwelt,  and  which 
was  subdued  and  burnt  by 
Joshua.  (Josh.  xi.  1—13.)  It 
was,  however,  rebuilt  and  go¬ 
verned  by  a  king  of  the  same 
name,  whose  army  was  routed 
by  Barak.  (Judg.  iv.  2 — 16.) 
It  was  fortified  by  Solomon, 
(1  Kings  ix.  15,)  and  in  the 
general  invasion  of  the  country 
by  Tiglath-Pileser,  fell  into  his 
hands,  (2  Kings  xv.  29,)  and  its 
inhabitants  were  carried  into 
Assyria. 

There  is  a  remarkable  pro¬ 
phecy  respecting  Hazor  in  J er. 
xlix.  28—33.  Idle  connexion 
shows  it  to  have  been  in  Ara¬ 
bia,  and  the  whole  scope  of 
the  prophecy  denotes  a  place 
of  great  importance.  It  is, 
however,  completely  blotted 
out,  though  some  have  con¬ 
jectured  that  it  is  anothername 
for  Petra. 

HEAL,  (Eccl.  iii.  3,)  HEAL¬ 
ING,  (Mai.  iv.  2,)  HEALTH. 
(Gen.  xliii.  28.)  To  heal  all 
manner  of  sickness  and  dis¬ 
eases  by  the  word  of  his  own 
power  was  the  divine  prero¬ 
gative  of  our  Redeemer,  (Matt, 
iv.  23,)  and  the  power  to  heal 
was  among  the  gifts  conferred 
on  his  early  apostles.  (1  Cor. 
xii.  £8 )  The  various  figurative 
uses  of  these  words  are  suffi¬ 
ciently  explained  by  their 
connexion. 

HEAP.  (See  Stones.) 

HEART.  (Acts  xvi.  14.)  The 


HEA 

seat  of  the  affections,  desires, 
and  motives;  though,  as  it  is 
often  employed  by  the  sacred 
writers,  it  embraces  all  the 
powers  and  faculties  of  man, 
as  a  moral,  intellectual,  and 
accountable  being.  (Matt.  xv. 
19.)  Thus,  when  God  is  said  to 
shine  into  the  hearts  of  men  to 
give  the  light  of  the  knowledge 
of  his  glory  in  the  face  of  Jesus 
Christ,  (2  Cor.  iv.  6,)  the  term 
is  used  in  an  enlarged  sense, 
and  the  whole  passage  teaches 
us  that  God  causes  the  under¬ 
standings  of  men  to  be  enlight¬ 
ened  or"  informed  by  the  Holy 
Spirit  in  the  knowledge  of  his 
glory  as  it  is  made  known  in 
Jesus  Christ ;  and  that  the  will 
and  affections  thus  come  un¬ 
der  the  influence  of  spiritual 
knowledge,  and  the  soul  is 
transformed  into  the  divine 
image. 

The  prophet  says,  the  heart 
is  deceitful  above  all  things , 
and  desperately  Wicked;  who 
can  know  it  ?  (Jer.  xvii.  9.) 
And,  as  if  in  reply  to  this  em¬ 
phatic  question,  God  immedi¬ 
ately  declares  his  prerogative : 
1  the  Lord  search  the  heart ;  1 
try  the  reins,  (ver.  10.) 

HEATH.  (Jer.  xvii.  6.)  A 
lant  peculiar  to  wild  and 
arren  wastes.  It  is  used  in 
some  countries  as  fuel,  and 
also  to  stuff  beds  and  thatch 
houses.  Its  place  in  the  desert, 
in  parched  and  uncultivated 
ground,  is  alluded  to  in  the 
above  passage,  and  makes  but 
a  part  of  the  beautiful  figure 
by  which  the  opposite  condi¬ 
tions  of  the  righteous  and 
wicked  are  illustrated.  (Jer. 
xvii.  5—8.)  The  same  word  is 
used,  Jer.  xlviii.  6;  and  whe¬ 
ther  it  denotes  in  this  passage 
the  plant,  or  some  blasted 
naked  tree,  or  an  animal  of 
the  desert,  the  idea  conveyed 
is  the  same,  viz.  that  the  Mo¬ 
abites  should  seek  the  solitude 
of  the  desert,  to  elude  the  pur¬ 
suit  of  their  enemies. 

297 


HKA 

HEATHEN.  (Ps.  ii.  1.)  This  ' 
erin  is  applied  by  the  sacred 
writers,  sometimes  to  those  i 
Who  were  infidels  or  unbe¬ 
lievers,  (Jer.  x.  25,)  but  gene¬ 
rally  in  the  saftie  sense  with  , 
Gentiles.  (See  Gentile.)  In 
modern  times  it  denotes  all 
those  who  are  without  the 
knowledge  of  the  gospel,  and 
embraces-  upwards  of  three- 
fourths  of  the  human  race. 

HEAVEN.  (Gen.  xlix.  25.) 
The  Jews  considered  the  region 
of  the  air,  dew,  clouds,  and 
wind,  as  the  first  heaven,  (Job 
xxxv.  11;)  the  place  which 
the  heavenly  bodies  occupied, 
as  the  second  heaven ;  and  the 
place  where  God,  and  Christ, 
and  angels  dwell,  as  the  third 
heaven, and  invisible  to  mortal 
eyes.  (2  Cor.  xii.  2,  4.) 

The  opinion  has  always  pre¬ 
vailed  among  Jews  and  Chris¬ 
tians,  Greeks  and  Romans,  and 
seems  to  be  fully  confirmed  by 
the  Scriptures, (Luke  i.  19,)  that 
there  is  a  plac^  in  the  universe 
where  Goa’s  presence  is  made 
manifest  by  some  visible  dis¬ 
play  of  his  transcendent  glory 
in  the  presence  of  the  holy 
company  that  are  admitted  to 
dwell  there.  To  such  a  place 
Paul  was  admitted,  (2  Cor.  xii. 
2;)  and  thither  Jesus  ascended, 
(Luke  xxiv.  51.  Eph.  iv.  10. 
Heb.  viii.  1,)  and  there  he  now 
sits  upon  his  throne  (Heb.  x. 
12)  as  King  of  Zion,  and  there 
he  continually  officiates  as 
our  advocate  and  intercessor, 
(Heb.  ix.  15.  24—28 ;)  there  is 
his  father’s  house,  in  which 
are  many  mansions  prepared 
for  Christ’s  friends  and  follow¬ 
ers  to  inhabit,  when  the  earthly 
house  of  this  tabernacle  shall 
be  dissolved;  and  there  will  be 
gathered  together,  in  one  bless¬ 
ed  indissoluble  society,  all  the 
redeemed  of  the  Lord,  out  of 
every  kingdom,  and  people, 
and  tongue,  and  nation,  whose 
endless  "and  rapturous  employ¬ 
ment  it  will  be  to  admire  and 


HEB 

adore  the  riches  of  the  divine 
grace  and  glory. 

The  heaven  of  heavens 
(2Chron.  vi.  18)  is  the  highest 
heaven;  as  the  song  of  songs 
is  the  most  excellent  song: 
the  God  of  gods,  or  the  Lord  of 
lords,  the  greatest  of  gods,  or 
the  supreme  of  lords. 

The  third  heaven  (2  Cor.  xii. 
2)  is  the  same  as  the  highest 
heaven;  and  both  are  used  to 
express  the  idea  of  the  highest 
exaltation  and  glory,  (Luke 
ii.  15  ;)  that  is,  God  dwells  not 
only  in  heaven,  but  above  the 
heavens,  in  the  third  or  very 
highest  heaven.  So  the  rab¬ 
bins  and  the  Mohammedans 
make,  in  the  same  way,  seven 
heavens.  (Comp.  2  Cor.  xii.  2. 
Eph.  iv.  10.  Heb.  vii.  26.) 

Kingdom  of  Heaven.  (See 
Kingdom.) 

HEAVE-OFFERING.  (Se« 
Offerings.) 

HEBER  (Judg.  iv.  17—2H 
was  of  the  family  of  Jethro, 
and  was  distinguished  as  the 
husband  of  Jael,  who  killed 
Sisera.  (See  Hebrews.) 

HEBREWS.  (Gen.  xiv.  13.) 
This  term  is  used  to  denote 
tlie  people  who  descended  from 
Abraham.  The  derivation  ol 
it  is  either  from  Heber,  one  of 
the  ancestors  of  Abraham,  oi 
from  the  Hebrew  word  Eber, 
which  signifies  from  the  other 
side.  The  people  who  are 
known  by  the  name  Hebrews, 
came  “from  the  other  side.”  as 
we  say  of  a  foreigner,  that  he  is 
from  beyond  sea ;  and  hence 
the  Canaanites  might  very 
naturally  call  them  Hebrews, 
or  people  from  the  other  side. 
They  were  not  called'  Jews 
until  a  much  later  period  of 
their  history;  and  this  name 
was  derived  from  Judah. 

In  the  present,  article  we 
can  give  but  a  very  general 
outline  of  the  history  of  this 
extraordinary  people. 

1.  Their  origin.  A  man  of 
wealth,  wisdom,  and  integrity 
298 


HEB 

was  selected  by  God  to  be  the 
father  and  founder  of  the 
Hebrew  nation;  and  was  fa- 
roured  with  many  visions  and 
revelations,  promises  and  co¬ 
venants,  all  tending  to  show 
him  the  greatness  and  glory 
of  his  posterity.  (See  Abra¬ 
ham.)  Among  other  things,  he 
was  told  that  his  descendants 
should  subdue  and  possess  a 
most  fertile  and  beautiful 
country. 

2.  Their  government.  About 
two  hundred  years  after  Atya- 
ham  was  appointed  to  this  dis¬ 
tinction,  we  find  Joseph,  his 
great-grandson,  holding  one 
of  the"  principal  offices  in  the 
government  of  Egypt ;  and,  by 
a  train  of  remarkable  provi¬ 
dences,  his  father  Jacob,  to¬ 
gether  with  his  eleven  bre¬ 
thren,  also  became  inhabitants 
ef  that  country.  (See  Joseph.) 

The  great  increase  of  their 
number  and  wealth  soon  pro¬ 
voked  the  jealousy  of  the  go¬ 
vernment,  and  leu  to  a  royal 
decree  that  all  their  male 
children,  should  be  destroyed 
at  the  birth.  While  this  decree 
was  in  force,  (b.  c.  1571,)  Moses 
was  born ;  and.  being  conceal¬ 
ed  by  his  mother,  he  escaped 
the  general  slaughter  of  male 
infants,  and  was  preserved  to 
be  the  leader  and  deliverer  of 
the  people.  Being  instructed 
particularly  in  the  religion  and 
expectation  of  his  forefathers, 
he  early  became  interested  in 
their  oppressed  condition;  and, 
happening  to  see  an  Egyptian 
ill-treat  an  Israelite,  he  took 
part  with  the  latter,  and  slew 
the  firmer.  Fearing  the  ven¬ 
geance  of  the  king,  lie  escaped 
to  a  dislant'land,  Where  he 
remained  forty  years.  He 
was  there  divinely  directed  to 
return  to  Egypt;  and  God  was 
pleased  to  accomplish,  by  his 
instr'iinentalitv,  the  deliver¬ 
ance  of  Israel  from  their  bond¬ 
age,  and  to  lead  them,  by  a 
gurney  of  forty  years  through 


HEB 

the  wilderness,  into  the  rich 
and  fertile  lend  of  Canaan. 
(See  Moses.) 

Up  to  this  period  they  had 
lived  under  a  patriarchal  form 
of  Government,  some  traces  of 
which  remained  through  suc¬ 
ceeding  ages,  (see  Patri¬ 
archs,)  but  in  the  progress  of 
this  eventful  journey,  God  es¬ 
tablished  a  government  for 
them, — the  elements  or  grand 
principles  of  which  are  found 
in  the  law  of  the  ten  com¬ 
mandments.  promulgated  from 
mount  Sinai.  This  most  per¬ 
fect  and  admirable  constitu¬ 
tion  or  code,  embracing  as  it 
did  all  that  pertains  to  the 
civil  as  well  as  the  religious 
rights  and  obligations  of  the 
people,  was  formed  by  God 
himself,  and  by  him  adminis¬ 
tered,  as  emphatically  law¬ 
giver,  and  judge,  and  king  of 
Israel ;  and  hence  it  is  called 
a  theocracy.  This  theocratic 
form  of  government,  under 
various  modifications,  existed 
even  to  the  coming  of  the 
Messiah.  The  Jewish  kings 
were  mere  viceroys,  bound  W 
govern  by  certain  laws,  and 
fearfully  punished  for  disobe¬ 
dience.  They  were  raised  up 
and  displaced  by  the  imme¬ 
diate  and  frequently  visible 
direction  of  God,  (Hos.  xiii.  11 ;) 
they  were  subject  to  his  autho¬ 
rity,  (Deut.  xvii.  14— 20;)  and 
the  prophets,  in  their  long  and 
glorious  succession,  were  ap¬ 
pointed  to  maintain  the  inter¬ 
course  between  God  and  his 
peculiar  people,  and  to  reprove 
and  rebuke,  the  kings  of  Judah 
and  Israel  for  all  their  rebel¬ 
lion  attains!  Him.  Hence  it  is 
justly  inferred  that  the  shocks 
and  revolutions  in  the  Jewish 
government,  however  it  might 
interrupt  or  modify,  never  de¬ 
stroy  :d  the  theocratic  relation 
subsisting  '  e'.ween  God  and 
the  »<od  c.f  Aurahant,  until  the 
light  of  glorious  gospel 
arose.  tJii,  salvation  *nr  U, 

1  OdU 


HEB 

Jews  and  Gentiles,  was  pro¬ 
claimed  through  the  blood  of 
Christ. 

In  due  time  they  entered  the 
land  of  Canaan,  and,  after  a 
series  of  severe  contests,  in 
which  God  displayed  his  power 
in  their  behalf,  they  expelled 
the  original  possessors  of  the 
soil,  and  under  a  long  suc¬ 
cession  of  judges  and  kings, 
occupied  the  country  as  their 
promised  inheritance. 

3.  Their  religion.  It  was 
evidently  the  design  of  God, 
that  the  Hebrews  should  be 
entirely  separated  and  distin¬ 
guished  from  all  other  na¬ 
tions;  and  to  this  end  their 
religion  and  laws  were  most 
wisely  adapted:  and,  besides 
this,  the,  rites  and  ceremonies 
which  they  were  required  to 
observe  were  of  the  most  sig¬ 
nificant  import,  and  perfectly 
fitted  to  engage  the  attention 
of  such  a  people.  There  was 
a  body  of  men  set  apart,  to 
whom  was  committed  all  mat¬ 
ters  relating  to  religion  and 
law,  (which,  under  this  singu¬ 
lar  government,  were  one  and 
the  same  thing.)  To  these  per¬ 
sons,  who  officiated  as  priests, 
judges,  advocates,  *c.,  was 
allowed  one-tentl\  of  all  the 
produce  of  the  land.  The 
l.evites,  which  were  a  sub¬ 
division  of  the  first,  had  a 
portion  if  the  lands  assign¬ 
ed  them ;  and  thus  formed  a 
connecting  link  between  the 
priests  and  the  cultivators  of 
the  soil.  Commerce  was  ne¬ 
cessarily  very  limited  ;  as,  by 
the  very  nature  of  their  insti¬ 
tutions,  all  connexion  with 
other  nations  and  societies  was 
in  a  great  measure  made  im¬ 
practicable.  And  yet  the  feasts 
and  festivals,  which  were  peri¬ 
odically  celebrated, — and  upon 
the  most  important  of  which 
the  whole  nation  was  required 
to  attend  in  a  body,— effectu¬ 
ally  preserved  their  social 
character  and  habits.  (See 


HEB 

Feasts.)  This  constitution 
and  these  laws  were  given 
chiefly  at  or  near  mount  Sinai. 
And  thus,  in  the  wastes  of  Ara¬ 
bia,  and  long  before  any  law- 

fiver  arose,  of  which  the  world 
as  now  any  knowledge,  a 
system  of  laws  and  a  form  of 
government  were  prescribed 
for  the  children  of  Israel, 
which  has  been  the  wonder  of 
succeeding  ages,  and  has  ex¬ 
erted  a  boundless  influence 
on  the  minds  and  institutions 
of  all  succeeding  generations 
of  mankind. 

4.  Their  political  history. 
After  forty  years’  continuance 
in  the  wilderness, during  which 
time  every  individual  but  two 
of  the  race  that  left  Egypt  had 
died,  and  given  place  to  their 
children,  they  were  brought 
into  the  land  of  Canaan. 

After  the  death  of  Joshua, 
the  administration  of  the  go¬ 
vernment  was  committed  to  a 
body  of  men  called  judges , 
This  was  a  species  of  aristo¬ 
cracy  ;  but  it  would  seem  that 
these  judges  were  appointed 
only  for  extraordinary  occa¬ 
sions  and  for  specific  purposes. 
(Judg.  iii.  8— 10.  14, 15;  vi.  33, 
36.)  Their  power  was  very 
great,  however.  (Judg.  viii.) 
Of  these  judges  there  were  in 
all  fifteen,  from  Othniel  to 
Samuel,  in  whose  time  the  go- 
vernment  was  changed.  When 
the  Hebrews  had  fallen  into 
idolatrous  practices,  God  suf¬ 
fered  their  enemies  to  prevail 
against  them  and  as  they 
came  to  be  involved  in  wars 
with  the  neighbouring  nations, 
they  felt  the  necessity  of  a 
military  leader,  or  some  more 
efficient  government;  and  they 
asked  for  a  king.  Saul  was 
given  to  them  in  this  relation; 
but,  though  victorious  in  many 
battles,  he  displeased  God,  and 
David,  the  son  of  Jesse,  was 
appointed  to  the  throne  in  his 
place.  Under  his  reign,  Jeru¬ 
salem  was  adorned  and  for- 
300 


HEB 

tified,  and  made  the  seat  of 
government;  the  empire  was 
greatly  extended,  and  the  pros¬ 
pects  of  the  nation  were  never 
more  glorious.  He  was  suc¬ 
ceeded  by  his  son  Solomon, 
whose  reign  forms  the  most 
splendid  period  of  the  Jewish 
history,  and  was  distinguished 
by  the  erection  of  the  tem¬ 
ple  at  Jerusalem.  His  cost¬ 
ly  palace  and  magnificent 
court  could  not  be  main¬ 
tained  without  having  contri¬ 
butions  from  the  people;  and 
upbn  his  death,  and  the  suc¬ 
cession  of  his  son  Rehoboam, 
they  demanded  some  relief 
from  these  heavy  burdens, 
This  being  refused  in  a  very 
offensive  manner,  ten  of  the 
twelve  tribes  revolted  under 
Jeroboam,  and  were  called  the 
kingdom  of  Israel.  Judah 
and  Benjamin  adhered  to  Re¬ 
hoboam,  and  were  called  the 
kingdom,  of  Judah.  The  sub¬ 
jects  of  the  kingdom  of  Judah 
were  probably  called  Jews  from 
this  time  till  the  kingdom  of 
Israel,  as  such,  was  destroyed  ; 
and  then  the  word  Jews  be¬ 
came  the  common  name  for 
all  the  descendants  of  Jacob. 
After  a  series  of  wars  between 
Judah  and  Israel,  and  be¬ 
tween  them  and  other  nations, 
for  a  period  of  two  hundred 
and  fifty  years,  the  kingdom 
of  Israel  was  at  length  sub¬ 
verted,  the  territory  fell  into 
the  hands  of  strangers,  and 
the  people  of  the  ten  revolted 
tribes  which  composed  it  were 
carried  captive  into  Assyria, 
never  to  return.  (2Kingsxvii.) 
The  kingdom  of  Judah,  too, 
soon  after  met  a  similar  fate, 
her  people  being  carried  into 
Babylon  by  Nebuchadnezzar. 

Seventy  long  years  of  bond¬ 
age  passed  away  before  any 
relief  came  to  them;  but  then 
Cyrus,  king  of  Persia,  subdued 
Babylon,  and  permitted  the 
Jews,  then  in  captivity,  to  re¬ 
turn  to  their  country;  but  they 
26 


HEB 

went  back  with  the  foreign 
and  idolatrous  customs  and 
endless  dogmas  with  which 
they  bad  become  familiar  in 
the  time  of  their  exile.  The 
lofty  aspiration,  the  simple 
piety  and  pure  morality  of 
their  better  days,  were  not 
with  them ;  the  subtle  and 
self-righteous  Pharisee,  and 
worldly-minded  Sadducee,and 
a  variety  of  other  sects,  sprang 
up;  and  error,  corruption,  and 
superstition  prevailed  in  every 
form.  For  three  hundred  years 
after  their  return  from  Baby¬ 
lon,  the  Jews  were  favoured 
with  almost  uninterrupted 
tranquillity;  but,  at  the  end 
of  that  period,  the  Romans, 
seizing  a  favourable  occasion, 
reduced  Judea  to  the  condition 
of  a  province  of  that  empire ; 
and  Antipater  was  appointed 
by  Julius  Cesar,  the  emperor, 
to  its  government.  Soon  after 
Antipater’sdeath,the  kingdom 
fell  into  the  hands  of  Herod, 
who,  after  a  cruel  reign  which 
terminated  in  the  first  year  of 
our  Saviour’s  life,  divided  it 
by  will  between  his  three 
sons,  Archelaus,  Antipas,  and 
Philip.  In  a  little  more  than 
forty  years,  however,  this  dy¬ 
nasty  came  to  an  end,  Judea 
sunk  to  a  minor  province, 
and  thenceforward  governors 
were  sent  from  Rome  until 
the  destruction  of  their  once 
holy  and  beautiful  city,  Jeru¬ 
salem.  After  this  mournful 
event,  the  Jews  remained  sub¬ 
ject  to  the  Roman  government 
until  Adrian  became  emperor 
of  Rome,  a.  d.  76,  when  they 
rebelled,  and  were  entirely 
dispersed,  and  so  remain  to 
this  day.  . 

It  has  been  well  said,  that 
l  to  the  eye  of  mere  philoso¬ 
phy  nothing  can  appear  more 
striking  than  the  effects  pro¬ 
duced  upon  the  world  at  large 
by  the  opinions  and  events 
which  originated  among  the 
Jewish  people.  A  pastoral  fa- 


HEB 

mily,  neither  so  numerous,  so 
warlike,  nor  so  well  instructed 
in  the  arts  of  civilized  life,  as 
many  others  in  the  same  quar¬ 
ter  of  the  globe,  gradually  in¬ 
creased  into  a  powerful  com¬ 
munity,  became  distinguished 
by  a  system  of  doctrines  and 
usages  different  from  those  of 
all  the  surrounding  tribes  j  re¬ 
taining  it,  too,  amid  the  nu¬ 
merous  changes  of  fortune  to 
which  they  were  subjected, 
and  finally  impressing  its 
leading  principles  upon  the 
most  enlightened  nations  of 
Asia  and  of  Europe.  At  a  re¬ 
mote  era  Abraham  crosses  the 
Euphrates,  a  solitary  traveller, 
not  knowing  whither  he  went, 
but  obeying  a  divine  voice, 
which  called  him  from  among 
idolaters  to  become  the  father 
of  a  new  people  and  of  a  purer 
faith,  at  a  distance  from  his 
native  country.  His  grandson 
Jacob,  a  “  Syrian  ready  to 
perish,”  goes  down  into  Egypt 
with  a  few  individuals,  where 
his  descendants,  although  evil 
entreated  and  afflicted, became 
b  “  nation,  great,  mighty,  and 
populous,”  and  whence  they 
were  delivered  by  the  special 
interposition  of  Heaven.  In 
prosperity  and  adversity  they 
are  still  the  objects  of  the  same 
vigilant  Providence  which  re¬ 
served  them  for  a  great  pur¬ 
pose  to  be  accomplished  in  the 
latter  days;  while  the  Israel¬ 
ites  themselves,  as  if  conscious 
that  their  election  was  to  be 
crowned  with  momentous  re¬ 
sults,  still  kept  their  thoughts 
fixed  on  Palestine,  as  the  the¬ 
atre  of  their  glory,  not  less 
than  as  the  possession  of  their 
triops. 

We  accordingly  see  them 
at  one  period  in  bondage,  the 
victims  of  a  relentless  tyranny, 
and  menaced  with  complete 
extirpation ;  but  the  hope  of 
enjoying  the  land  promised  to 
their  fathers  never  ceased  t,o 
animate  their  hearts ;  for  they 


HEB 

trusted  that  God  would  surely 
visit  them  in  the  house  of  their 
affliction,  and,  in  his  appoint¬ 
ed  time,  carry  them  into  the 
inheritance  of  peace  and  rest. 
At  a  later  epoch  we  behold 
them  swept  away  as  captives 
by  the  hands  of  idolaters,  who 
used  all  the  motives  which 
spring  from  fear  and  from  in¬ 
terest  to  secure  their  coynpli- 
ance  with  a  foreign  worship; 
but,  rejecting  all  such  induce¬ 
ments,  they  still  continued  a 
separate  people,  steadily  re¬ 
sisting  the  operation  of  thos«* 
causes  which,  in  almost  every 
other  instance,  have  bees, 
found  sufficient  to  melt  down 
a  vanquished  horde  into  the 
population  and  habits  of  their 
masters.  At  length  they  ap¬ 
pear  as  the  instruments  of  a 
dispensation  which  embraces 
the  dearest  interests  of  all 
the  sons  of  Adam ;  and  which, 
in  happier  circumstances  than 
ever  fell  to  their  own  lot,  has 
already  modified  %nd  greatly 
exalted  the  character,  the  in¬ 
stitutions,  and  the  prospects  of 
the  most  improved  portion  of 
mankind,  in  both  hemispheres 
of  the  globe. 

Connected  with  Christiani¬ 
ty,  indeed,  the  history  of  the 
Hebrews  rises  before  the  re¬ 
flecting  mind  in  a  very  singular 
point  of  view ;  for,  in  opposition 
to  their  own  wishes,  they  laid 
the  foundations  of  a  religioD 
which  has  not  only  superseded 
their  peculiar  rites,  but  is  ra¬ 
pidly  advancing  towards  that 
universal  acceptation  which 
they  were  wont  to  anticipate 
in  favour  of  their  own  ancient 
law.  In  spite  of  themselves, 
they  have  acted  as  the  little 
leaven  which  was  destined  to 
leaven  the  whole  lump;  and 
in  performing  this  office,  they 
have  proceeded  with  nearly 
the  same  absence  of  intention 
and  consciousness  as  the  la¬ 
tent  principle  of  fermentation 
to  which  the  metaphor  bean 


HEB 

allusion.  They  aimed  at  one 
thing,  and  have  accomplished 
another;  but,  while  we  com¬ 
pare  the  means  with  the  ends, 
whether  in  their  physical  or 
moral  relations,  it  must  -be 
admitted  that  we  therein  exa¬ 
mine  one  of  the  most  remark¬ 
able  events  recorded  in  the 
annals  of  thehuman  race.  (See 
Canhan,  Captivity,  Jews, 
Tribes.  See  also  the  following 
publications  of  the  Am.  S.  S. 
Union,  viz.  Biblical  ANTiaui- 
ties,  vol.  ii.  ch.  i.,for  a  full  his¬ 
tory,  plan,  &c.,  of  the  Jewish 
commonwealth ;  Omar,  for  a 
history  of  the  Jews  during  the 
period  between  the  close  of 
the  Old  Testament  history 
and  the  coming  of  Christ ;  and 
Union  Questions,  vols.  iii.  iv. 
vi.  vii.  ix.,  with  Teacher’s 
Assistant  in  use  of  vols.  iii. 
and  iv.) 

Hebrew  op  the  Hebrews 
(Phil.  iii.  5)  has  been  supposed 
by  some  to  denote  that  the  in¬ 
dividual  so  called  Had  both  a 
Hebrew  father  and  mother; 
but  others  take  it  to  mean  that 
he  was  a  Hebrew  both  by  na¬ 
tion  and  language,  —  which 
many  of  Abraham’s  descend¬ 
ants  were  not, — or  a„Hebrew 
Jew  performing  worship  in  the 
original  Hebrew  tongue,  and  of 
course  more  truly  honourable 
in  a  Jew’s  eyes  than  one  born 
out  of  Judea,  and  speaking  the 
Greek  or  any  other  than  the 
Hebrew  language. 

Epistle  to  the  Hebrews. 
There  is  probable  evidence 
that  this  epistle  was  written 
by  Paul  about  the  year  62-3, 
in  the  Greek  language,  and 
that  it  was  addressed  to  the 
believing  Jews  of  Palestine. 

This  important  portion  of  the 
New  Testament  is  designed  to 
show  the  divine  character  and 
o pices  of  the  Redeemer,  the 
euperiority  of  the  gospel  to  the 
law,  and  the  true  design  and 
import  of  the  Mosaic  institu¬ 
tions  ;  the  fortitude  and  perse- 


HEB 

verance  to  which  the  gospei 
promises  were  calculated  tc 
excite  the  Hebrew  converts, 
and  the  course  of  life  to  which 
such  hopes  and  promises  as 
the  gospel  reveals  should  lead. 
It  has  been  said  of  this  epistle, 
that  whether  it  is  considered 
in  reference  to  Christian  doc¬ 
trine  or  to  Christian  practice, 
whether  it  be  applied  to  for 
instruction,  or  comfort,  or  re¬ 
proof,  it  will  be  found  emi¬ 
nently  calculated  to  enlarge 
our  minds,  to  strengthen  our 
faith,  to  encourage  bur  confi¬ 
dence,  and  to  animate  our 
hopes.  It  carries  on  the  be¬ 
liever  from  the  first  elements 
of  the  doctrine  of  Christ  to 
perfection.  It  exhibits  the  di¬ 
vine  character  of  the  Redeem¬ 
er  in  all  its  glory,  establishes 
his  infinite  superiority  to  Moses 
as  an  apostle,  and  to  the  Aa- 
ronic  family  as  a  priest.  It 
contrasts  the  grandeur,  the 
efficacy,  and  the  perpetuity  of 
new-covenant  privileges,  wor¬ 
ship,  and  promises,  with  the 
earthliness,the  feebleness,  and 
the  temporary  nature  of  the 
figurative  economy ;  and  it  en¬ 
forces  the  awful  responsibility 
which  attaches  to  the  profes¬ 
sion  of  Christianity  by  consid¬ 
erations  derived  from  all  that 
is  fitted  to  elevate  hope  and 
to  give  energy  to  godly  fear. 
It  is  the  key  to  the  ritual  of 
Moses,  which  unlocks  its  most 
intricate  and  mysterious,  and 
apparently  trivial  arrange¬ 
ments.  It  brings  to  view  the 
soul  that  animated  the  whole 
body  of  its  ceremonies,  and 
•which  gives  them  all  their 
importance;  and  by  the  light 
it  affords,  we  are  enabled  to 
enter  into  the  darkest  places 
of  that  extraordinary  edifice, 
and  to  see  the  wisdom  of  its 
proportions,  and  the  admira¬ 
ble  adaptation  of  all  it3  parts 
to  their  design.  It  was  calcu¬ 
lated  to  reconcile  the  Jew  to 
the  destruction  of  his  temple 


HEB 

the  loss  of  his  priesthood,  the 
abolition  of  his  sacrifices,  the 
devastation  of  his  country,  and 
the  extinction  of  his  name; 
because  it  exhibits  a  nobler 
temple,  a  better  priesthood,  a 
more  perfect  sacrifice,  a  hea¬ 
venly  inheritance,  and  a  more 
durable  memorial.  And  as  the 
distinguished  honours  and  pri¬ 
vileges  which  it  makes  known 
are  “equally  the  portion  of  the 
Gentile  believer,  they  are  no 
ess  fitted  to  wean  his  mind 
from  the  beggarly  elements  of 
this  world,  and  to  reconcile 
him*  to  the  lot  of  a  stranger 
and  sufferer  on  the  earth. 

HEBRON,  (Num.  xiii.  22,) 
so  called  after  a  son  of  Caleb, 
was  one  of  the  most  ancient 
cities  of  Judea,  and  was  origi¬ 
nally  called  Kirjath-Arba,  or 
the  city  of  Arba,  from  its  being 
the  residence  of  a  famous  giant 
of  that  name.  (Josh.  xiv.  15.) 
Moses  calls  it  Mamre,  Gen. 
xxiii.  19,  and  xxxv.27.  It  was 
situated  on  an  eminence  from 
twenty  to  thirty  miles  south 
of  Jerusalem,  and  nearly  a 
hundred  from  Nazareth,  (Luke 
i.  39,)  and  is  still  known  as 
the  flourishing  town  of  Ha- 
broun,  or  El-khalil,—  which 
means  the  friend  or  the  be¬ 
loved,  (2  Chron.  xx.  7,) — cele¬ 
brated  for  the  manufacture  of 
glass. 

Mr.  Fisk,  an  American  mis¬ 
sionary,  was  at  Hebron  in  Feb. 
1824.  He  says  the  place  is 
called  Haleel  of  Khalcel-Rah- 
man  or  the  beloved  of  the 
merciful ,  and  that  Haleel  and 
Abraham  are  used  inter¬ 
changeably  as  the  name  of  the 
same  person.  The  number  of 
houses  he  states  at  four  hun¬ 
dred. 

Mr.  Whiting;  an  American 
missionary,  visited  Hebron  in 
April,  1835,  and  describes  thS 
vineyards  and  oliveyards,  that 
cover  the  valleys,  as  by  far 
the  best  he  sa  w  m  any  part  of 
the  country. 


HEB 

He  visited  what  is  regarded 
as  the  field  of  Machpelah, 
situated  on  the  side  of  a  high 
hill,  sloping  westward;  from 
the  summit  of  which  is  a 
beautiful  view  of  the  plains  of 
Mamre,  where  has  been  erect¬ 
ed  a  splendid  temple  by  the 
mother  of  Constantine,  or,  as 
the  Moslems  say,  by  Solomon, 
which  neither  Jews  norwChris- 
tians  are  allowed  to  enter. 
Mr.  Fisk  says  that  the  Jews 
are  allowed  to  come  to  a  place 
at  the  side  of  a  certain  gate, 
and  there  read  and  weep,  and 
repeat  their  prayers  in  honour 
of  their  ancestors.  Mr.  W. 
read  in  Arabic,  to  some  Mos¬ 
lems  who  were  there,  the 
twenty-third  chapter  of  Gene¬ 
sis.  About  four  hundred  fami¬ 
lies  of  Arabs  dwell  in  Hebron, 
and  about  one  hundred  and 
twenty  families  of  Jews ;  the 
latter  having  been  greatly  re¬ 
duced  in  number  by  a  bloody 
battle  in  1834,  between  them 
and  the  troops  of  Ibrahim  Pa¬ 
sha. 

A  mile  or  two  north  of  Hebroi. 
is  a  quadrangular  spot,  enclos 
ed  by  the  foundations  of  a  very 
ancient  wall,  the  stones  of 
which  are  composed  chiefly  of 
shells.  This  is  pointed  out  to 
the  traveller  as  the  place 
where  Abraham  received  the 
angels.  (Gen.  xviii.) 

Hebron  is  associated  with 
some  of  the  most  interesting 
passages  of  sacred  history. 
The  valley  of  Eshcol  (Num. 
xiii.  24,  25)  is  supposed  to  have 
been  in  its  vicinity ;  and  the 
rale  of  Hebron  was  at  one 
time  the  residence  of  Jacob. 
(Gen.  xxxvii.  14.)  Abraham's 
abode  was  also  here,  (G  en.  xiii. 
18,)  and  his  family  burying 
place.  (Gen.  xxiii.  2,  3.  i9; 
xxv.  10;  xlix.29— 33;  1. 12, 13.) 
Upon  the  conquest  of  Canaan, 
Hebron  was  assigned  to  Caleb 
as  part  of  his  portion,  (Num. 

xiii.  30—83;  xiv.  5,24.  Josh 

xiv.  6—14,)  though  it  was 


HEX, 

Anally  a  city  of  refuge,  and 
among  the  possessions  of  the 
priests.  (Josh.  xx.  7 ;  xxi.  11. 
13.)  It  is  supposed  by  many 
that  Zacharias  and  Elisabeth 
lived  at  Hebron,  and  that  it 
was  the  birthplace  of  John 
the  Baptist.  Hebron  was  the 
residence  of  David  until  Jeru¬ 
salem  was  made  the  capital, 
(2Sajn.  ii.  1 ;  v.  4—9;)  but  we 
find  it  among  the  cities  of  Ju¬ 
dah  at  the  time  of  the  revolt. 
(2  Citron,  xi.  10.) 

HEDGE.  (Hos.  ii.  6.)  Tra¬ 
vellers  tell  us  that  such  hedges 
as  are  mentioned  in  this  pas¬ 
sage  are  often  found  in  east¬ 
ern  countries  at  this  day,  and 
that  they  are  especially  useful 
as  defences  against  the  incur¬ 
sions  of  the  Arabs  on  horse¬ 
back.  The  hedge  is  sometimes 
figuratively  used  to  denote  pro¬ 
tection.  (Comp.  Job  i.  10.  Ps. 
xxxiv.  7.) 

HEIFER.  (Hos.  x.  11.)  The 
figurative  allusions  of  the  sa 
cred  writers  to  the  wildness, 
sportiveness,  and  indocility  of 
this  animal,  especially  when 
well-fed,  are  very  striking. 
(Jer.  xlvi.  20;  1. 11.  Hos.  iv.  16.) 
In  Isa.  xv.  5,  allusion  is  proba¬ 
bly  made  to  the  lowing  of  a 
heifer — a  mournful  sound  that 
can  be  heard  at  a  great  dis¬ 
tance  :  so  should  the  lamenta¬ 
tion  of  the  Moabites  be  in  the 
day  of  their  visitation. 

The  heifer  was  used  in  sacrl 
fice  on  a  particular  occasion. 
(Num.  xix.  1—10.  Comp.  Heb. 
ix.  13, 14  ;)  the  manner  and  de¬ 
sign  of  which  are  fully  stated 
in  the  -passage  cited.  (For  a 
full  and  interesting  exposition 
of  the  whole  subject  of  the  wa¬ 
ter  of  separation,  see  Biblical 
ANTiauiTiEs,vol.ii.  ch.vii.,and 
Omar,  p.  174,  both  by  Am.S.S. 
Union.) 

HELBON.  (Ezek.  xxvii.  18.) 
A  Syrian  city  of  great  opulence 
and  antiquity, celebrated  for  its 
wines;  and  probably  the  same 
with  Aleppo,  (or  as  the  Arabs 
26* 


HEL 

say,  Alep  or  Halab,)  which  is 
now  one  of  the  most  flourishing 
cities  of  Turkey.  Its  buildings 
are  of  hewn  stone,  and  its 
streets  paved  with  the  same 
It  was  once  deeply  concerned 
in  the  India  trade,  and  is  still 
a  place  of  commercial  inter¬ 
course  and  manufacturing  en¬ 
terprise.  This  city  was  almost 
entirely  destroyed,  in  1822,  by 
an  earthquake,  and  its  popu¬ 
lation  reduced  from  250,000  to 
less  than  100,000 ;  one-sixth  of 
whom  are  regarded  as  nominal 
Christians. 

HELL.  (Deut.  xxxii.  22.) 
This  word  is  used  by  the  sacred 
writers  in  several  senses, which 
it  is  important  to  distinguish. 
The  original  word,  from  which 
hell  is  derived,  means  to  hide 
or  conceal.  The  Hebrew  word, 
translated  hell  in  our  Bible, 
sometimes  means  simply  the 

frave,  the  receptacle  of  the 
ead,  or  the  place  of  departed 
spirits,  as  in  Job  xi.  7 — 9.  Ps. 
xvi.  10;  cxxxix.  8.  Isa.  v.  14; 
xiv.  9.  Amos  ix.  2,  3.  Acts 
ii.  31.  Rev.  xx.  14.  In  other 
passages  it  denotes  the  place 
of  future  punishment,  as  in 
Ps.  ix.  17.  Prov.  v.  5;  ix.  18; 
xxili.  14.  One  of  the  Greek 
words,  which  is  translated  hell 
in  the  New  Testament,  gene¬ 
rally  means  the  grave ;  and 
another  Greek  word,  which  is 
also  translated  hell,  literally 
means  the  valley  of  Hinnom , 
(2  Chron.  xxxiii.  6,)  where  the 
most  abominable  idolatries 
were  practised ;  called  also 
Topheth,  (2  Kings  xxiii.  10,) 
from  toph,  (a  drum,)  because 
that  instrument  was  used  there 
to  drown  the  cries  of  victims 
Hinnom  or  Topheth  thus  be¬ 
came  a  fit  emblem  of  hell.  (See 
Selumiel,  ch.  ix.,  by  Am.  S.S. 
Union.) 

It  is  generally  easy  to  see 
from  the  connexion,  in  any 
given  case,  in  what  sense  the 
word  is  used.  Thus,  in  Ps.  ix 
17.  Matt,  xxiii.  33.  Mark  ix.  43 
305 


HER 

— 48.  2  Pet.  ii.  4,  the  word  hell 
evidently  denotes  the  place  of 
the  future  anu  everlasting  mi¬ 
sery  of  the  ungodly;  consisting, 
in  part  at  least,  in  the  eternal 
separation  of  the  soul  from 
God,  and  from  the  presence  of 
his  glory,  and  in  the  suffering 
of  inconceivable  anguish  ana 
remorse  for  ever  and  ever. 
These  sufferings  are  described 
with  all  the  force  and  vivid¬ 
ness  which  language  or  ima¬ 
gination  can  supply.  And 
whether  material  substances 
are  actually  emp’nyed  or  not 
in  ministering  to  the  torments 
of  the  prison  of  despair,  it  is 
sufficient  for  us  that  the  most 
excruciating  suffering  we  can 
endure  in  the  flesh  is  used  to 
represent,  as  far  as  it  can  be 
represented,  the  suffering  of 
the  lost  soul. 

Gates  of  Hell.  (Matt.xvi. 
18.)  A  figurative  expression, 
denoting  the  power  of  wicked 
spirits.  (See  Gate.) 

HEMLOCK.  (Hos.x.4.)  A 
well  known  bitter  ami  poi¬ 
sonous  herb,  a  species  of  which 
is  common  in  the  United 
States.  The  word  rendered 
hemlock  in  the  above  pas¬ 
sage,  and  in  Amos  vi.  12,  is 
elsewhere  rendered  gall.  The 
figurative  use  of  it  is  explain¬ 
ed  by  comparing  the  above 
passages  with  Deut.  xxix.  18. 
Amos  v.  7.  Heb.  xii.  15.  The 
evils  of  perverted  judgment 
resemble  the  springing  up  of 
useless  and  poisonous  plants, 
where  we  look  for  and  expect 
valuable  and  nutritious  vege¬ 
tation. 

HERESY,  (Acts  xxiv.  14,) 
HERETIC.  (Tit.  iii.10.)  These 
terms,  as  they  are  generally 
used  by  the  sacred  writers, 
imply  no  judgment  respecting 
tli p  truth  or  error  of  religious 
sentiments,  but  simply  sects, 
or  a  peculiar  system  of  opin¬ 
ions  ;  so  that  when  the  word 
is  used,  the  word  heresy 
would  be  equally  appropriate, 


HER 

as  in  Acts  v.  17;  xxiv.  5;  xxvi.5t 
and  xxviii.22.  In  the  epistles, 
where  the  word  is  usually 
employed  without  reference  to 
any  particular  class  by  name, 
it  imports  either  differences 
which  led  to  divisions  in  the 
Christian  church,— and  which 
were  greatly  to  the  reiu-oach 
of  the  faith, — or  corruptions 
of  the  true  faith,  (1  Cor.xi.  19;) 
and  it  is  in  this  last  sense 
that  the  term  is  commonly  ap¬ 
plied  at  the  present  day. 

HERMON.  (Deut.  iii.  8.)  A 
mountain,  branching  off  south¬ 
east  from  Anti-Lebanon,  and 
running  between  Damascus 
and  the  sea  of  Tiberias,  called 
by  the  Sidonians,  Sirion;  and 
by  the  Amoriles,  Shenir,  and 
also  Sion.  (Deut.  iii.  9 ;  iv.  48.) 

Mr.  Fisk,  an  American  mis¬ 
sionary,  passed  mount  Hermon 
in  the  autumn  of  1823,  and  de¬ 
scribes  it  as  nearly  south  of 
Tabor,  which  rises  like  a  vast 
pyramid,  while  the  ridge  of 
Hermon  is  longer  and  uneven. 
At  the  foot  of  Hermon,  the 
guide  pointed  out  a  place  as 
Nain.  The  country  was  cover¬ 
ed  with  shrubbery,  and  the 
soil  was  rich.  (See  Dew.  See 
also  Omar,  p.  124,  by  Am.  S.  S. 
Union.) 

HEROD,  (Matt.  ii.  1,)  sur- 
named  the  Great,  was  the  an 
cestur  of  several  of  the  same 
name,  mentioned  in  the  New 
Testament.  He  was  governor 
of  Judea  (then  a  Roman  pro- 
vince)  at  the  time  of  our 
Saviour’s  birth.  Though  he 
was  called  king,  he  was  sub¬ 
ject  to  the  Pa>man*einperor, 
and  was  distinguished  lor  his 
savage  cruelty. 

The  table  on  the  following 
page  shows  at  a  glance  tne 
chief  connexions  of  this  fami¬ 
ly, so  faras  they  are  mentioned 
in  the  sacred  history. 

In  1  he  thirty-third  year  of 
the  reign  of  Herod  the  Great, 
Christ  was  born  in  Belhle- 
I  hem.  Fearing  that  this  event 
SOU 


HER 


HER 


might  in  some  way  affect  his 
interests, and  not  knowing  pre¬ 
cisely  the  age  of  the  supposed 
retender  to  his  throne,  and 
aving  attempted  in  vain  to 
ascertain  the  precise  period  of 
his  birth,  Herod  issued  a  de¬ 
cree,  requiring  the  indiscrimi¬ 
nate  massacre  of  all  the  child¬ 
ren  of  Bethlehem,  of  two  years 
old  and  under.  This  decree 
was  executed.  Herod  died  a 
most  dreadful  death  at  Jeri¬ 
cho;  distributing  the  govern¬ 
ment  of  the  province  among 
his  three  sons ;  Judea  to  Arche- 


iaus ;  Galilee  and  Perea  to 
Herod  Antipas ;  and  the  three 
upper  districts  east  of  the  Jor¬ 
dan  (Batanea,  Auranitis,  and 
Trachonitis)  to  Philip.  (Luka 
iii.  1.) 

Archelaus  held  the  govern¬ 
ment  about  nine  years,  and 
was  then  banished  for  high 
crimes ;  and  Judea  became 
completely  subject  to  Rome, 
and  received  its  governors  or 
procurators  directly  from  the 
emperor,  and  probably  for  li¬ 
mited  periods.  Pontius  Pilate 
was  in  this  office  when  John 
307 


HER 

ehe  Baptist  appeared.  The 
other  sons  of  Herod  the  Great 
remained  in  possession  of  their 
provinces  as  at  the  death  of 
their  father.  (See  Omar, pp. 180 
and  241,  by  Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

HERODIANS.  (Matt.  xxii. 
16.)  A  Jewish  sect  or  party, 
originating  probably  in  a  po¬ 
litical  partiality  towards  the 
Roman  emperor  and  Herod  his 
deputy.  It  is  generally  sup¬ 
posed,  that  the  great  body  of 
the  Jews,  and  especially  the 
Pharisees,  held  that  the  law  of 
Moses  (Deut.  xvii.  15)  forbade 
their  subjection  to  a  foreign 
power-;  while  Herod  and  liis 
party  (the  Herodians)  regarded 
that  law  as  forbidding  a  volun¬ 
tary  subjection ;  but  if  they 
were  reduced  to  subjection  by 
force  of  arms,  they  considered 
it  lawful  to  avow  their  allegi¬ 
ance  and  pay  tribute;  and  they 
not  only  paid  it  themselves, 
but  urged  .others  to  pay  it,  and 
to  submit  cheerfully  to  Rome. 
Hence  the  difficulty  of  the 
question  proposed  to  Christ. 
(Matt.  xxii.  17.)  The  Herodi¬ 
ans  also  held,  that  it  was  on 
the  same  principle  lawful  to 
comply  with  the  customs  and 
adopt  the  rites  of  the  conquer¬ 
ing  nation.  This  is  probably 
the  leaven  of  Herod.  (Mark 
viii.  15.)  Some  have  inferred, 
from  a  comparison  of  Mark 
viii.  15,  and  Matt.  xvi.  6,  that 
the  Herodians  were  chiefly 
Sadducees. 

HERODIAS.  (Matt.  xiv.  3.) 
The  grand-daughter  of  Herod 
the  Great.  She  first  married 
her  uncle,  Hprod  Philip,  and 
afterwards  Herod  Antipas,  an¬ 
other  uncle,  and  that  too  dur¬ 
ing  her  first  husband’s  life¬ 
time.  For  this  unlawful  and 
scandalous  connexion,  John 
the  Baptist  faithfully  reproved 
the  parties;  and  his  fidelity 
cost  him  hk  life.  (Matt.  xiv. 
3-10.) 

HERON.  (Lev.xi.19.)  An 
unclean  biru,  but  of  what  spe- 


HEZ 

cies  is  quite  uncertain  The 
original  word  describes  the  bird 
known  to  us  as  the  heron,  bet¬ 
ter  perhaps  than  any  other  bird 
now  known. 

HESHBON.  (Ntim.xxT.f25.) 
A  royal  city  of  the  Amorites. 
It  was  given  first  to  Reuben, 
(Josh.  xri.  17,)  then  transferred 
to  Gad,  (Josh.  xxi.  39,)  and  in 
the  time  of  Isaiah  and  Jeremi¬ 
ah,  recovered  by  the  Moabites, 
to  whom  it  had  before  belonged. 
(Isa.  xv.  4.  Jer.  xlviii.  2.)'  It 
exists  now  under  the  name 
of  Heshban,  and  lies  east  of 
mount  Nebo,  about  twenty 
miles  from  the  Jordan.  Near 
it  are  wells  and  ponds,  hewn 
out  of  the  rock,  referred  to  in 
Sol.  Song  vii.  4. 

HETH  (Gen.  x.  15)  was  the 
eldest  son  of  Canaan,  and  the 
ancestor  of  the  Hittites. 

HEZEKIAH.  (2  Chron.  xxix. 
1,)  a  distinguished  kin  of  Ju¬ 
dah,  was  the  son  and  successor 
of  Ahaz.  He  was  twenty-five 
years  of  age  when  he  came  to 
the  throne, and  he  immediately 
'  took  measures  to  break  up  the 
idolatrous  customs  into  which 
the  people  had  fallen  during 
the  reign  of  Ahaz;  to  bring 
them  back  to  the  temple  and 
worship  of  their  fathers,  and  to 
repair  the  losses  and  defeats 
they  had  suffered.  Early  in 
his  reign,  the  Assyrians  in¬ 
vaded  the  neighbouring  king¬ 
dom  of  Israel,  and  carried  the 
ten  tribes  into  bondage. 

Notwithstanding  this  threat¬ 
ening  position  of  affairs,  Heze- 
kiah,  not  willing  to  acknow¬ 
ledge  any  subjection  to  Assyria, 
refused  to  pay  the  tribute  which 
had  been  imposed  and  paid 
during  the  reign  of  his  father. 
In  consequence  of  which,  the 
Assyrian  army,  under  Senna¬ 
cherib,  invaded  his  territory. 
This  event  happened  in  the 
fourteenth  year  of  Hezekiah’s 
reign,  and  is  described,  with  all 
the  interesting  details,  in  Isa. 
xxxvi.  1—22.  The  Assyrian 
308 


HIE 

army  was  so  far  reduced  in  a 
single  night  liy  the  immediate 
judgment  of  God,  as  to  be 
obliged  to  mate  a  precipitate 
retreat.  Soon  after  this  signal 
deliverance,  Hezekiah  was 
seized  with  a  severe  illness,  I 
the  fatal  termination  of  which  j 
■was  averted  in  answer  to  his 
prayers.  Fifteen  years  longer 
were  promised  him;  and  the 
promise  was  confirmed  by  a 
miraculous  sign.  (See  Dial.) 
His  gratitude' is  expressed  in 
the  most  affecting  language, 
(Isa.  xxxviii.  10—20:)  and  yet 
we  find  him  afterwards  greatly 
elated  by  a  message  of  congratu¬ 
lation  from  Baladan,  king  of 
Babylon,  before  whose  ambas¬ 
sadors  he  made  a  vain  and 
pompous  display  of  his  posses¬ 
sions.  To  punish  this  pride 
and  vanity,  lie  was  informed 
by  a  special  message  from 
God. that  his  wealth  should,  at 
a  future  day,  be  transported  to 
Babylon,  and  his  own  sons  be¬ 
come  servants  in  the  palace 
of  her  king. 

Tha  latter  years  of  his  life 
were  passed  in  tranquillity, 
and  he  was  succeeded  by  his 
son  Manassoh. 

HIDDEKEL.  (Gen.  ii.  14. 
Dan.  x.  4.)  Universally  ac¬ 
knowledged  to  be  the  Tigris, 
which  divided  Assyria  from 
Mesopotamia,  and  the  present 
names  of  which,  Degil,  Diktat, 
and  Diklath,  are  manifestly 
derived  from  the  ancients.  It 
rises  about  fifteen  miles  from 
the  source  of  the  Euphrates. 

HIERAPOLIS.  (Col.  iv.  13.) 

A  city  of  Phrygia,  in  the  neigh¬ 
bourhood  of  Colosse  and  Lao- 
dicea,  about  five  miles  from 
the  latter.  It  was  formerly  fa¬ 
mous  for  its  hot  baths.  It  is 
supposed  to  have  derived  its 
name  (which  signifies  holy 
city )  from  the  multitude  of 
temples  which  it  contained: 
the  ruins  of  which  are  still 
visible.  The  Turks  call  the 
place  Pambuk-Kalasijfrom  the  ( 


HIG 

whiteness  of  the  rock  on  which 
it  stands.  Nothing  but  the  hot 
baths  could  have  furnished  a 
motive  for  building  a  great  city 
on  a  spot  so  sterile. 

H  1  G  G  A I O  N  (Ps.  ix.  16) 
signifies  meditation,  and  calls-,, 
for  extraord inary  a  ttention  and 
reflection  to  the  passage ;  like 
a  1 3=  or  N.  B.  in  modern 
writings. 

HIGH  PLACES  (1  Sam.  ix.  V 
12)  were  places  upon  hills  and 
mountains,  appropriated  some¬ 
times  to  the  true  service  of 
God,  but  generally  to  idolatrous 
worship.  The  most  elevated 
places  seem  to  have  been  cho¬ 
sen  from  the  earliest  period 
for  the  erection  of  altars.  (Gen. 
xii.  7,  8;  xxii.  2;  xxxi.  54.) 
Before  the  temple  furnished  a 
fixed  place  of  worship,  it  seems 
to  have  been  considered  proper 
to  erect  altars  on  such  places. 
(Judg.  vi.  25,  26.  1  Sam.  ix.  12 
19.  25.  IChron.  xvi.  39;  xxi. 
29.)  Afier  the  temple  was  built, 
such  places  became  an  abomi¬ 
nation.  These  places  became 
so  universally  the  scene  of 
idolatrous  worship,  that  the 
sacred  historian  says  of  a  par¬ 
ticular  king,  that  he  did  that 
which  was  right,  & c.,  yet  the 
high  places  were  not  taken 
away.  (2  Kings  xv.  35.) 

HIGH-PRIEST.  (Lev.  xxi. 
10.)  The  head  of  the  Jewish 
priesthood.  Ail  the  male  de¬ 
scendants  of  Aaron  were  by 
divine  appointment  conse¬ 
crated  to  the  priesthood  ;  and 
the  first-born  of  the  family,  in 
regular  succession,  was  con¬ 
secrated  in  tile  same  manner 
to  the  office  of  high-priest. 
The  ceremony  of  consecration 
was  alike  for  both,  and  is  par¬ 
ticularly  described  in  Ex.xxix. 

The  dress  of  the  high-priest 
was  much  more  costly  and 
magnificent  than  that  of  the 
inferior  order  of  priests.  It  is 
described,  Ex.  xxxix.  1—9.  In 
thp  first  cut  are  seen  the  robe 
and  ephod  ;  the  latter  of  which 


is  outermost  of  all,  and  is  curi- 
oosly  wrought  with  gold-wire, 
and  blue,  purple,  and  scarlet 
thread.  Upon  either  shoulder 
is  seen  an  oijyx  stone,  on  each 
of  which  were  engraved  the 
names  of  six  of  the  tribes  of 
Israel.  The  breastplate  is  also 
seen,  with  a  wrought  chain  of 
gold  attached  to  each  corner, 
and  passing  under  the  arms 


and  over  the  shoulder.  (See 
Breastplate.) 

,  The  mitre,  or  head-dress,  is 
formed  of  eight  yards  of  fine 
!D.  circular  folds,  and  in- 
of  nnr»  P??1’  Uf>0n  a  Plate 

oi  pure  gold,  Holiness  to  the 
k00RI>- /The  fringe,  or  hem  of 

It6™}6/  an-d  tae  bells  bus 

pen  led  from  it,  are.also  seen. 
Ihe  dress  of  the  hieh-Driest. 
310 


H16 


H1Q 


on  the  day  of  expiation,  is 
given  in  the  second  cut,  and  is 
very  plain  and  simple;  con¬ 
sisting  only  of  plain  linen, 
with  a  sash  or  girdle.  Hence 
Uiase  were  called  by  the  Jews, 
the  prieBt’s  “  white  garments,” 
Sec. ;  the  former,  “  garments  of 
gold.” 

The  office  of  the  high-priest 
was  originally  held  for  life; 


but  this,  as  well  as  the  right  of 
the  first-born,  were  disregarded 
in  the  later  ages  of  that  dispen¬ 
sation;  and  the  sacrpd  place 
was  occupied  by  the  worst  of 
men,  among  whom  was  Caia- 
phas.  The  higtvpriest’s  most 
solemn,  peculiar,  and  exclu¬ 
sive  duty  was  to  officiate  in  the 
most  holy  place  on  the  great 
day  of  atonement,  lnl.ev.xvi 
3U 


l 


HIR 

we  have  a  full  account  of  this 
most  interesting  service,  and 
the  imposing  ceremonies  which 
preceded  it.  The  high-priest 
might,  at  any  time,  perform 
the  duties  assigned  to  the  ordi¬ 
nary  priests.  "The  high-priest 
is  supposed  to  have  had  an 
assistant,  to  occupy  his  place 
in  case  of  his  incompetency 
from  sickness,  defilement,  or 
otherwise.  (2  Kings  xxv.  18. 
Jer.  lii.  24.  For  a  more  full 
account  of  this  office,  and  the 
duties,  &c.,  appertaining  to 
it,  see  Scripture  Illustra¬ 
tions,  part  ii.  pp.  75—82,  and 
Biblical  Antiquities,  vol.'ii. 
eh.  iv.  §  3,  and  ch.  vi.  §  5,  both 
by  Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

HIGHWAYS,  (Lev.  xxvi. 
22,)  sometimes  simply  i cays, 
(Ps.  lxxxiv.  5.  Prov.  xvi.  17, 
metaphorically,)  means  any 
public  way  or  high-road,  in 
distinction  from  a  private  wall 
or  footpath.  (See  Causeway.) 

HILL-COUNTRY.  (Lukei. 
39.)  This  term  was  applied  to 
the  country  in  the  vicinity  of 
Jerusalem. 

HILL  OF  ZION,  (Ps.  ii-.  6,) 
and  HOLY  HILL,  (Ps.  iii.  4,) 
both  refer  to  the  eminence  on 
which  the  temple  of  Jerusalem 
was  erected,  and  in  which  God 
was  supposed  to  manifest  his 
presence  in  a  peculiar  man¬ 
ner.  (Comp.  Ps.  xlviii.  1,  2.) 

HIN.  (See  Measures.) 

HIND.  (See  Hart.) 

HINGES.  (See  Dwellings.) 

HINNOM.  (See  Hell.  See 
also  Selumiel,  ch.  ix.,  by  Am. 
S.  S.  Union.) 

HIRAM.  1.  (2  Sam.  v.  11, 
12.)  A  distinguished  king  of 
Tyre.  He  was  contemporary 
with  David  and  Solomon,  and 
on  terms  of  the  strictest  politi¬ 
cal  and  personal  friendship 
with  them.  Under  his  reign,, 
the  city  of  Tyre  became  cede- 
brated  for  its  wealth  and  mag¬ 
nificence;  and  the  vast  sup¬ 
plies  he  furnished  to  the  kings 
of  Israel  show  the  greatness 


HIV 

of  his  resources.  (1  Kings  ix. 
14;  x.  22.) 

2.  (1  Kings  vli.  13.)  An  emi¬ 
nent  artificer  of  Tyre,  who  was 
employed  by  Solomon  on  some 
of  the  most  difficult  of  the  fix¬ 
tures  and  furniture  of  the  tem¬ 
ple. 

HIRELING.  (Jobvii.l.)  One 
who  is  employed  on  hire  for  a 
limited  time,  a<,  a  day  or  year. 
By  the  Levitical  law,  such  an 
one  was  to  be  paid  his  wages 
daily.  (Lev.  xix.  13.)  The  cir¬ 
cumstance  that  the  time  is 
limited  suggests  the  figurative 
language  in  the  above  passage, 
and  in  Job  xiv.  6 :  and  the 
little  interest  which  would  be 
felt  by  such  a  temporary  la¬ 
bourer,  compared  with  that  of 
the  shepherd  or  permanent 
keeper  of  fhe  flock,  furnishes 
a  striking  illustration  in  one 
of  our  Lord’s  discourses.  (John 
x.  12,  13.) 

HISS.  (1  Kings  ix.  8.)  To 
hiss  at  one  is  an  expression  of 
insult  and  contempt,  (Jer.  xix 
8.  Ezek.  xxvii.  36.  Mic.  vi.  16;) 
and  to  call  any  one  with  a 
hiss  denotes  power  and  autho¬ 
rity  over  Mm,  (Isa-  v.  26 ;  vii. 
18.  Zech.  x.  8 ;)  as  if  it  should 
be  said,  “  he  will  come  at  my 
beck  or  nod.” 

HITTITES.  (1  Kings  xi.l.) 
The  posterity  of  Heth,  the  se¬ 
cond  son  of  Canaan.  Their 
settlements  were  in  the  south¬ 
ern  part  of  Judea-near  Hebron. 
(Gen.  xxiii.  3.)  They  are  also 
spoken  of  as  inhabiting  the 
mountains  of  Judah,  (Num. 
xiii.  29 ;)  and  again  as  in  the 
neighbourhood  ofBethel.(Judg. 
i.  26.)  Probably  they  main¬ 
tained  a  sort  of  independence, 
(1  Kings  x.  29.  2  Kings  vii.  6:) 
and  they  seem  to  have  retain¬ 
ed  their  distinctive  name  to  a 
late  period.  (Ezra  ix.  1,  2.) 

HIVITES.  (Gen.  x.  17.)  A 
horde  of  the  Canaanites,  else¬ 
where  called  Avims.  (Deut.  ii. 
23.  See  Avim.)  They  seem 
to  have  been  settled  in  various 
313 


HON 

paftaofthe  land.  (Gen.  xxxiv. 
z.  Josh.  xi.  3. 19.) 

HOBAB.  (Num.  x.  29 — 32.) 
The  son  of  Jethro,  and  brother- 
in-law  of  Moses. 

HOBAH.  (Gen.  xiv.  15.)  A 
place  north  of  Damascus, where 
a  hill  is  still  shown  to  travel¬ 
lers,  bearing  the  same  name, 
and  alleged  to  occupy  the 
same  site. 

HOLY,  HOLINESS.  (Ex. 
xv.  11.  Lev.  xxvii.  14.)  Holi¬ 
ness,  or  perfect  freedom  from 
sin,  and  infinite  purity,  is  one 
of  the  distinguishing  attri¬ 
butes  of  the  divine  nature. 
(Isa.vi.3.)  These  words  (which 
in  their  primitive  meaning  im¬ 
ply  a  separation  or  setting 
apart)  are  sometimes  used  to 
denote  the  purity  of  the  angelic 
nature,  (Matt.  xxv.  31,)  the 
comparative  freedom  from  sin 
which  results  from  the  sancti¬ 
fication  of  the  human  heart, — 
as  in  the  case  of  prophets, (Rev. 
xxii.  6,)  apostles,  (Rev.  xviii. 
20,)  ministers,  (Tit.  i.  8,)  Chris¬ 
tians,  (Heb.iii.l,) — and  thecon- 
secrated  character  of  things, 
(Ex.  xxx.  25.  Lev.  xvi.  4,)  and 
places.  (2  Pet.  i.  18.) 

HOLY  CITY.  (See  Jeru- 

6ALEM.) 

HOLY  DAY.  (See  Feasts.) 

HOLY  GHOST,  HOLY  SPI¬ 
RIT.  (See  Spirit.) 

HOLY  LAND.  (See  Canaan.) 

HOME-BORN  SLAVE.  (See 
Servant.) 

HOMER.  (See  Measures.) 

HONEY,  HONEYCOMB. 
(Ps.  xix.  10.)  The  abundance 
of  honey  in  the  land  of  Judea 
may  be  inferred  from  a  variety 
of  passages  in  the  Bible,  as 
well  as  from  the  accounts  of 
modern  travellers.  It  was,  al¬ 
most,  without  metaphor,  aland 
flowing  with  milk  and  honey. 
(Ex.  iii.  8. 17.)  The  wild  honey 
on  which  John  the  Baptist 
lived  was,  perhaps,  such  as  he 
could  gather  from  rocks  and 
hollow  trees. 

The  syrup  obtained  from 
27 


HOR 

dates  is  supposed  to  be  some¬ 
times  intended  by  the  word 
honey.  (2  Chron.  xxxi.  5.)  And 
we  are  told  of  a  tree,  found  in 
some  parts  of  the  east,  upon 
the  leaves  and  twigs  of  which 
a  sweet  substance  collects,  and 
is  gathered  and  used  by  the 
Arabs,  which  at  first  strongly 
resembles  honey.  The  figura¬ 
tive  allusions  of  the  sacred 
writers  to  honey  and  the  honey¬ 
comb  are  striking  and  beauti¬ 
ful.  (Ps.  xix.  10.  Prov.  v.  3; 
xxvii.  7.)  Milk  and  honey  weio 
the  chief  dainties  of  the  earlier 
ages,  as  they  are  now  of  the 
Bedouins;  and  butter  and  ho¬ 
ney  are  also  mentioned  among 
articles  of  food.  (2  Sam.  xvli. 
29.  Isa.  vii.  15.)  In  South  Afri¬ 
ca,  bees  deposit  their  honey 
on  the  surface  of  the  cliffs  of 
rocks  ;  and,  for  its  protection, 
cover  it  with  a  dark  coloured 
wax.  This,  by  the  action  of 
the  weather,  becomes  hard, and 
of  the  complexion  of  the  rock. 
The  traveller  makes  an  inci¬ 
sion  in  this  wax-covering,  and, 
by  applying  his  mouth  to  the 
aperture,  sucks  out  as  much 
honey  as  he  wants.  (Deut. 
xxxii.  13.)  They  also  cover 
trees  in  the  same  manner, 

HOOD.  (See  Clothes.) 

HOPHNI.  (See  Eli.) 

HOR.  (Num.  xx.  22. 25.)  A 
celebrated  mountain  on  the 
border  of  Idumea,  about  half 
way  -between  the  Dead  and 
Rea  Seas,  where  Aaron  was 
buried.  (See  Seir.)  A  north¬ 
eastern  branch  of  mount  Leba¬ 
non  is  also  called  mount  Hot. 
(Num.  xxxiv.  7,  8.)  It  consti¬ 
tuted  part  of  the  northern 
boundary  of  the  land  of  Israel. 

H  ORE  B.  (Ex.  iii.  1.)  To 
understand  the  relative  situa¬ 
tion  of  the  interesting  group  of 
mountains,  to  which  both  Ho- 
reb  and  Sinai  belong,  and  the 
scenes  which  were  witnessed 
upon  them,  it  is  necessary  to 
go  into  some  detail,  as  it  re- 
313 


HOR 

.spects  the  face  of  the  coun¬ 
try. 

The  peninsula  formed  by  the 
two  branches,  in  which  the 
gulf  called  the  Red  Sea  termi¬ 
nates,  constitutes  part  of  a  wild 
and  desolate  region.  It  has 
been  called  “a  sea  of  desola¬ 
tion.”  It  would  seem  as  if  it 
had  once  been  an  ocean  of 
lava,  and  that,  while  its  waves 
were  literally  running  moun¬ 
tain-high,  it  was  commanded 
suddenly  to  stand  still.  The 
whole  of  this  region  is  com¬ 
posed  of  bare  rocks  and  craggy 
precipices,  among  which  nar¬ 
row  defiles  and  sandy  valleys 
are  interspersed.  There  is 
little  vegetation.  Many  of  the 

Slains  are  covered  with  loose 
ints  and  pebbles,  and  others 
are  sandy.  The  few  plants 
and  shrubs  that  are  to  be  found 
are  such  as  love  a  dry  sandy 
soil,  or  such  as  contrive  to 
draw  nourishment  from  the 
fissures  of  the  rocks,  or  from  a 
thin  mixture  of  clay,  which 
may  be  found  in  some  parts  of 
the  soil.  Rain  rarely  falls  in 
this  wilderness,  and  fountains 
or  springs  of  water  are  exceed¬ 
ingly  rare  ;  and,  when  found, 
the  water  is  generally  either 
brackish  orsulphureous, though 
not  unwholesome. 

In  the  central  part  of  this 
peninsula,  stands  the  group  of 
the  Sinai  mountains,  to  which 
great  celebrity  has  been  given 
by  its  connexion  with  several 
Important  circumstances  in  the 
migration  of  the  Israelites  from 
Egypt  to  Canaan.  This  group 
is  composed  almost  entirely  of 
ranite,  and  forms  a  rocky  wil- 
firness  of  an  irregular,  circu¬ 
lar  shape,  intersected  by  many 
narrow  valleys,  and  is  from 
thirty  to  forty  miles  in  diame¬ 
ter.  It  contains  the  highest 
mountains  of  the  peninsula, 
whose  shaggy  and  pointed 
peaks,  and  steep  and  shatter¬ 
ed  sides,  render  it  clearly  dis¬ 
tinguishable  from  all  tke  rest 


HOR  # 

of  the  country  in  view.  It  is 
upon  this  region  of  the  penin 
sula  that  the  fertile  valleys 
are  found  which  produce  fruit- 
trees.  Water  is  found  in  plenty 
in  this  district;  on  which  ac¬ 
count  it  is  the  place  of  refuge 
to  all  the  Bedouins  when  the 
low  country  is  parched  up.  Its 
advantage  m  this  respect  may 
have  operated  in  the  selection 
of  the  spot  for  the  encampment 
of  the  Israelites,  who  remained 
here  nearly  a  year ;  for  there 
seems  little  doubt  that  this 
upper  country  or  wilderness 
formed  exclusively  the  desert 
of  Sinai,  so  often  mentioned  in 
the  account  of  their  wander¬ 
ings.  It  is  perhaps  impossible 
to“ascertain  with  distinctness 
which  of  the  different  eleva¬ 
tions  comprised  in  this  chain 
forms  the  Horeb,  where  Mo¬ 
ses  received  the  call  to  his 
great  work,  or  the  Sinai, 
where  the  tables  of  the  law 
were  committed  to  his  hands. 
There  has  been  a  good  deal  of 
discussion  on  this  point,  into 
which  we  do  not  feel  it  neces¬ 
sary  to  enter,  contenting  our¬ 
selves  with  an  account  of  the 
part  of  the  group  to  which  that 
d  isli  nction  is  restri  ctcd  by  local 
traditions  and  religious  asso¬ 
ciations,  and  to  which  the  de¬ 
scriptions  of  travellers  more 
particularly  refer..  The  inte¬ 
resting  part  of  the  Sinai  group 
consists  of  two  adjoining  ele¬ 
vations,  or,  nerhaps  we  should 
say,  one  mountain  with  two 
summits,  respectively  known 
as  Djebel  Monsa(mountMoses) 
and  Djebel  ICaterin,  (mount 
Catherine;)  the  former  being, 
in  common  opinion,  Sinai; 
and  the  latter,  Horeb.  Without 
attempting  to  decide  the  point, 
we  must  observe  that  seme 
authorities  incline  to  reverse 
this  arrangement;  consider¬ 
ing  Djebel  Mpusa  as  Horeb, 
and  Djehel  Katerin  as  Sinai  ; 
while  others  question  whether 
■  either  of  the  two  has  any  just 
314 


HOR 

claim  to  be  considered  as  Sinai 
or  Horeb.  A  more  elevated 
summit,  with  five  peaks,  to 
the  westward,  called  mount 
Serbal,  seems  to  have  been  at 
some  early  time  considered  as 
the  “  mount  of  Moses ;”  a  com¬ 
prehensive  term, implying  both 
Sinai  and  Horeb. 

A  very  discerning  modern 
traveller  expresses  the  opinion 
that  mount  Serbal  was  at  one 
ti  me  the  chief  place  of  pilgrim¬ 
age  in  the  peninsula,  and  that 
it  was  then  considered  as  the 
mountain  where  Moses  receiv¬ 
ed  the  tables  of  the  law;  though 
he  is  equally  convinced,  from 
a  perusal  of  the  Scriptures, 
that  the  Israelites  encamped 
in  the  upper  Sinai,  and  that 
either  Djebel  Mousa  or  mount 
St.  Catherine  is  the  real  Horeb. 

Between  Sinai  and  Horeb  is 
the  valley  of  El  Ledja,  in  which 
is  the  small  convent  of  El  Er- 
bayn,  which  is  in  good  repair, 
and  affords  a  convenient  rest¬ 
ing  place  to  travellers  descend¬ 
ing  from  the  barren  mountains 
above.  This  valley,  though 
narrow  and  encumbered  with 
blocks  of  stone  rolled  down 
from  the  mountains,  is,  upon 
the  whole,  very  pleasant  and 
agreeable. 

It  presents  many  objects  of 
veneration,  particularly  the 
supposed  rock  which  Moses 
struck  for  a  supply  of  water. 
This  lies  quite  insulated  by  the 
side  of  the  path,  and  is  about 
twelve  feet  in  height,  of  an 
irregular  shape,  approaching 
to  a  cube.  There  are  some 
aperturesonitssurface, through 
which  the  water  is  said  to  have 
burst  out;  they  are  for  the  most 
part  ten  or  twelve  inches  long, 
two  or  three  broad,  and  not 
more  than  from  one  to  two 
inches  deep;  but  a  few  may  be 
as  deep  as  four  inches.-  Most 
of  these  fissures  are  evidently 
the  work  of  art;  but  three  oi 
four  of  the  twenty  may  be  na¬ 
tural  ;  and  these  probably  first 


HOR 

drew  the  attention  of  the  monks 
to  the  stone.  That  it  is  really 
the  rock  of  Meribah  is  sin¬ 
cerely  believed  by  the  present 
monks  of  Sinai,  as  well  as  by 
the  Bedouins,  who  put  grass 
into  the  fissures  as  offerings  to 
the  memory  of  Moses,  in  the 
same  manner  as  they  place 
grass  upon  the  tombs  of  their 
saints;  because  grass  is  to  them 
the  most  precious  gift  of  nature, 
and  that  upon  which  their  ex¬ 
istence  depends.  They  also 
bring  hither  their  female  ca 
mels,  believing  that  by  makii-g 
the  animal  crouch  down  befor 
the  rock,  while  they  recite 
some  prayers  and  renew  the 
grass  in  the  fissures  of  the 
stone,  their  camels  will  be¬ 
come  fertile,  and  yield  their 
milk  in  abundance.  That  this 
is  not  the  real  rock  of  Meribah, 
nor  the  vale  the  “valley  of 
Rephidim”  ol  the  Bible,  is 
clear  from  the  fact,  that  here 
and  elsewhere  in  the  upper 
Sinai,  perennial  springs  are 
so  numerous  as  to  supersede 
all  occasion  for  a  miraculous 
supply  of  water.  Not  far  from 
this  is  shown  a  small  and 
apparently  natural  excavation 
in  a  granite  rock,  resembling  a 
chair,  where  it  is  said  that 
Moses  often  sat.  Near  this  is 
shown  the  petrified  pot  or  ket¬ 
tle  of  Moses,  as  they  call  it, 
being  a  circular  projecting 
knob  in  a  rock,  resembling 
the  lid  of  a  tea-kettle  in  size 
and  shape.  The  Arabs  have 
often  in  vain  endeavoured  10 
break  this  rock,  supposing  it  t 
conceal  great  treasures.  (See 
Sinai.  See  Map,  pp.  520, 521.) 

HORIMS.  (Deut.ii.  1.22.)  A 
general  name  for  dwellers  in 
caves,  and  perhaps  the  same 
with  the  Horites. 

HORITES.  (Gen.  xiv.  6.) 
An  ancient  and  powerful  peo¬ 
ple,  who  dwelt  in  mount  Seir. 
(Gen.  xxxvi.  20—30.) 

HORN.  (1  Sam.  ii.  1.  10.) 
This  word  is  employed  in  tha 
315 


HOR 


HOR 


Old  Testament  as  an  emblem 
i> f  power,  honour,  or  glory. 
(Deut.  xxxiii.  17.  Job  xvi.  15. 
Luke  i.  69.)  Hence  it  is  fre¬ 
quently  employed  in  prophetic 
visions,  instead  of  kings  and 
kingdoms.  (Dan.  vii.  20 — 21.) 
Horns  were  used  as  vessels  for 
liquids,  especially  oil  and  per¬ 
fumes,  (1  Sam.  xvi.  1.  1  Kings 
.  39,)  and  also  for  trumpets. 
(Josh.  vi.  8.  13.)  The  horn 
being  the  chief  defence  and 
strength  of  many  beasts,  to 
break  or  cut  off  the  horn  of  a 
king  or  people  is  to  abridge 
or  destroy  tlieir  power ;  and  to 
raise  or  exalt  the  horn  is  to 
establish  or  increase  power 
and  prosperity.  So  also  among 
the  aborigines  of  this  country 
8  like  custom  prevailed.  The 
chief  of  the  council  which  ne¬ 
gotiated  the  treaty  with  Wil¬ 
liam  Penn  opened  the  business 
by  placing  on  his  own  head  a 
crown  with  a  horn  in  it,  signi¬ 
ficant  of  supreme  authority,  by 
which  the  covenants  of  the 
treaty  were  made  binding. 

Some  have  supposed  that  in 
those  passages,  Ps.  lxxv.  5. 10, 
allusion  is  made  to  a  hollow 
silver  horn,  four  or  five  inches 
in  diameter  at  the  root^and 
rising  obliquely  from  the  fore- 


head,  which  was  worn  as  an 
ornament  by  oriental  women, 
warriors,  and  distinguished 
men.  (1  Sam.  ii.l.) 

They  are  noticed  by  travel 
lers  as  worn  by  Abyssinian 
chiefs,  and  on  the  military 
caps  of  the  sepoys  of  India. 


Horns  on  the  Altar.  (See 
AltaRi) 

HORNET.  (Deut.  vn.  20.)  A 
very  large,  strong,  and  bold 
species  of  the  wasp,  remarka¬ 
ble  for  their  irritability,  and 
for  the  severity  of  their  sting. 
Hornets  were  employed  as  in¬ 
struments  of  the  divine  judg¬ 
ments  upon  the  enemies  of 
Israel.  (Comp.  Ex.  xxiii.  28, 
and  Josh.  xxiv.  12.) 

HORSE.  (Gen.  xlix.  17.)  In 
the  early  periods  of  the  world, 
the  labouring  beasts  were  chief¬ 
ly  oxen  and  asses,  while  horses 
were  used  by  kings  and  warri 
ors,  either  mounted  or  harness- 
ed  to  chariots.  (Ex.  xi  v.  9.  93. 
Esth.  vi.  8.)  The  use  of  horses 
by  the  Israelites  was  discourse 
ed.  (Deut.  xvii.  16.  Josh.  xi.  6.) 
The  reason  is  perhaps  explain 
ed  in  Isa.  xxxi.  1.  3.  In  Solo, 
mon’s  time,  however,  horses 
were  common  among  them, 
and  he  probably  imported 
them  from  Syria  and  Egypt. 
(IKings  iv.26;  x.  26.29.  2Chron. 
i.  14—17 ;  ix.  25.)  Horses  were 
consecrated  to  idol-gods,  (2 
Kings  xxiii.  11,)  and  are  often 
employed  by  the  prophets,  un¬ 
der  different  colours,  to  denote 
the  character  of  future  dispen¬ 
sations,  (Zech.  i.  8;  vi.  2— 6;) 
and  so  also  are  angels  repre¬ 
sented  under  the  figure  of 
horses,  (2 Kings  ii.  11;  vi.  15 — 
17;)  because  of  the  character¬ 
istic  strength,  fleetuess,  and 
courage  of  that  animal.  (Job 
xxxix.  19—25.  For  a  full  de¬ 
scription  of  the  horse,  and 
illustrative  engravings,  see 
Youth’s  Friend,  vol.  iii.  No. 
6,  Bible  Natural  History, 
and  Portfolio  of  Animals, 
all  by  Am.  S.  S.  Union  ) 
HORSE-LEECH.  (Piov.xxx. 
15.)  A  well  known  insect  of 
the  vjater,  resembling  a  worm, 
and  remarkable  for  its  thirst 
for  blood,  which  is  never  satis 
fied  until  its  body  is  complete 
ly  filled.  The  figure  in  the 
above  passage  may  illustrate 


HOS  .  HUM 


the  insat’able  craving  of  lust, 
avarice,  and  cruelty. 

HOSANNA  (Matt.  xxi.  9)  is 
used  either  as  a  form  of  blessing 
or  an  ascription  of  praise.  Thus, 
when  Hosanna"  was  cried,  in 
the  passage  just  cited,  it  was 
as  if  the  people  had  shouted  in 
joyful  acclamations  on  every 
side,  Lord,  preserve  this  Son 
of  David;  neap  favours  and 
blessings  upon  him.  The  same 
exclamation  is  supposed  to 
have  been  used  in  the  proces¬ 
sion  at  the  feast  of  tabernacles. 

HOSEA,  prophecy  of,  is 
supposed  to  have  been  uttered 
about  seven  or  eight  hundred 
years  before  Christ.  This  pro¬ 
phet  was  a  son  of  Beeri,  and 
lived  iu  Samaria;  and  if  we 
construe  the  title  of  the  pro¬ 
phecy  literally,  (Hos.  i.  1,)  we 
should  infer  that  his  prophecy 
embraced  a  period  of  at  least 
eighty  years.  It  is  probable, 
however,  that  the  work  of  Ho- 
sea  begins  with  the  second 
verse.  The  design  of  the  pro¬ 
phecy  is.  to  reprove  the  people 
of  Israel  for  their  heinous  sins 
and  gross  idolatry,  and  to  warn 
ludah  against  falling  into  the 


same  courses. 

The  divine  directions  (Hos. 
i.  2;  iii.  1)  have  occasioned 
much  speculation.  The  gene¬ 
ral  idea  seems  to  be,  that  at 
that  time  (as  at  the  present 
day  in  ipany  eastern  countries) 
it  was  common  to  form  tempo¬ 
rary  marriages;  during  the  con¬ 
tinuance  of  which,  strict  fide¬ 
lity  and  propriety  were  main¬ 
tained  on  both  sides,  as  when 
the  contract  was  for  a  perma¬ 
nent  union.  So  that,  however 
revolting  it  must  seem  to  us, 
it  was  not  scandalous  in  the 
prophet,  but  might  possibly  ex¬ 
pose  and  reprove  the  peculiar 
iniquity  of  tne  Israelites. 

HOSHEA.  1.  (Deut.  xxxii. 
44.)  The  same  with  Joshua. 

2.  (2  Kings  xv.  30.)  The  son 
of  Elah,  a"nd  the  last  of  the 
kings  of  Israel.  In  the  ninth 
27* 


year  of  his  reign,  the  Assyrian 
king,  provoked  by  an  attempt 
which  Hoshea  made  to  form 
an  alliance  with  Egypt,  and 
so  throw  off  the  Assyrian  yoke, 
marched  against  Samaria,  and, 
after  a  siege  of  three  years, 
look  it,  and  carried  the  people 
away  into  Assyria.  (2 Kings 
xvii.  1—6.  Hos.  xiii.  16.  Mic. 
i-  6.) 

HOUGH.  (Josh.  xi.  6. 9.)  To 
disable  by  cutting  the  sinews 
of  the  ham,  ( hamstrings .) 

HOUR.  (Matt.  xxv.  13.)  A 
division  of  time  known  among 
us  as  the  twenty-fourth  part  of 
a  day.  One  of  the  earliest 
divisions  of  the  day  was  into 
morning,  heat  of  the  day,  mid¬ 
day,  and  evening;  and  the 
night,  into  first,  second,  and 
third  watch.  The  first  use  of 
the  word  hour  by  the  sacred 
writers  occurs,  Dan.  iii.  6;  but 
the  length  of  the  time  denoted 
by  it  varied  with  the  seasons  of 
the  year.  The  third,  sixth,  and 
ninth  hours  of  the  day,  count¬ 
ing  from  6  a.  m.,  were  espe¬ 
cially  hdurs  of  prayer. 

HOUSE.  (See  Dwellings.) 
The  word  house  is  also  used  to 
denote  a  family,  (Gen.  xii.  17. 
1  Tim.  v.  8,)  a  race,  or  lineage, 
(Luke  ii.  4,)  and  property. 
(1  Kings  xiii.  8.) 

House,  in  the  New  Testa¬ 
ment,  as  some  suppose,  signi¬ 
fies  the  immediate  family  of 
the  householder;  while  house¬ 
hold  includes  all  who  dwell 
under  his  roof. 

House  of  the  Rolls,  (Ezra 
vi.  1,)  and 

Treasure  House,  (Ezrav. 
17,)  are  both  expressions  sup¬ 
posed  to  refer  to  the  same 
apartment,  and  denote  the 
public  depository  of  books. 

HUMILITY  (Prov.  xv.  33)  is 
the  opposite  of  pride,  and  one 
of  the  cardinal  graces  of  the 
renewed  heart.  It  consists  in 
a  man’s  not  thinking  of  him¬ 
self  more  highly  than  he  ought 
•  to  think;  and  is  urged  with 


HUS 

great  force  upon  all  who  pro¬ 
fess  to  be  Christ’s  disciples, 
(i  Pet.  v.  5.)  In  this,  as  in  all 
other  respects,  our  divine  Sa¬ 
viour’s  life  furnishes  us  with  a 
erfect  example,  (Phil.  ii.  5— 
;)  and  the  sacred  Scriptures 
abound  with  promises  of  grace 
and  favour  to  the  humble,  and 
threalenings  of  sorrow  and 
punishment  to  the  proud. 

HUR.  (Ex.  xvii.  10.)  The 
son  of  Caleb,  and  one  of  the 
chief  men  of  the  Israelites. 
(Ex.  xxiv.  14.) 

HUSBAND.  (See  Mar¬ 
riage.)  (Matt.  i.  16.)  A  mar¬ 
ried  man,  and,  as  some  derive 
it,  the  house-band,  or  one  who 
connects  the  family  and  keeps 
it  together.  A  man  betrothed, 
but  not  married,  was  called 
a  husband,  as  the  espousals 
were  considered  sacred  and 
inviolable. 

The  husband  is  the  head  of 
the  wife,  (Eph.  v.  23.)  inasmuch 
as  he  is  the  head  of  the  house¬ 
hold,  (though  she  is  associated 
with  him,)  and,  as  sugh,  he  is 
entitled  to  the  respect  and 
affection  of  all. 


HYM 

|  HUSBANDMAN.  (John  xv 
1.)  One  whose  profession  and 
labour  is  to  cultivate  the 
ground.  It  is  among  the  most 
ancient  and  honourable  occu¬ 
pations.  (Gen.  ix.  20.  Isa. 
xxviii.  24 — 28.)  All  the  Jews 
who  were  not  consecrated  to 
religious  offices  were  agricul¬ 
turists.  The  force  and  appro¬ 
priateness  of  the  .  figurati  ve 
uses  of  this  term  by  the  sacred 
writers  are  sufficiently  obvious 
from  their  connexion. 

HUSHAI.  (2  Sam.  xv.  32.) 
An  Archite,  (Josh.  xvi.  2,)  and 
a  particular  and  faithful  friend 
of  David.  (2  Sam.  xvi.  16.) 

HUSKS  (Luke  xv.  16)  means 
either  shells,— as  of  peas  or 
beans, — or  the  fruit  of  the  ca- 
rob  tree,  which  is  common  in 
Palestine,  and  is  used  for  food 
by  the  poor,  and  for  the  fatten 
ing  of  cattle  and  swine. 

HYMENEUS.  (2 Tim.  ii.17.) 
This  name  is  mentioned  once 
with  Alexander  and  once  with 
Philetus.  He  denied  the  doc¬ 
trine  of  a  future  resurrection, 
and  was  given  up  to  Satan. 
(1  Tim.  i.  20.  Comp.  1  Cor.v.  5.) 


ICO 

CE  (See  Crystal.) 

ICHABOD.  (1  Sam.  iv.  21, 
22.)  The  son  of  Phinehas,  and 
grandson  of  Eli,  the  high-priest. 
He  was  born  just  after  his  mo¬ 
ther  received  the  sad  tidings 
that  her  husband  and  father- 
in-law  were  dead,  and  the  ark 
of  God  taken  by  the  Philis¬ 
tines.  Such  was  the  effect  of 
these  tidings  upon  her,  that 
she  died  immediately  upon  the 
birth  of  her  child ;  giving  him 
the  significant  name  Ichabod, 
or  the  glory  is  departing. 

ICONIUM.  (Acts  xiii.  51.) 
A  city  of  ancient  Lycaonia,  in 
Asia  Minor,  at  the  foot  of 
mount  Taurus,  now  called 
Conia,  or  Cogni,  the  capital 
of  Caramania,  and  •  residence 


IDD  * 

of  a  pasha.  It  contains  at  pre¬ 
sent  about  15,000  inhabitants. 
It  was  visited  by  Paul  and 
Barnabas,  who  preached  the 
gospel  there,  and  were  so  per¬ 
secuted  in  consequence  of  it 
as  to  be  obliged  to  leave  the 
place.  (Acts  xiv.  1—6.)  Ico- 
nium  is  mentioned  by  several 
ancient  historians. 

IDDO.  (2  Chron.  ix.  29.)  In 
this  passage  are  mentioned  the 
visions  oflddo  the  seer  against 
Jeroboam,  &c.;  and  in2Chron. 
xii.  15,  is  mentioned  the  book 
of  lddo  the  seer  concerning 
genealogies:  and  again,  it  is 
said,  (2Chron.xiii.22,)thatthe 
rest  of  the  a  cts  of  Abijah,  and 
his  ways  and  his  sayings,  are 
written  in  the  story  (or  com 
318 


IDO 

mentary)  of  the  prophet  Iddo. 
These  expressions  may  all 
refer  to  one  and  the  same 
volume.  He  was  probably  a 
prophet  and  annalist  of  some 
distinction,  and  is  supposed  by 
many  to  have  been  the  person 
who  was  slain  by  a  lion,  as  re¬ 
corded  1  Kings  xiii.  Several 
others  of  the  same  name  are 
mentioned,  of  whose  history 
we  know  nothing. 

IDLE,  (Matt.  xii.  36,)  in  this 
connexion,  means  pernicious, 
false,  or  calumnious  words. 

IDOL,  (l  Kings  xv.  13,)  IDO¬ 
LATRY.  (Actsxvii.  16.)  What¬ 
ever  receives  the  worship 
which  is  due  only  to  God  is  an 
idol.  In  a  figurative  sense,  the 
word  denotes  any  thing  which 
draws  the  affections  from  God, 
(Col.  iii.5;)  and  in  a  restricted 
sense,  it  denotes  the  visible 
image  or  figure  to  which  reli¬ 
gious  worship  is  paid.  (Deut. 
xxix.  17.) 

Idolatiy  consists,  (1.)  In 
worshipping,  as  the  true  God, 
some  other  person  or  thing  be¬ 
sides  Jehovah  ;  and,  (2.)  Wor¬ 
shipping  the  true  God  under 
some  image,  as  the  golden 
calf.  (Ex.  xxxii.  4,  5.) 

When  the  worship  of  idols 
commenced  is  uncertain.  It 
was  prevalent  at  a  very  early 
period  of  the  world;  and,  as 
some  suppose,  was  no  incon¬ 
siderable  part  of  the  general 
corruption  which  called  for 
the  judgment  of  the  deluge. 
(Gen.  vi.  12.)  The  pagans  wor¬ 
shipped  universal  nature,  the 
soul  of  the  world ;  angels,  de¬ 
mons,  and  the  souls  of  departed 
men, either  separate  and  alone, 
or  in  union  with  some  star  or 
other  body.  They  worshipped 
the  heavens,  and  in  them  both 
particular  luminaries  and  con¬ 
stellations  ;  the  atmosphere, 
and  in  it  the  meteors  and  fowls 
->f  the  air;  the  earth,  and  in  it 
beasts,  birds,  insects,  plants, 
groves,  and  hills,  together  with 
divers  fossils,  and  fire.  They 


IDO 

worshipped  the  water;  and 
in  it  the  sea  and  rivers;  and 
in  them  fishes,  serpents,  and 
insects,  together  with  such 
creatures  as  live  in  either  ele¬ 
ment.  They  worshipped  men, 
both  living  and  dead:  and  in 
them  the  faculties  and  endow¬ 
ments  of  the  soul,  as  well  as 
the  several  accidents  and  con¬ 
ditions  of  life.  Nay,  they  wor¬ 
shipped  the  images  of  animals, 
even  the  most  hateful ;  such  as 
serpents,  dragons,  crocodiles, 
&c. ;  and  at  last  descended  so 
low  as  to  pay  a  religious  re¬ 
gard  to  things  inanimate,  herbs 
and  plants,  and  the  most  offen¬ 
sive  vegetables. 

No  wonder  that  the  com¬ 
mandment  which  touches  this 
point  should  so  particularly 
specify  the  objects  which 
should  not  be  represented  In 
the  form  of  graven  images.  (Ex. 
xx.  4.) 

“Usefulness  wasthe  common, 
but  it  was  not  the  only  quality 
that  determined  the  object  of 
idolatry ;  for  we  may  find,  that 
whatever  delighted  with  its 
transcendent  beauty,  whatever 
affrighted  with  its  malignant 
power,  whatever  astonished 
with  its  uncommon  greatness ; 
whatever,  in  short,  was  beauti¬ 
ful,  hurtful,  or  majestic,  be¬ 
came  a  deity,  as  well  as  what 
was  profitable  for  its  use.  The 
sun,  it  was  soon  perceived,  had 
all  these  powers  and  properties 
united  in  it:  its  beauty  was 
glorious  to  behold  ;  its  motion 
wonderful  to  consider ;  its  heat 
occasioned  different  effects, 
barrenness  in  some  places,  and 
fruitfulness  in  others;  and  the 
immense  globe  of  its  light  ap¬ 
peared  highly  exalted  and  rid¬ 
ing  in  triumph  as  it  were  round 
the  world.  The  moon,  it  was 
seen,  supplied  the  absence  of 
the  sun  by  night,  gave  a  friend¬ 
ly  light  to  the  earth,  and  be¬ 
sides  the  great  variety  of  its 
phases,  had  a  wonderful  in¬ 
fluence  over  the  sea  and  othet 
319 


11)0 

Humid  bodies.  The  stars  were 
admired  for  their  height  and 
magnitude,  the  order  of  their 
positions,  and  celerity  of  their 
motions  ;  and  thence  the  peo¬ 
ple  were  persuaded,  either  that 
some  celestial  vigour  or  other 
resided  in  them,  or  that  the 
souls  of  their  heroes  and  great 
men  were  translated  into  them 
when  they  died;  hnd  upon 
these  and  similar  presump¬ 
tions,  they  believed  all  celes¬ 
tial  bodies  to  be  deities.  The 
force  of  fire,  the  serenity  of  air, 
tile  usefulness  of  water,  as  well 
as  the  terror  and  dreadfulness 
of  thunder  and  lightning,  gave 
rise  to  the  consecration  of  the 
meteors  and  elements.  The 
sea,  swelling  with  its  proud 
surface,  and  roaring  with  its 
mighty  billows,  was  such  an 
awful  sight,  and  the  earth,  be¬ 
decked  with  all  its  plants, 
flowers,  and  fruits,  such  a 
lovely  one,  as  might  well  draw 
forth  a  pagan’s  veneration ; 
when,  for  similar  motives,  viz. 
their  beneficial,  hurtful,  de¬ 
lightful,  or  astonishing  proper¬ 
ties,  beasts,  birds,  fishes,  in¬ 
sects,  and  even  vegetables 
themselves,  came  to  be  adored. 

“  The  pride  and  pomp  of  the 
great,  and  the  abject  spirits  of 
the  mean,  occasioned  first  the 
flattery,  and  then  the  worship 
of  kings  and  princes  as  gods 
upon  earth.  Men  famous  for 
their  adventures  and  exploits, 
the  founders  of  nations  or  ci¬ 
ties,  or  the  inventors  of  useful 
arts  and  sciences,  were  reve¬ 
renced  while  they  lived,  and, 
after  death,  canonized.  The 
prevailing  notion  of  the  soul’s 
immortality  made  them  ima¬ 
gine,  that  the  spirits  of  such 
excellent  persons,  either  im¬ 
mediately  ascended  up  into 
heaven,  and  settled  there  in 
some  orb  or  other,  or  that  they 
hovered  in  the  air;  whence  by 
solemn  invocations,  and  by 
making  some  statue  or  image 
to  resemble,  they  might  be 


IDO 

prevailed  with  to  come  down 
and  inhabit  it.” 

Whether  the  idolatry  of 
image  worship  originated  in 
Chaldea  or  in  Egypt  we  have 
no  data  from  history  to  deter¬ 
mine;  but  wherever  it  had  its 
origin,  the  apostle  Paul  has 
sufficiently  accounted  for  the 
grounds  and  reasons  of  it, when 
he  says  that  men  professing 
themselves  to  be  wise ,  be¬ 
came  fools,  and  changed  the 
glory  of  the  incorruptible  God 
into  an  image  made  like  to 
corruptible  man,  and  to  birds, 
and  four-footed  beasts,  ana 
creeping  things.  (Rom.  i.  22, 
23.) 

Such  is  the  strong  tendency 
of  depraved  nature  to  fall  into 
this  sin  that  the  Israelites,  the 
chosen  people  of  God,  were 
subjected  to  a  twofold  re¬ 
straint.  God  was  their  king, 
and  hence  idolatry  with  them 
was  not  only  impiety,  but  trea¬ 
son.  The  positive  precepts, 
and  severe  punishments  with 
which  the  Jewish  law  met 
every  approach  to  idolatry, and 
the  rigorous  prohibition  of  all 
intercourse  with  the  idola¬ 
trous  nations  which  surround¬ 
ed  them,  show  plainly  how 
abominable  the  sin  of  idolatry 
is  in  the  sight  of  God :  so  that 
customs  which  might  excite 
or  entice  to  idolatrous  prac¬ 
tices,  and  which  in  any  other 
view  might  seem  perfectly  in¬ 
nocent, were  strictly  forbidden. 
(Deut.  xii.xiii.)  Probably  many 
peculiar  provisions  of  the  Jew¬ 
ish  law,  which  may  seem  to 
us  arbitrary  or  trifling,  may 
have  originated  in  this  very 
circumstance.  Notwithstand¬ 
ing  all  that  was  done  to  guard 
them  against  it,  the  people  of 
Israel  fell  into  some  of  the 
most  cruel  and  shocking  prac¬ 
tices  of  idolatry.  Even  the 
sacrifice  of  children,  forbidden 
as  it  was  under  the  most  se¬ 
vere  and  summary  penalties, 
(Lev.  xx.  2,)  was  very  common. 


IDO 

Jeremiah  and  Ezekiel  both 
speak  of  it  as  a  practice  pre¬ 
vailing  in  or  near  their  time. 
(Jer.  vii.  31.  Ezek.  xvi.  21.) 

The  rites  of  idolatry  were 
generally  impure  and  obscene 
in  the  highest  degree.  The 
priests  and  the  gods  were 
alike  the  slaves  and  the  pa¬ 
trons  of  the  most  scandalous 
and  filthy  practices;  and  hence 
the  word  whoredom  is  often 
used  as  synonymous  with  idol¬ 
atry.  Indeed,  the  present  state 
of  the  heathen  world,  as  it  is 
represented  by  our  own  mis¬ 
sionaries,  who  have  seen  and 
heard  with  their  own  senses, 
shows  conclusively  that  de¬ 
basement  of  mind,  utter  alien¬ 
ation  of  the  heart  from  every 
thing  pure  and  holy,  the  gross¬ 
est  immoralities,  and  the  most 
licentious  practices,  are  inse¬ 
parable  from  idolatry. 

Roman  Catholics  deny  the 
charge  of  idolatry,  and  justify 
their  use  of  images,  by  saying 
that  they  merely  serve  to  re¬ 
mind  them  of  the  objects 
represented.  They  say,  that 
by  casting  their  eyes  on  the 
images  or  pictures  of  beings, 
their  thoughts  are  raised 
to  the  beings  themselves. 
They  assert,  however,  that 
saints  are  to  be  honoured  and 
invocated,  and  their  relics  re¬ 
spected,  and  that  the  images 
of  Christ,  the  Virgin  Mary, 
and  saints,  ought  to  receive 
due  honour  and  veneration. 
How  far  these  practices  are 
distinguishable  from  idolatry 
this  is  not  the  place  to  inquire. 
The  history  of  mankind  shows 
us  that  those  who  are  accus¬ 
tomed  to  behold  allegorical 
and  symbolical  figures  in  their 
places  of  religious  worship  soon 
forget  the  invisible  object  of 
adoration  in  the  emblem  by 
which  it  is  set  forth,  and  very 
naturally  sink  into  that  super¬ 
stition  which  is  so  congenial 
to  the  gross  conceptions  and 
depraved  inclinations  of  man. 


IMM 

It  is  estimated  that  mors 
than  600,0011,000,  or  about  two- 
thirds  of  the  human  family, 
are  worshippers  of  idols. 

Sometimes  idol  temples  were 
the  repositories  of  treasure, 
(Judg.  ix.  4,)  and  were  protect¬ 
ed  by  a  tower.  (Judg.  ix.  46.) 

IDUMEA.  (SeeEnoM.) 

IJF.-ABARIM.  (See  Aba- 
rim.) 

ILLYRICUM.  (Rom.  xv.19.) 
A  province  north-west  of  Ma¬ 
cedonia,  lying  along  the  Adri¬ 
atic  Sea,  having  Italy  and 
Germany  on  the  north,  and 
Macedonia  on  the  east.  Its 
southern  portion  was  the  Dal¬ 
matia  which  Titus  visited. 
(2  Tim.  iv.  10.)  Taking  Jeru¬ 
salem  as  a^centre,  it  will  ap¬ 
pear  that  Illyrrcum  was  nearly 
the  extreme  north-western  pro¬ 
vince  of  what  was  then  no 
small  part  of  the  known  world. 
Perhaps  Paul  went  into  Illyri- 
cum ;  but  he  speaks  here  only 
of  having  preAched  the  gospel 
unto  its  borders. 

IMAGE.  (Gen.  i.  26,  27.) 
We  are  told  that  God  created 
man  in  his  own  image;  and 
Christ  is  said  to  be  the  image 
of  God.  (Col.  i.  15.  Heb.  i.  3.) 
The  term  imports  a  complete 
and  exact  likeness,  like  that 
which  exists  between  a  seal 
and  its  impression,  when  the 
original  is  perfectly  preserved 
in  the  representation.  The 
word  is  usually  employed  to 
denote  an  object  of  idolatrous 
worship.  (See  Man,  Idol.) 

IMMANUEL.  (Isa.  vii.  14.) 
A  Hebrew  word,  signifying 
“ God  with  us,"  and  used  as 
one  of  the  distinctive  titles 
of  the  Messiah.  <See  Ahaz, 
Christ  ) 

IMMORTAL,  IMMORTAL¬ 
ITY.  (1  Cor.  xv.  53.  1  Tim.  i. 
17.)  A  state  of  being  not  sub¬ 
ject  to  death.  It  is  one  of  the  at¬ 
tributes  of  the  Supreme  Being. 

The  bodies  which  we  inha¬ 
bit  while  in  this  world  are  cor¬ 
ruptible,  exposed  to  sickness, 


INC 

pain,  and  death  ;  but  the  soul 
can  never  die,  as  the  body 
dies.  Its  very  nature  is  immor¬ 
tal.  There  is  a  sense  in  which 
the  state  of  being,  on  which 
the  souls  of  all  men  enter  at 
death,  is  immortal.  But  the 
Scriptures  speak  of  the  future 
existence  of  the  righteous  as  a 
state  of  immortality  or  eternal 
life,  in  distinction  from  the 
state  of  the  wicked,  (Matt, 
xxv.  46.  Rom.  ii.  7 ;)  ard  it  is 
obvious  that  the  phrase  im¬ 
mortal  or  eternal  death,  might 
be  employed  to  express  forci¬ 
bly  the  nature  of  the  punish¬ 
ment  to  which  the  wicked  will 
be  doomed  in  the  world  to 
come. 

IMPUTE.  (Rom.  v.  13.)  By 
comparing  ver.  18  of  the  epis¬ 
tle  to  Philemon,  with  Rom. 
iv.  5—13,  we  shall  see  the 
force  of  this  term.  The  words 
translated  put  that  on  mine 
account  in  the  former  passage, 
ijtid  that  which  is  rendered  by 
the  words  counted,  impute, and 
imputed,  in  the  other,  have  a 
common  origin  and  meaning. 
The  plain  Christian  sees  and 
feels  the  force  of  the  expres¬ 
sion,  and  though  he  may  be 
ignorant  of  technical  distinc¬ 
tions,  yet  while  he  believes 
on  One  that  justifieth  the  un¬ 
godly,  he  feels  the  blessedness 
of  him  to  whom  tire  Lord  will' 
not  impute  sin.  The  great 
principle  involved  is,  that  the 
sinner  who  accepts  Christ  is 
delivered  from  the  guilt, power, 
and  punishment  of  sin,  and  is 
clothed  with  a  righteousness 
which  is  not  his  own,  but  the 
giftof  God  through  JesusChrist. 
His  sins  are  put  to  the  account 
of  another,  and  another’s  right¬ 
eousness  is  put  to  his  account. 

INCENSE  (Ex.  xxx.  8)  was 
a  compound  of  frankincense 
and  other  gums  or  spic-es  ;  the 
materials  and  manufacture  of 
which  are  particularly  pre¬ 
scribed,  Ex.  xxx.  34—36.  (See 
Prank  incense.)  It  was  the 


INH 

business  of  the  priest  to  burn 
it  morning  and  evening,  upon 
an  altar  specially  erected  for 
this  purpose  ;  and  thence  call¬ 
ed  the  altar  of  incense.  The 
preparation  of  it  for  common 
use  was  positively  forbidden  ; 
neither  could  any  other  com¬ 
position  be  cTered  as  incense 
on  tins  altar,  nor  could  this  be 
offered  by  any  but  the  priest. 
(See  Censer.  See  Biblicap 
Antiquities,  vol.  ii.  pp.  46, 
49,  by  Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

INCHANTERS,  INCHANT- 
MENTS.  (Ex.  vii.  11.  Deut. 
xviii.  10.)  Inchanters  were 
persons  who  pretended  to  pos¬ 
sess  the  power  of  charming 
animals,  &c.  The  practice 
of  inchantment  is  allied  to 
witchcraft  and  sorcery ;  and 
both  the  practice  and  prac¬ 
tises  are  decidedly  con¬ 
demned  by  God’s  law.  (Deut. 
xviii.  9—12.)  It  is  unquestion¬ 
ably  true  that  persons  have 
sometimes  obtained  a  wonder¬ 
ful  influence,  particularly  over 
Berpents  of  the  most  deadly 
species  ;  instances  of  which 
are  often  stated  by  eastern 
travellers. 

INDIA.  (Esth.  i.  1 ;  viii.  9., 
The  southern  section  of  the 
continent  of  Asia.  It  is  only 
mentioned  as  the  eastern  boun¬ 
dary  of  the  dominions  of  Aha- 
suerus. 

INGATHERING,  feast  of. 
(See  Feasts.) 

INHERITANCE.  (Gen.xxxi 
14.)  In  the  modern  use  of  this 
word,  it  denotes  the  estate  to 
which  one  succeeds  on  the 
death  of  the  present  possessor, 
and  who  is  hence  called  his 
heir.  In  eastern  countries, how¬ 
ever,  the  portions  of  children 
were  distributed  to  them  by 
the  father  during  his  lifetime 
Among  the  Hindoos,  the  father 
is  bound  to  make  an  equal 
distribution  of  his  property, 
whenever  his  children,  in  a 
body,  apply  for  it.  Hence  the 
legitimacy  of  the  application 


INN 

which  the  prodigal  son  and 
his  brother  made,  and  which 
resulted  in  the  father’s  divid¬ 
ing  unto  them  his  living. 
(Luke  xv.  12.) 

The  word  inheritance  is  also 
used,  in  a  more  general  sense, 
to  denote  property,  or  partici¬ 
pation.  (Comp.  Eaek.  xxxm. 
24,  with  Acts  vii.  5.) 

INIQUITY.  (Gen.  xv.  16.) 
Whatever  is  done  regardless 
of  the  law  of  God.  Sin  is  the 
transgression  of  the  law :  ini¬ 
quity  is  a  contempt  or  disre¬ 
gard  of  the  law.  (Ps.  li.  2.  9 ; 
ciii.  10.)  To  bear  the  iniquity 
of  the  congregation  (Lev.  x, 
17)  is  to  make  that  expiation 
or  atonement  which  is  a  pre¬ 
requisite  to  their  forgiveness. 
(Isa.  liii.G.) 

INK,  INKHORN.  (Jer.xxxvi 
18.  Ezek.ix.2.)  It  is  supposed 
that  the  common  ink  of  early 
ages  was  made  of  water  and 
pulverized  charcoal,  or  the 
black  of  burnt  ivory,  with  the 
addition  of  some  kind  of  gum. 
Other  substances  were  doubt¬ 
less  used  both  for  writing  and 
colouring  matter.  The  Ro¬ 
mans  U3ed  a  dark  purple  li¬ 
quid,  which  was  obtained  from 
a  species  of  fish  for  this  pur¬ 
pose  The  ink  in  common 
use  at  this  day  has  been  known 
for  several  centuries  in  Eu¬ 
ropean  countries,  and  is  usual¬ 
ly  made  of  nutgal Is, vitriol,  and 
gum.  Ancient  ink  was  more 
caustic,  and  less  liable  to  fade 
or  decay.  Chinese  ink  is  of 
>he  same  quality.  The  pro- 
lessed  writers  or  scribes  car¬ 
ried  with  them,  as  they  do  at 
the  present  day  in  eastern 
countries,  the  implements  of 
their  business;  and  among 
these  was  an  inkhom,  thrust 
into  the  girdle  at  the  side. 

INN.  (Luke  X.  34.)  In  the 
earliest  ages,  an  inn  was  no¬ 
thing  more  than  the  well  or 
ether  convenient  place  where 
the  company  of  travellers  and 
their  weary  beasts  reposed 


JNS 


for  rest  and  refreshment.  At 
a  later  period  it  was  the  *cara- 
vansary,  a  very  comfortless, 
temporary  enclosure,  without 
rooms  or  doors.  Afterwards 
the  inn  became  what  the  cara¬ 
vansaries  of  Persia  are  at  the 
present  day, — a  place  where 
travellers  may  buy  lodging, 
food,  and  fuel.  This  was  per¬ 
haps  such  an  inn  as  accom¬ 
modated  the  poor  wounded 
man,  in  the  beautiful  story  of 
the  good  Samaritan;  and  it 
was  to  the  stable  or  out-build- 
ing  of  such  an  inn  that  Mary 
was  obliged  to  resort  with  the 
infant  Saviour,  because,  the 
general  enrolment  had  brought 
so  many  strangers  to  the  place 
as  to  fill  the  house  before  they 
arrived. 

INSPIRATION  (2  Tim.  in. 
16)  is  a  supernatural  divine 
influence  exerted  upon  the 
human  mind,  by  means  of 
which  the  individual  is  made 
to  know  certainly, and  to  speak 
truly, what  could  not  have  been 
so  known  in  the  ordinary  ex¬ 
ercise  of  the  faculties,  and 
without  any  such  influence. 
When  this  influence  is  so  ex 
erted  as  absolutely  to  exclude 
uncertainty  and  all  mixture 
of  error  in  a  declaration  of 
doctrines  or  facts,  it  is  called 
a  plenary  or  full  inspiration. 
And  the  book  written  under 
such  an  influence,  though 
it  may  contain  many  things 
which  the  author  might  have 
known  and  recorded  by  the 
use  of  his  natural  faculties,  is 
properly  said  to  be  an  inspired 
book.  Nor  is  it  necessary  that 
the  particular  style  and  me¬ 
thod  of  the  writer  should  be 
abandoned.  God  may  have 
wise  purposes  to  answer  m 
preserving  this,  while  he  se¬ 
cures,  through  its  agency,  an 
infallible  declaration  of  his 
will.  -So  that  style,  manner, 
&c.,  may  be  of  the  author  s 
own  choice,  provided  the  facts 
stated  and  the  doctrines 
323 


INT 

taught  as  of  divine  authority, 
are  stated  and  taught  under 
an  immediate  divine  influ¬ 
ence,  without  the  possibility 
•f  error.  And  even  if  it  should 
appear  that  the  copies  of  such 
a  book  now  in  the  world  have 
suffered  from  the  injuries  of 
time,  and  the  carelessness  of 
transcribers  and  printers,  so 
that  inaccuracies  and  discre¬ 
pancies  of  unessential  import¬ 
ance  might  be  detected,  still 
if  the  substance  of  the  book, 
if  the  grand  system  of  truth  or 
duty  revealed,  is  evidently,  as 
a  whole,  the  result  of  such  di¬ 
vine  inspiration,  it  is  to  be  re¬ 
ceived*,  and  may  be  entirely 
credited  as  an  inspired  book. 

Theological  writers  speak  of 
(he-  inspiration  of  elevation, 
by  whicn  the  natural  faculties 
are  endued  with  supernatural 
power,  and  rise  to  those  sub¬ 
lime  conceptions  of  divine 
things,  which  their  natural 
force  could  not  attain ;  and 
also  of  the  inspiration  of  sug¬ 
gestion,  by  which  the  truth  is 
suggested  directly  to  the  mind 
by  the  Spirit  of  God,  and  also 
the  language  in  which  it  is  to 
be  declared  to  others.  Such 
was  the  revelation  to  John  in 
ihe  isle  of  Patmos.  All  these 
Various  degrees  or  kinds  of 
inspiration  are  supposed  to 
occur  in  our  Scriptures.  And 
sometimes  they  are  combined. 
(See  Scripture.) 

INSTRUMENTS  OF  MU¬ 
SIC.  (See  Music.) 

INTERCESSION,  INTER¬ 
CESSOR.  (Isa.  liii.  12;  lix.16.) 
To  intercede  for  another  is  to 
appear  for  him  or  interpose  in 
his  behalf,  and  to  plead  for 
him.  (ITim.ii.  1.)  It  usually 
implies  guilt  or  obligation; 
anu  the  object  of  the  interces¬ 
sor  is  to  reconcile  or  satisfy  the 
offended  party,  and  procure 
the  release  and  pardon  of  the 
offender.  It  sometimes  denotes 
the  reverse  of  this.  (Rom. 
xi.  2.) 


IRO 

The  Spirit  is  said  to  make 
intercession  for  us.  (Rom.viii. 
26.)  This  is  to  be  understood 
as  referring  to  that  peculiar 
influence  of  the  Spirit  upon 
the  heart  by  which  it  is  taught, 
and  guided,  and  enabled  to 
cherish  and  breathe  forth  holy 
desires,  which  God  will  gra¬ 
ciously  accept  through  the 
complete  and  effectual  media¬ 
tion  of  Him  who  ever  liveth  to 
make  intercession  for  us.  As 
to  the  fact  of  Christ’s  interces¬ 
sion,  see  Rom.  viii.  34.  1  Tim. 
ii.  5.  1  John  ii.  1 ;  and  the  man¬ 
ner  of  it  is  illustrated.  Heb. 
vii. — x.,  fn  which  chapters 
the  continued  intercession  of 
Christ,  and  the  sacrifice  of 
himself  as  the  ground  of  his 
intercession,  are  presented  to 
the  mind  as  a  most  affecting 
evidence  of  the  nature  and 
effect  of  sin. 

IRON.  (Prov.  xxvii.  17.) 
Some  of  the  uses  of  this  well 
known  and  most  valuable 
metal  were  probably  known 
at  a  very  early  period.  (Gen. 
iv.  22.)  We  find  it  mention¬ 
ed  as  the  material  for  tools, 
(Deut.  xxvii.  5.  2  Kings  vi. 
6;)  weapons  of  war,  (ISam. 
xvii.  7;)  furniture,  (Deut.  iii. 
11 ;)  implements  of  husbandry, 
(2 Sam.  xii.  31.  Jer.  xxviii. 
14;)  and  chariots  of  war.  (Josh, 
xvii.  16,  &c.  &c.)  By  northern 
iron  (Jer.  xv.  12)  probably  is 
intended  a  species  of  iron  ore 
or  manufacture,  remarkable 
for  its  hardness,  found  in  a  re¬ 
gion  bordering  on  the  Euxine 
Sea,  and  of  course  north  of  Ju 
dea. 

It  is  naturally  supposed,  from 
the  connexion,  that  by  the  ex¬ 
pression,  a  land  whose  stones 
are  iron,  (Deut.  viii.  9,)  is  in¬ 
tended  an  abundance  of  iron 
ore;  and  a  passage  of  like  im¬ 
port  occurs  in  the  description 
of  the  lot  of  Asher,  (Deut.xxxiii. 
25,)  where  the  reading  migh 
be,  under  thy  shoes  are  iron 
and  brass. 


324 


ISA 


ISA 


ISAAC,  (Gen.  xxi.  S,)  the  son 
of  Abraham  and  Sarah,  was 
born  a.  m.  2103.  The  origin 
of  the  name,  which  signifies 
laughter ,  is  given  in  Gen.  xvii, 
17 ;  xviii.  12 ;  and  xxi.  (3. 

Abraham’s  laughter  was  that 
of  joy;  Sarah’s,  that  of  incredu¬ 
lity.  Isaac’s  birth  was  the  sub¬ 
ject  of  many  remarkable  pro¬ 
phecies  ;  and  he  was  made,  by 
express  covenant  with  Abra¬ 
ham,  the  ancestor  of  the  pro¬ 
mised  Messiah.  (Gen.  xxi.  12.) 
When  he  had  arrived  at  mature 
years,  his  father  was  required 
to  offer  him  up  in  sacrifice; 
and  his  conduct  on  this  occa¬ 
sion  as  remarkably  illustrates 
his  docility,  and  submission, 
and  filial  confidence,  as  the 
course  of  Abraham  did  his 
obedience  and  faith.  (See 
Abraham.)  He  married  Re- 
oekah,tbe  daughter  of  Bethuel, 
and  by  her  became  the  father 
of  Jacob  and  Esau.  His  pos¬ 
sessions  were  very  great,  (Gen. 
xxvi.  12,  13;)  but  niS  old  age 
was  embittered  by  domestic 
trials.  (Gen.  xxvi.  35 ;  xxvii.) 
He  died  at  Hebron,' at  the  ad¬ 
vanced  age  of  one  hundred 
and  eighty  years.  (Gen.  xxxv. 
23,  29.)  For  a  particular  his¬ 
tory  of  Isaac,  'with  maps  and 
engravings,  see  History  of 
Abraham,  Story  of  Isaac, 
Jacob  and  his  son  Joseph, 
and  Stories  from  the  Scrip¬ 
tures,  all  by  Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

ISAIAH.  (2 Kings  xx.  1.) 
Very  little  is  known  of  the 
personal  history  of  this  emi¬ 
nent  prophet.  We  know  that 
he  was  the  son  of  Amoz,  and 
the  Jews  say  that  Amoz  was 
the  brother  of  Amaziah  king 
of  Judah.  Isaiah  lived  and 


prophesied  between  the  year 
of  the  world  3164  and  3305 ;  for 
the  days  of  Uzziah ,  Jot  ham, 
Ahaz,  and  Hezekiah  embrace 
that  period,  and  his  prophecy 
(vas  uttered  in  their  successive 
reigns.  The  history  of  these 
reigns  is  in  2  Kings  sv.— xx. 

23 


2  Chron.  xxvi. — xxxii.  Some 

fiassages  of  it  are  given  by 
saiah,  as  in  ch.  vii.  viii.  xxxvi. 
— xxxix.  Uzziah  or  Azariah 
reigned  fifty-two  years,  Jothanj 
and  Ahaz  each  sixteen,  and 
Hezekiah  twenty-nine,  mak¬ 
ing  in  all  one  hundred  and 
thirteen:  of  course  Isaiah  did 
not  live  throughout  the  whole 
of  their  reigns.  The  period  of 
the  four  reigns  extends  from 
the  year  of  the  world  3194  to 
330G,  being  before  Christ  811) 
to  698.  The  city  of  Rome  wa 
founded  in  the  time  of  Isaiah 
namely,  in  the  year  before 
Christ  753. 

Isaiah  was  nearly  contem¬ 
porary  with  Hosea,  Joel,  Amos, 
and  Micah ;  and  tradition  says 
that  he  was  one  of  the  faithful 
who  were  sawn  asunder ,  (Heb. 
xi.  37,)  and  that  the  event  hap¬ 
pened  about  698  years  before 
Christ.  There  is  no  evidence, 
however,  as  to  the  time  or 
manner  of  his  death. 

Prophecy  of,  is  regarded  as 
one  of  the  most  complete  and 
sublime  of  all  the  prophetical 
writings.  Its  reference  to  the 
advent,  offices,  and  kingdom 
of  the  Messiah  are  so  nume¬ 
rous  and  exact  as  to  have  ob¬ 
tained  for  its  author  the  title 
of  the  evangelical  prophet;  and 
the  name  Isaiah  (the  salvation 
of  Jehovah)  indicates  the  same 
characteristic  of  this  sublime 
book. 

The  first  thirty-nine  chapters 
of  the  prophecy  relate  to  sub¬ 
jects  and  events  unconnected 
with  each  other,  and  embrace 
the  period  during  which  the 
prophet  was  more  actively  and 
openly  employed  as  a  minis¬ 
ter.  The  residue  of  the  book 
relates  chiefly  to  two  events,— 
the  end  of  the  Babylonish  cap¬ 
tivity,  and  the  coming  of  the 
Messiah;  the  latter  of  which 
he  seems  to  have  contemplated 
with  a  very  distinct  and  ele¬ 
vated  conception,  not  only  of 
the  circumstances  of  its  com 
325 


ISH 

mencement,  hut  of  its  progress, 
glory,  ami  ultimate  triumph. 

ISHBOSHETH,  (2Sam.ii.8,) 
son  and  successor  of  Saul,  was 
persuaded  by  Abner  to  go  up 
to  Mahanaim,  and  assume 
the  government,  while  David 
reigned  at  Hebron,  (2  Sam.  ii. 
11;)  and  a  majorityof  the  nation 
of  Israel  acknowledged  him  as 
king.  A  severe  battle  soon 
after  occurred  at  Gibeon,  be¬ 
tween  the  army  of  David,  un¬ 
der  Joab,  and  the  army  of 
Ishbosheth,  under  Abner;  in 
which  the  latter  were  utterly 
defeated. 

Soon  after  this,  Ishbosheth 
•flfended  Abner,  so  that  he  for¬ 
sook  his  interest,  and  became 
the  ally  of  David;  and  at 
length  Ishbosheth  was  assassi¬ 
nated  at  noonday,  while  he 
la  yon  his  bed.  (2  Sam.iv.5 — 7.) 

ISHI,  (Hos.  ii.  16,)  signifying 
my  husband,  and  BAALI,  in 
the  same  passage,  signifying 
my  Lord,  are  figuratively  used 
to  denote  the  contrast  between 
the  affections  and  relations  of 
Israel  towards  God,  at  two  dif¬ 
ferent  periods  of  their  history. 
The  latter  having  been  used 
in  idol  worship,  the  very  name 
was  to  become  obsolete.  (Hos. 
ii.  17.) 

ISHMAEL.  (Gen.  xvi.  11.) 
The  son  of  Abraham  by  Hagar. 
Previous  to  his  birth,  his  mo¬ 
ther, being  ill-treated  by  Sarah, 
fled  from  the  house,  and  while 
in  the  wilderness  was  informed 
by  an  angel  what  would  be 
the  character  of  her  child,  and 
that  his  posterity  would  be  in¬ 
numerable.  The  birth  of  Ish- 
mael  was  in  a.  m.  2094 ;  and 
ai  Abraham  supposed  that  the 
promises  of  God  respecting  his 
seed  were  to  be  fulfilled  in 
Ishmael,  he  nurtured  him  with 
much  care.  (Gen.  xvii.  18.) 

When  Isaac  was  weaned, 
Ishmael  was  about  seventeen 
years  of  age,  and  having  of- 
lended  Sarah  by  his  treatment 
of  her  child,  she  insisted  upon 


ISH 

it  that  both  he  and  his  mother 
Hagar  should  be  banished  from 
the  family. 

Hagar  probably  made  up  her 
mind  to  return  to  her  kindred 
in  Egypt;  but  when  she  had 
readied  the  wilderness  of  Beer- 
sheba,  her  stock  of  water  was 
exhausted,  and  the  lad,  over¬ 
come  with  fatigue  and  thirst, 
sunk  down,  apparently  to  die. 
God  appeared  for  their  deliver¬ 
ance,  directed  Hagar  to  a  foun¬ 
tain  of  water,  and  renewed  his 
promise  to  make  of  him  a  great 
nation.  They  remained  in  the 
wilderness,  and  he  sustained 
himself  and  his  mother  by 
hunting.  (Gen.  xxi.I3— 20.)  At 
length  he  married  an  Egyptian 
woman ;  and  so  rapidly  did  his 
progeny  multiply,  that  in  a  few 
years  afterwards  they  are  spo¬ 
ken  of  as  a  trading  nation. 
(Gen.  xxxvii.  26.) 

The  prophecy  that  he  should 
be*  a  wild  man,  or  literally  a 
wild  ass  man,  or  as  wild  as  a 
wild  ass,  has  been  wonderfully 
verified  in  the  history  of  the 
Arabs,  who  are  a  branch  of  his 
posterity.  They  are  univer¬ 
sally  known  as  robbers  and 
pirates  ;  and  all  wno  pass 
through  their  country  do  it 
in  caravans,  and  with  arms. 
They  have  never  been  driven 
from  their  territory,  but  have 
maintained  their  independ¬ 
ence  and  peculiarity  of  man¬ 
ners  and  customs  up  to  the 

f  resent  day,  though  they  have 
ived  in  the  midst  of  influ¬ 
ences  and  events,  and  have 
been  themselves  instrumental 
in  their  occurrence,  by  which 
the  relations  of  all  the  other 
kingdoms  of  the  earth  have 
been  essentially  modified,  if 
not  completely  subverted. 

The  wild  man  stili  spurns 
the  chains  of  a  foreign  con¬ 
queror,  still  waylays  the  tra¬ 
veller  by  the  fountain,  and 
maintains  himself,  as  in  the 
days  of  old,  by  violence  and 
plunder,  sweeping  his  troop 


1SL 

■>f  fierce  bandits  across  the 
path  of  the  merchant  and  the 
pilgrim.  The  parcelling  of 
the  natives  into  independent 
tribes  impaired  their  common 
strength.  No  necessity  ever 
summoned  them  to  combine 
for  their  mutual  defence;  no 
motives  of  external  advantage 
could  prevail  with  them  to 
suspend  their  domestic  feuds: 
and  no  leader,  till  Mohammed 
arose,  seems  to  have  possessed 
the  genius  or  address  to  con¬ 
centrate  their  impetuous  ener¬ 
gies  with  a  view  to  national 
aggrandizement., 

fSHMAELITES.  (Gen. 
xxxvii.  25.)  The  descendants 
of  Ishinael.  The  company  of 
fshmaelites,  to  whom  Joseph 
was  sold,  are  elsewhere  called 
Midianites.  (Gen.  xxxvii.  28.) 
Probably  they  were  lshmael- 
ites  who  dwelt  in  Midian.  It  is 
evident,  however,  that  the  two 
names  were  sometimes  applied 
to  the  same  people,  (Judg.  viii. 
22.24,)  though  we  know  the 
descendants  of  Midian  were 
not  Ishmaelites,  (for  Midian 
was  a  son  of  Abraham  by  Ke- 
turah.) 

ISLANDS,  ISLES,  &c.  (Isa. 
xlii.  12.)  These  words,  as  used 
in  our  version,  import  either, 
(1.)  A  settlement  or  colony,  as 
distinguished  from  uninhabit¬ 
ed  country,  or  from  seas  and 
rivers,  (as  in  Gen.  x.  5.  Job 
xxii.  30,  and  Isa.  xlii.  15 ;)— so 
at  this  day,  small  districts  of 
cultivated  and  settled  coun¬ 
try,  surrounded  by  immense 
wastes,  are,  in  the  same 
sense,  called  islands  ; — or,  (2.) 
Coast  or  country  adjacent  to 
water  or  maritime  places,  (as 
tsa.  xx.  6,  and  xxiii.  2.  6,  and 
Ezek. xxvii.7;)  or,  (3.)  Distant 
lands  beyond  the  sea,  or  places 
which  were  reached  by  sea, 
whether  coasts  or  islands,  and 
especially  the  regions  west  of 
Palestine,  whether' islands  or 
not,  (as  Isa.  xxiv.  15 ;  xl.  15  ; 
and  xlii.  4.  10.  12;)  or,  (4.) 


IT  A 

Islands,  properly  so  called,  (as 
Esth.x.  1,)  where  it  is  express¬ 
ly  used  in  distinction  from  the 
•continent  or  main  land. 

Isles  of  the  Gentiles,  or 
Heathen,  (Gen.  x.  5,  Zeph. 
ii.ll,) mean  generallylhe  parts 
of  Europe  most  known  to  the 
ancient  Asiatics. 

ISRAEL.  (Gen.  xxxv.  10.) 
The  surname  of  Jacob,  given 
to  him  by  the  angel  at  Maha- 
naim.  (Gen.  xxxii.  28.  Hos. 
xii.  3.)  It  signifies  the  prince 
that  prevails  with  God. 

We  find  it  used,  however, 
for  the  whole  race  of  Jacob’s 
posterity,  (1  Cor.  x.  18 ;)  also 
for  the  kingdom  of  the  tea 
tribes,  as  distinguished  from 
Judah,  (2  Kings  xiv.  12;)  and 
again  for  all  true  believers. 
(Isa. xlv.  17.  Rom.ix.6;  xi.26.) 

Land  of.  (See  Canaan.) 

’  Kingdom  of.  (See  Israel 
ites.) 

ISRAELITES.  (Josh.  iii.  17.) 
This  was  the  usual  name  of 
the  twelve  tribes,  from  the  time 
of  their  leaving  Egypt  until  the 
revolt  under  Jeroboam,  when 
the  ten  tribes  constituted  the 
kingdom  of  Israel,  and  the  re¬ 
maining  two  the  kingdom  of 
Judah.  (See  Hebrews.) 

ISSACIIAR  (Gen.  xxx.  18) 
was  the  fifth  son  of  Jacob  and 
Leah.  The  prophetical  de¬ 
scription  of  him,  uttered  by  his 
father,  (Gen.  xlix.  14, 15,)  was 
fulfilled  in  the  fact  that  the 
posterity  of  Issachar  were  a 
laborious  people,  and  addicted 
to  rural  employments:  hardy, 
and  patient  to  bearthe  burdens 
both  of  labour  and  war.  (J  udg. 
v.  15.  1  Chron.  vii.  1—5.) 

Tribe  of,  had  its  portion  in 
one  of  the  most  fertile  tracts  of 
the  country.  It  was  a  triangu¬ 
lar  section  on  the  Jordan,  be¬ 
tween  Zebulon  and  Ephraim, 
including  the  rich  valley  of 
Jezreel ;  thus  fulfilling  the  pre¬ 
diction  of  his  father  in  this  re 
sped.  (Gen.  xlix  14, 15.) 

ITALY.  (Actsxvi.i.2;  xxi  »• 


ITU 

1  6.  Heb.  xiii.  24.)  Thia  coun¬ 
try,  of  which  Rome  was  the 
capital  in  the  days  of  Christ 
and  his  apostles,  is  too  well 
known  to  need  description. 
It  stretches  out  into  the  Medi¬ 
terranean  Sea,  having  the 
Adriatic  on  the  north-east,  the 
Tuscan  Sea  on  the  south-west, 
and  France,  Switzerland,  and 
Germany  on  the  north. 

ITHAMAR.  (See  Eleazak.) 

ITUREA.  (Luke  iii.  1.)  A 
province  of  Syria,  which  de¬ 
rived  its  name  from  Jetur,  a 
son  of  Ishmael,  (Gen.  xxv.  15. 
1  Chron.  i.  31,)  whose  posterity 
inhabited  it.  It  was  south  of 
Trachonitis,  beyond  Jordan, 
and  probably  included  Aura- 
nitis  and  Batanea.  It  was 
overrun  by  a  narty  of  the  Isra¬ 
elites  in  the  time  of  Jotham 
king  of  Judah,  and  a  vast 
quantity  of  spoil  taken.  (IChr. 
v.  19.  22.)  It  is  now  called 
Djedour. 


JAB 

JABBOK.  (Gen.  xxxii.  22.) 

A  brook  rising  in  the  moun¬ 
tains  south-east  of  Gilead,  and 
running  in  a  rocky  channel, 
through  a  deep  ravine,  about 
fifty  miles  westward  to  the  Jor¬ 
dan,  separating  the  Amorites 
from  the  Ammonites.  (Num. 
xxi.  24.)  Jacob  crossed  it  on 
his  return  from  Mesopotamia. 
(Gen.  xxxii.  22.)  It  is  now 
called  Zerka,  (.blue  river ;) 
and  travellers  speak  of  cliffs 
on  either  side  of  five  hundred 
feet  perpendicular  height,  with 
a  breadth,  from  cliff  to  cliff,  of 
not  more  than  one  hundred 
feet.  In  some  places  the  stream 
is  not  more  than  thirty  feel 
wide. 

JABESH,  (I  Sam.  xi.  5,)  or 
JABESH-GILEAD,  (Juris,  xxi. 
8,)  was  situated  at  the  foot  of 
mount  Gilead,  within  the  ter¬ 
ritory  of  Manasseh,  on  a  small 
brook  which  is  still  called 


two 

IVORY.  (IKingsx.  18.)  The 
substance  of  the  tusk  of  the 
elephant.  That  which  is 
brought  from  Ceylon  is  re¬ 
garded  as  most  valuable.  It 
was  among  the  merchandise 
of  Tyre  (E'zek.  xxvii.  15)  and 
Tarshish.  (1  Kings  x.  ^2.)  So¬ 
lomon’s  throne  was  built  of  it, 
(2  Chron.  ix.  17.  21 ;)  and  so 
lavishly  was  it  used  in  archi¬ 
tecture  of  various  kinds,  and 
cabinet  work,  as  to  justify  the 
expressions  we  find  in  Amos 
iii.  15;  vi.4,  and  Ezek.  xxvii. 
6.  In  the  last  of  these  passages 
ivory  shrines  are  meant,  used 
as  little  images  are  by  many 
modern  sailors  for  superstitious 
purposes. 

The  term  ivory  palaces  (Ps. 
xlv.  8)  is  supposed  to  refer 
either  to  the  country  whence 
the  perfume  was  obtained,  or 
to  boxes  richly  wrought,  or 
inlaid  with  ivory,  in  which  ii 
was  kept. 


JAB 

Tabes.  In  the  days  of  the 
judges,  this  place  was  sacked 
by  the  Israelites,  and  nearly 
all  the  inhabitants  cut  off,  be¬ 
cause  they  refused  their  aid 
in  a  war  upon  the  tribe  of 
Benjamin.  (Jqdg.  xxi.  10.)  Af¬ 
terwards  it  was  besieged  by 
the  Ammonites,  who  refused  to 
spare  the  citizens,  unless  they 
would  consent  to  have  their 
right  eyes  plucked  out.  (1  Sam. 
xi.  2.)  Having  obtained  a  sus¬ 
pension  of  hostilities  for  a 
week,  they  took  advantage  of 
the  interval  to  secure  the  aid 
of  Saul,  who  marched  an  army 
to  their  rescue,  and  surprised 
and  defeated  the  Ammonites 
with  great  slaughter;  a  ser¬ 
vice  for  which  the  inhabitants 
of  the  city  evinced  their  grati¬ 
tude.  (1  Sam.  xxxi.  11, 12.  2 
Sam.  ii.  5.) 

JABIN.  1.  (Josh.xi.  1.)  King 
of  Hazor,  a  northern  district 
328 


JAC 

of  Canaan.  He  attempted,  by 
a  formidable  alliance, to  oppose 
the  progress  of  Joshua.  He  and 
his  allies  were  terribly  defeat¬ 
ed  in  a  battle  at  Merom,  the 
city  of  Hazor  was  taken,  and 
Jabin  put  to  death. 

2.  (Judg.  iv.  2.)  Another 
Jung  of  the  same  name  and 
place,  who  had  great  wealth' 
and  power, and  was  guilty  of  op¬ 
pressing  the  children  of  Israel 
for  twenty  years.  His  army 
was  defeated  by  Deborah  and 
Barak,  and  Sisera,  his  princi¬ 
pal  general,  put  to  death. 

JABNEEL,  (Josh.  xv.  11,)  or 
JABNEH,  (2  Chron.  xxvi.  6,) 
was  a  city  of  the  Philistines, 
situated  twelve  miles  south  of 
Joppa.  It  was  called  Jamnia 
by  the  Greeks  and  Romans, 
and  is  now  called  Gebna,  or 
Yebna. 

JACINTH.  (Rev.  ix.  17.)  A 
precious  stone,  of  a  reddish 
yellow  or  hyacinth  colour,  re¬ 
sembling  the  amethyst. 

JACOB,  (Gen.  xxy.  26,)  the 
son  of  Isaac  and  Rebekah,  and 
twin  brother  to  Esau,  received 
his  name,  which  signifies  sup- 
planter,  from  a  circumstance 
which  occurred  at  his  birth. 
(Gen.  xxv.)  When  these  bro¬ 
thers  grew  up,  Esau  devoted 
himself  to  hunting,  and  often 
gratified  his  aged  father  with 
savoury  meat  which  he  pre¬ 
pared  from  the  fruits  of  the 
chase.  By  this  means  he  be¬ 
came  v  ry  much  the  favourite 
oflsaac;  whileJacob  who  was 
a  plain,  domestic  man,  was  no 
less  the  favourite  of  his  mother 
(Gen.  xxv.  27.)  Isaac,  appre¬ 
hending  that  his  end  was 
drawing  near,  was  desirous, 
Defore  his  departure,  of  pro¬ 
nouncing  a  solemn,  paternal 
benediction  on  his  eldest  son; 
and  that  his  mind  might  be 
excited  to  the  lively  exercise 
of  affection,  he  requested  Esau 
to  go  out  to  the  field  and  take 
some  venison,  and  make  him 
savoury  meat,  such  as  he  loved 
28* 


JAC 

and  bring  it  to  him,  that  he 
might  eat  and  bless  him  before 
he  died.  Before  this  time,  Ja¬ 
cob  had,  for  a  mess  of  pottage, 
purchased  from  Esau  his  birth¬ 
right, which  included  the  bless¬ 
ing  now  about  to  be  given. 
(Gen.  xxv.  34.)  Rebekah, 
having  overheard  Isaac’s  re¬ 
quest  to  Esau,  and  no  doubt 
being  acquainted  with  the  cir¬ 
cumstance  of  the  sale  of  the 
birthright,  immediately  con¬ 
ceived  a  plan  of  securing  the 
patriarchal  blessing,  which 
was  prophetic  in  its  nature,  for 
her  favourite;  for,  while  Esau 
was  in  the  pursuit  of  venison 
in  the  field,  she  induced  Jacob 
to  personate  his  brother,  and 
to  carry  to  his  father  savoury 
meat,  prepared  by  herself  from 
a  tender  kid ;  and  as  Isaac’s 
eyes  were  so  dim  that  he  was 
unable  to  distinguish  between 
his  sons  by  their  appearance, 
all  that  was  necessary  was  to 
guard  against  detection,  in 
case  he  should  be  led  to  feel 
the  hands  and  face  of  Jacob; 
for  Esau  being  very  hairy,  and 
Jacob  smooth,  it  readily  occur¬ 
red  to  the  latter  that  his  father 
might  resort  to  this  method  of 
identifying  him.  To  prevent 
detection  in  this  way,  Rebekah 
covered  the  neck  and  hands 
of  Jacob  with  the  skin  of  the 
kid.  Thus  prepared,  he  ven¬ 
tured  into  his  father’s  pre¬ 
sence,  and  by  means  of  lies 
and  fraud  obtained  the  chief 
blessing,  which  was  intended 
for  the  first-born.  When  Esau 
returned,  the  deception  was 
rendered  manifest ;  but  Isaac, 
though  deeply  distressed  on 
account  of  his  mistake,  and 
importunately  and  with  tears 
entreated  by  Esau,  would  not 
consent  to  change  any  thing 
which  had  gone  out  of  his 
mouth;  and  Esau  received,  in¬ 
deed,  a  benediction,  but  not 
that  of  the  first-born,  which 
was  already  given  to  Jacob. 
By  this  fraud  and  injury,  tho 
3  329 


JAC 

enmity  of  Esau  to  his  brother 
was  excited  to  the  highest  de¬ 
gree,  (Gen.  xxvii.  41 ;)  and  he 
threatened  to  take  away  his 
life,  as  soon  as  his  father’s 
funeral  should  be  over.  Rebe- 
kah,  hearing  of  these  threats, 
persuaded  Isaac  to  send  Jacob 
away  to  Haran,  to  her  brother 
Laban,  until  his  brother’s  an¬ 
ger  should  subside.  Accord¬ 
ing!/,  Jacob  having  again  re¬ 
ceived  his  father’s  blessing, 
and  a  charge  not  to  take  a 
wife  of  the  daughters  of  Ca¬ 
naan,  as  Esau  had  done,  to  the 
sore  grief  of  his  parents,  set  off 
on  his  journey  to  Padan-aram. 
(Gen.  xxviii.5.)  As  he  journey¬ 
ed,  he  came  to  a  certain  place 
where  he  resolved  to  lodge; 
and  taking  some  stones  of  the 
place  for  a  pillow,  he  lay  down 
to  sleep.  As  he  slept  Go'd  made 
known  to  him,  in  a  remarka¬ 
ble  dream,  that  his  posterity 
should  be  very  numerous ;  that 
they  should  one  day  possess 
the  soil  on  which  he  was  then 
reposing ;  that  he  should  be 
personally  protected  and  pros¬ 
pered  ;  and  that  in  him  all  the 
families  of  the  earth  should  be 
blessed.  This  place  was  after¬ 
wards  called  Bethel.  (Gen. 
xxvii.  xxviii.) 

When  Jacob  came  near  to 
the  residence  of  his  mother’s 
kindred,  he  saw  in  the  field 
a  well,  where  were  three 
flocks  of  sheep,  and  their  shep¬ 
herds  with  them ;  and  on  in¬ 
quiry,  he  found  that  they  were 
of  Haran,  and  that  Rachel,  the 
daughter  of  Laban,  was  then 
approaching.  The  meeting  be¬ 
tween  Jacob  and  the  young 
and  beautiful  shepherdess,  his 
cousin,  made  an  impression  on 
his  heart  which  was  indeli¬ 
ble.  Soon  after  theyoungman 
was  domesticated  in  the  house 
of  Laban,  (for  Nahor,  though 
living,  seems  to  have  been 
superannuated,)  he  made  pro¬ 
posals  to  Laban  to  take 
Rachel  in  marriage,  promis- 


JAC 

ing  to  serve  seven  years  for 
her.  But  as  he  had  been 
guilty  of  a  gross  deception 
towards  his  father,  to  the  in¬ 
jury  of  his  only  brother,  he 
himself  now  became  the  dupe 
of  a  designing' and  unjust  rela¬ 
tive.  Instead  of  his  beloved 
Rachel,  Leah,  her  elder  sister* 
was  given  to  him  deceptively; 
and  “when  he  remonstrated 
with  his.  father-in-law,  he  was 
told  that  the  custom  of  the 
country  required  that  the  old¬ 
est  should  be  disposed  of  in 
marriage  before  a  younger  sis¬ 
ter  :  but  it  was  proposed,  that 
if  he  would  serve  as  much 
longer,  he  should  still  have 
Rachel.  It  is  not  to  be  under¬ 
stood  that  he  did  not  receive 
her  until  the  seven  years  were 
ended :  a  careful  attention  to 
the  history  will  show,  that  he 
must  have  received  Rachel 
immediately,  and  served  for 
her  afterwards.  With  each  of 
his  daughters  Laban  gave  a 
maid,  both  of  whom  became 
the  wives  of  Jacob,  of  the  se¬ 
condary  or  inferior  kind.  (Gen. 
xxix.) 

From  all  these  there  were 
born  to  Jacob  while  he  sojourn¬ 
ed  in  Mesopotamia,  eleven 
sons  and  one  daughter.  Of 
these,  Joseph  only  was  the 
son  of  Rachel;  Benjamin,  her 
other  son,  having  been  born 
near  Bethlehem.  (Gen.  xxxv. 
18.)  Avarice  seems  to  have 
been  the  ruling  passion  with 
Laban ;  for  the  gratification 
of  which,  he  seemed  to  be 
willing  to  sacrifice  even  the 
comfort  of  his  own  children, 
and  to  take  every  advantage 
of  a  young  and  inexperienced 
kinsman.  Continually  he 
seems  to  have  been  studying 
and  contriving  some  scheme 
by  which  he  might  obtain  the 
services  of  Jacob  for  less  than 
their  value ;  but  the  provi¬ 
dence  of  God  prevented  him 
from  eventually  injuring  his 
servant,  with  whom  he  had 
330 


JAC 

entered  into  covenant  at  Beth¬ 
el.  Whatever  plan  of  wages 
Laban  would  fix  on,  the  Lord 
overruled  it  for  the  benefit 
of  Jacob.  (Gen.  xxx.  26 — 43.) 
But  at  length  he  resolved  to 
*eturn  to  his  own  country, 
rom  which  he  had  been  so 
eng  an  exile.  And  lest  his 
ether-in-law  should  hinder  his 
purpose,  he  communicated  his 
lesign  to  his  own  family  ;  but 
_ook'  the  opportunity,  when 
Laban  was  absent,  to  set  off 
with  his  wives  and  children, 
and  all  his  cattle,  and  all  his 
goods,  to  go  to  Isaac  his  father, 
in  the  land  of  Canaan,  who 
still  continued  to  live,  beyond 
his  own  and  the  hopes  of  all 
his  friends.  This  important 
step,  however,  was  not  taken 
without  the  direction  of  his 
covenant-keeping  God.  On  the 
third  day  after  Jacob’s  depart¬ 
ure,  Laban  received  intelli¬ 
gence  of  his  flight,  and  he  im¬ 
mediately  pursued  after  him 
with  a  company  of. men,  and 
on  the  seventh  day  overtook 
him  in  the  mount  Gilead. 
These  can  be  no  doubt  that 
Laban’s  intentions  were  hos¬ 
tile;  but  on  the  night  preced¬ 
ing  his  coming  up  with  Jacob, 
he  received  an  admonition 
from  the  Lord,  in  a  dream,  not 
to  attempt  any  thing  against 
him.  After  a  warm  expostula¬ 
tion  on  both  sides,  they  agreed 
to  part  in  peace;  and  accord¬ 
ingly  a  solemn  covenant  was 
entered  into  between  them; 
as  a  sitrn  of  which,  they  piled 
up  a  heap  of  stones,  on  which 
they  ate  together  in  token  of 
friendship,  and  agreeably  to  a 
custom  prevalent  in  many  an- 
■  c.ient  nations.  The  mount  on 
which  this  transaction  occur¬ 
red  received  its  name,  Gilead, 
from  the  heap  of  stones  set  up 
for  this  witness.  (Gen.  xxxt. 
47. 48.) 

Soon  after  Jacob  was  reliev¬ 
ed  from  all  fear  from  Laban, 
and  had  the  pleasing  prospect 


JAC 

of  speedily  coming  to  the  end 
of  his  journey,  new  fears  and 
troubles  arose.  The  danger 
which  now  threatened  him 
was  indeed  appalling ;  his 
brother  Esau  was  on  his  way 
to  meet  him,  accompanied  by 
four  hundred  men.  No  other 
than  a  hostile  attack  could  be 
meditated,  as  he  supposed, 
when  he  saw  his  offended 
broLher  approach  with  such 
an  army,  against  a  company 
of  helpless  women  and  child¬ 
ren.  In  this  extremity,  Jacob 
had  no  other  resource  but  to 
look  to  Heaven  for  help.  Ever 
sinceGod  had  revealed  himself 
to  him  at  Bethel,  he  had  made 
Him  his  confidence  and  refuge 
in  all  his  troubles.  Now,  there¬ 
fore,  he  cried  to  Him  in  his  dis¬ 
tress.  (Gen.  xxxii.  9-  12.) 

Having  thus  committed  his 
cause  by  fervent  prayer  to  the 
Almighty,  he  did  not  think  it 
unnecessary  to  make  use  of 
the  most  probable  means  to 
avert  the  threatening  evil;  and 
therefore  he  sent  messengers 
to  meet  his  brother  with  a  va¬ 
luable  present  from  his  flocks 
and  herds,  in  separate  droves. 
In  that  night  Jacob  took  his 
two  wives,  and  his  two  wo¬ 
men  servants,  and  his  eleven 
sons,  and  passed  over  the  ford 
Jabbok ;  and  having  sent 
them  over  this  stream,  to- 
ether  with  .all  his  property, 
e  remained  alone  on  the  op- 
p'osite  side.  And  here  a  very 
extraordinary  scene  occurred, 
which  is  recorded  at  length, 
Gen.  xxxii.  24— 30;  and  on  this 
occasion  Jacob’s  name  was 
changed  to  Israel. 

Esau  now  approached,  but 
not  as  an  enemy.  There  was 
revived  in  his  bosom  a  strong 
feeling  of  fraternal  affection; 
so  that  when  he  saw  Jacob,  he 
ran  to  meet  him,  and  embraced 
him,  and  they  wppt.  Thus  mar 
vellously  did  God  provide  foi 
j  the  safety  and  comfort  of  his 
I  servant.  "Esau  inquired  kindl) 

•iQl 


1 A  C 

concerning  his  brother’s  fami¬ 
ly,  who  came  forward  succes¬ 
sively,  and  paid  their  respects 
to  him :  and  he  would  have 
declined  receiving  the  present 
which  had  been  sent  forward 
to  him,  but  Jacob  insisted  on 
his  acceptance  of  it,  and  he 
look  it.  After  this  interview, 
Esau  returned  to  mount  Seir, 
and  Jacob  journeyed  to  Suc- 
coth,  where  he  made  booths  for 
his  cattle:  from  which  circum¬ 
stance,  the  place  received  its 
name,  as  the  word  succoth  sig¬ 
nifies  booths.  But  he  seems 
only  to  have  sojourned  here 
for  a  short  time;  probably  to 
give  rest  to  the  women  and 
children,  and  to  the  flocks  and 
herds,  which  had  now  been 
driven  a  long  distance,  without 
much  cessation.  But  his  jour¬ 
ney  was  not  terminated  until 
he  came  to  Shalem,  a  city  of 
Shechem,  which  is  in  the  land 
of  Canaan,  where  he  bought  a 
parcel  of  ground  of  the  children 
of  Hamor,  for  a  hundred  pieces 
of  money,  and  erected  there 
an  altar,  and  called  it  El- 
Elohe-Israel ,  that  is,  God,  the 
God  of  Israel.  (Gen.  xxxiii.) 

But  although  Jacob  seems  to 
have  intended  this  as  his  place 
of  permanent  residence,  yet 
events  occurred  which  render¬ 
ed  it  expedient  for  him  to  re¬ 
move  to  another  part  of  the 
country.  (Gen.  xxxiv.  See 
Dinah.) 

Jacob  was  greatly  grieved'  at 
the  cruel  and  treacherous  con¬ 
duct  cf  his  sons  in  the  affair 
of  Dinah,  and  foresaw  that  it 
would  render  him  and  his 
family  odious  to  all  the  people 
"in  the  neighbourhood,  so  as  to 
expose  him  to  be  slain  with  all 
his  house. 

The  same  invisible  power, 
however,  which  preserved  him 
from  the  hostility  of  Laban  and 
his  brother,  now  also  shielded 
him  from  the  resentment  of 
the  Canaanites,  so  that  they 
were  not  interrupted  nor  pur- 


J  AC 

sued  in  their  journey;  for  the 
terror  of  God  was  upon  the 
cities  that  were  round  about 
them,  and  they  did  not  pursue 
after  the  sons  of  Jacob.  During 
this  journey,  Jacob  purged  his 
house  from  idolatry,  and  puri¬ 
fied  them  by  some  ceremony, 
which  has  commonly  been  sup¬ 
posed  to  have  been  by  washing 
their  bodies  in  water;  for  they 
were  commanded  to  be  clean, 
and  change  their  garments. 
(Gen.  xxxv.  2.) 

He  now  arrived  at  Bethel, 
where, in  conformity  with  vows 
and  the  divine  sanction,  he 
built  an  altar,  which  he  called 
El-Bethel,  the  God  of  Bethel. 
Here  also  God  appeared  unto 
Jacob  again,  and  blessed  him ; 
and,  under  the  name  of  God 
Almighty,  renewed  the  pro¬ 
mise  respecting  the  multipli¬ 
cation  of  his  seed,  and  the 
possession  of  the  land  of  Ca¬ 
naan. 

But  the  domestic  troubles  of 
this  good  man  were  far  from 
being  ended.  He  was .  now 
called  to  endure  a  bereave¬ 
ment  of  the  most  afflicting 
kind  which  could  have  befal¬ 
len  him.  Having  completed 
his  pilgrimage  to  Bethel,  he 
was  on  his  way  to  Ephratah, 
and  had  come  near  to  the 
place,  when  Rachel  died,  soon 
after  giving  birth  to  a  second 
son,  whom,  with  her  expiring 
breath,  she  named  Benoni ; 
but  his  father  called  him  Ben¬ 
jamin.  After  the  burial  of  his 
wife,  Jacob  continued  his  jour¬ 
ney  until  he  came  to  a  place 
beyond  the  tower  of  Edar, 
where  he  spread  his  tent,  and 
fixed  his  abode  ;  but  domestic 
troubles  were  still  allotted  to 
him;  for  while  resident  here, 
his  oldest  son  Reuben  acted 
in  a  manner  so  base  and  dis¬ 
honourable,  that  the  feelings 
of  his  father  must  have  been 
deeply  wounded.  At  length, 
pursuing  his  way,  he  came  to 
Manure,  which  had  been  the 
332 


JAC 

favourite  residence  of  Abra¬ 
ham,  and  from  which  Isaac 
was  never  absent  for  any 
considerable  time,  until  the 
day  of  his  death.  This  peace¬ 
able  and  pious  patriarch 
wa3  still  alive,  though  at  a 
very  advanced  age;  but  soon 
after  Jacob’s  arrival,  he  died, 
and  was  gathered  unto  his 
people ,  being  old  and  full  of 
days:  and  his  sons  Esau  and 
Jacob  buried  him  in  the  cave 
of  Machpelah,  where  probably 
were  the  ashes  of  his  father 
and  his  mother.  Soon  after 
this,  the  affecting  scenes  open, 
in  which  Joseph  took  so  con¬ 
spicuous  a  part,  and  which 
exhibit  the  still  heavier  trials 
of  Jacob,  and  the  wonderful 
dealings  of  a  covenant  God 
towards  him  and  his  house. 
(Gen.  xxxvii.  —  xlv.)  .These 
events  led  to  his  removal  to 
Egypt,  (Gen.  xlvi.,)  where,  in 
the  land  of  Goshen,  he  led  a 
prosperous  and  tranquil  life 
for  seventeen  years,  and  then, 
after  pronouncing  a  remarka¬ 
ble  prophetic  blessing  on  the 
infant  childreuofJoseph,(Gen. 
xlviii.  8. 22,)  he  died,  A.  m.  2616, 
aged  one  hundred  and  forty- 
seven  years ;  and,  according  to 
his  dying  request,  his  remains 
were  carried  up,  attended  by 
the  chief  officers  and  nobility 
of  Egypt,  to  Canaan,  and  bu¬ 
ried  in  the  family  vault  at 
Machpelah.  (Gen.  1. 13.  For  a 
full  history  of  Jacob  and  his 
family,  see  Jacob  and  his 
son  Joseph,  Story  of  Isaac, 
History  of  the  Patriarchs, 
History  of  Joseph,  Union 
Questions,  vol.  iii.,  and 
Teacher’s  Assistant  in  the 
use  of  that  vol.,  all  by  the  Am. 
S.  S.  Union.) 

The  terms  Jacob  and  the 
seed  or  children  of  Jacob  are 
often  applied  to  the  body  of 
true  believers  generally.(Deut. 
xxxiii.  10.  Ps.  'xiv.  7;  xxii.23; 
cv.  6 ;  cxxxv.  4.  Isa.  xiv.  1 ; 
xliv.  2.  Mic.  vii.  20.) 


J  AD 

Jacob’s  Well.  (See  She- 
chem.) 

JADDUA,  (Neh.  xii.  11,)  or 
JADDUS,  the  sou  of  Jonathan, 
high-priest  of  the  Jews,  who 
officiated  a  considerable  timB 
after  the  captivity,  and  is  be¬ 
lieved  to  be  the  same  who 
lived  in  the  time  of  Alexander 
the  Great.  Concerning  him, 
Josephus  relates  this  remarka¬ 
ble  story :  that  Alexander  hav¬ 
ing  sent  to  him  for  provisions 
for  his  army  while  besieging 
Tyre,  he  excused  himself  on 
the  ground  that  he  had  taken 
an  oath  of  fidelity  to  Darius, 
king  of  Persia.  The  impetu¬ 
ous  conqueror  was  highly  pro¬ 
voked,  and  vowed  veTngeance 
against  the  Jews.  According¬ 
ly,  as  soon  as  Tyre  was  sub¬ 
dued,  he  put  his  army  in 
motion  towards  Jerusalem  ;  but 
before  he  reached  the  place, 
Jaddus  and  the  other  priests, 
clothed  in  their  pontifical 
robes,  and  a  multitude  of  the 
principal  people,  all  dressed 
in  white  garments,  met  him; 
on  which  Alexander  bowed 
himself  to  the  ground,  and 
seemed  to  worship  the  high- 
priest,  which  conduct  filled 
all  his  followers  with  amaze¬ 
ment.  And  Parmenio,  request¬ 
ing  an  explanation  of  this 
extraordinary  behaviour,  was 
informed,  that  before  he  left 
Macedonia,  he  had  seen  in  a 
dream  the  appearance  of  the 
person  now  before  him,  who 
promised  him  the  empire  of 
the  world,  and  that  his  adora¬ 
tion  was  not  addressed  to  the 
man,  but  to  the  deity  whose 
sacred  name  he  bore  on  his 
forehead.  Whatever  truth  there 
may  be  in  this  story,  we  know 
that  Alexander,  instead  of  in¬ 
flicting  punishment  on  the 
Jews,  granted  them  great  im- 
munitres,  especially  exemp 
tion  from  taxation  on  every 
seventh  or  sabbatical  year, 
and  took  many  of  them  into 
his  own  service;  and  when  he 


JAH 

built  the  city  of  Alexandria,  in 
Egypt,  he  invited  multitudes 
of  this  nation  to  settle  there ; 
and  put  them,  in  regard  to 
privileges,  on  a  level  with  his 
own  Macedonians. 

JAEL.  (Jiidg.  iv  17.)  The 
wife  of  Heber  the  Kenite.  After 
the  defeat  of  Jabin’s  army  by 
Deborah  and  Barak,  Sisera,  the 
general,  fled  towards  the  tent 
of  Jael.  It  was  not  unusual 
for  the  women  to  have  a  tent 
separate  from  the  men,  as  in 
Sarah’s  case,  (Gen.  xxiv.  fi7,) 
and  Leah’s.  (Gen.  xxxi.  33.) 
This  was  regarded  as  a  place 
of  security  ;  for  then,  as  now, 
among  the  Arabs,  a  stranger 
would”  not  venture  into  the 
women’s  tent  unasked.  Jael 
invited  him  in,  and  concealed 
him.  Fatigued  and  thirsty,  he 
asked  for  water,  and  she  gave 
Him  milk,  (see  Butter,)  as 
some  suppose,  to  produce  sleep 
the  sooner.  (Judg.  v.  25.)  After 
instructing  Jael  to  stand  at  the 
door  of  the  tent,  and  to  deny 
that  he  was  within,  if  any  one 
should  inquire  for  him,  he  fell 
into  a  sound  sleep.  She  then 
took  a  tent-pin,  and  with  a 
hammer  drove  it  through  his 
temples  into  the  ground.  Un¬ 
natural  and  horrid  as  this 
act  seems,  we  find  that  in 
the  song  of  triumph,  which 
was  afterwards  uttered  by  De¬ 
borah  and  Barak,  the  tragical 
circumstances  are  minutely 
related,  and  Jael  is  called 
blessed  above  women.  (Judg. 
v.  24—27.)  And  we  are  to  sup¬ 
pose  that  she  was  employed, 
under  divine  direction,  as  a 
mere  instrument  for  accom¬ 
plishing  God’s  purposes  in  the 
deliverance  of  Israel  from  op¬ 
pression. 

JAH.  (Ps.  lxviii.  4.)  A  con¬ 
traction  of  the  word  Jehovah , 
and  imports  the  attribute  of 
self-existence.  It  is  part  of 
the  compound  words  Adonijah 
( God  ia  my  Lord)  and  Halle¬ 
lujah  ^Praise  the  Lord.) 


JAM 

JARAZ,  (Num.  xxi.  23,)  or 
JAHAZA,  (Josh.  xiii.  18,)  or 
JAHAZAH,  (Jer.  xlviii.21,)  or 
JAHZAH.  (lChron.vi.78.)  A 
city  on  the  northern  frontier 
of  the  Moabites,  in  the  vicinity 
of  which,  Moses  defeated  the 
army  of  Sihon,  on  his  refusal 
to  permit  him  to  pass  through 
it  peaceably. 

JAIR.  1.  (Num.  xxxii.  41.) 
A  son  of  Manasseh,  who  dis¬ 
possessed  the  Amorites,  and 
took  several  small  towns ; 
hence  called  Havath-jair. 
(Judg.  x.  4.) 

2.  (Judg.  x.  3.)  A  native  of, 
Gilead,  and  probably  a  de¬ 
scendant  of  the  foregoing.  For 
twenty-two  years  he  was  a 
judge  in  Israel ;  and  he  had 
thirty  sons,  all  of  whom,  it  is 
supposed  from  the  language 
of  the  sacred  historian,  (they 
rode  on  thirty  ass-colts ,)  were 
deputy  judges,  and  rode  from 
town  to  town,  administering 
justice.  (See  Havath-jair.) 
The  fact  that  they  succeeded 
to  the  paternal  inheritance 
furnishes  some  evidence  of 
their  good  character  and  ha¬ 
bits. 

JAIRUS.  (Mark  v.  22.)  An 
officer  of  the  Jewish  church, 
who  applied  to  Christ  to  restore 
to  life  his  daughter,  who  was 
at  the  point  of  death  when  he 
left  home.  He  evinced  very 
strong  faith.  Christ  with  his 
disciples  went  to  the  ruler's 
house,  and  his  daughter  was 
restored.  (See  Susan  Ell- 
maker,  p.  80,  hy  Am.  S.  S. 
Union.) 

JAMES.  1.  (Matt.  iv.  21.) 
A  son  of  Zebedee  and  Salome, 
and  brother  of  John  the  Evan¬ 
gelist.  He  was  present  at  se¬ 
veral  of  the  most  interesting 
scenes  in  our  Saviour’s  life, 
and  was  put  to  death  by  Herod, 
A.  D.  42—44,  (Acts  xii.  i;)  thus 
fulfilling  the  prediction  of  our 
Saviour  concerning  him.  (Luke 

2.  (Mark  xv.  40.)  A  son  of 
334 


JAM 


JAP 


Cleophas  (or  Alpheus)  and 
Mary,  called  (either  in  refer¬ 
ence  to  hia  years  or  stature) 
James  the  less.  This  James  is 
probably  intended  in  Gal.  i. 
19,  by  the  Lord's  brother.  (See 
also  Matt.  xiii.  55.  Mark  vi.  3.) 
That  he  was  first  cousin  to 
our  Saviour  in  the  flesh  we 
know,  for  his  mother  was  sis¬ 
ter  to  Christ’s  mother,  (John 
six.  25 ;)  and  the  term  brother 
was  often  applied  to  near  kin¬ 
dred.  (Gen.  xiii.  8.  2 Sam.  i.26. 
Acts  vii.  25,  26;  ix.  17.)  Some 
have  conjectured,  that  after 
Joseph’s  death,  Alpheus  mar¬ 
ried  his  widow,  and  their  off¬ 
spring  was  James  the  Less; 
hehce  called  the  Lord’s  bro¬ 
ther  ;  but  there  is  no  evidence 
to  support  the  opinion.  James 
the  Less  is  mentioned  with 
peculiar  distinction,  Acts  xii. 
17;  xv.  13;  xxi.  18.  1  Cor.  xv. 
y.  Gal.  i.  19,  and  ii.  9. 12.  He 
resided  at  Jerusalem  during 
the  labours  of  the  apostles; 
and  was  present  at  the  apos¬ 
tolic  council  at  Jerusalem, 
where  he  seems  to  have  pre¬ 
sided  ;  as  he  was  the  last  to 
give  his  judgment,  in  which 
*11  the  other  members  of  the 
council  acquiesced.  (Acts  xv. 
13—19.)  He  was  put  to  death 
in  the  year  62;  and  tradition 
says  that  he  was  thrown  by 
the  Jews  from  the  battlements 
of  the  temple,  and  then  de¬ 
spatched  with  a  fuller’s  club, 
while  on  his  knees,  and  in  the 
act  of  praying  for  his  murder- 


CIS. 

Epistle  op,  was  written 
by  James  the  less  (sec  preced¬ 
ing  article')  about  the  year 
61  or  62.  It  was  not  addressed 
to  any  particular  church,  but 
to  the  whole  Jewish  nation, 

_ the  twelve  tribes  scattered 

abroad,  (ch.  i.  1,)  believers  and 
unbelievers,  (ch.  iv.  1—10);— 
and  hence  it  is  called  a  gene¬ 
ral  or  catholic  epistle.  The 
design  of  the  epistle  is,  (1.)  To 
correct  errors,  both  in  doctrine 


and  practice,  into  which  the 
Jewish  Christians  had  fallen, 
especially  relating  to  justifica¬ 
tion  by  faith ;  (2.)  To  animate 
their  hope,  and  strengthen 
their  faith,  in  view  of  afflic¬ 
tions  felt  and  feared  ;  and,  (3.) 
To  excite  the  unbelieving 
Jews  to  repentance  towards 
God,  and  faith  in  the  rejected 
Messiah.  It  is  remarkable, 
that  the  name  of  our  blessed 
Lord  occurs  but  twice  in  this 
epistle,  (ch.  i.  1 ;  ii.  1,)  and 
that  it  is  without  the  usual 
apostolical  salutation  and  be¬ 
nediction. 

JANNES  AND  JAMBRES. 
(2  Tim.  iii.  8.)  Two  famous 
magicians  of  Egypt,  who  are 
supposed  to  have  used  their 
art  to  deceive  Pharaoh.  (Ex. 
vii.  9—13.) 

JAPHETH.  (Gen.  v.  32.) 
The  eldest  son  of  Noah.  (Gen. 
x.  2.  21.)  The  prophetic  bless¬ 
ing  pronounced  on  Japheth  by 
his  father  (Gen.  ix.  27)  was 
accomplished  to  the  full  extent 
of  the  promise.  Besides  all 
Europe  and  the  isles,  and  of 
course  most  of  North  America, 
his  posterity  possessed  Asia 
Minor,  Media,  part  of  Armenia, 
and  those  vast  regions  of  the 
north,  inhabited  formerly  by 
the  Scythians,  and  then  by 
the  Tartars.  And  as  to  the 
other  branch  of  the  prophecy, 
he  (God)  shall  dwell  in  trie 
tents  o/Shem,  it  was  fulfilled 
when  the  divine  presence  was 
manifested  in  the  tabernacle 
and  temple;  or  if  we  read,  he 
(Japheth)  shall  dwell  in  the 
tents  of  Shem,  it  was  fulfilled, 
literally  when  the  Greeks  and 
Romans  (descended  from  Ja¬ 
pheth)  subdued  Judea,  the  in¬ 
heritance  of  Shem  ;  and  figura¬ 
tively,  when  the  descendants 
of  Japheth  (the  Gentiles)  re¬ 
ceived  the  gospel,  which  the 
Jews,  who  were  of  the  seed  of 
Shem,  rejected. 

Japheth  is  often  mentioned- 
in  the  early  histories  of  Greece, 


JAV 

tnder  the  name  of  Japetus,  as 
the  ancestor  of  that  nation. 

JAPHO.  (See  Joppa.) 

JASON.  (Acts  xvii.  5.)  A 
resident  of  Thessalonica,  and 
perhaps  a  relative  of  Paul. 
(Rom.  ix.3.  Comp.  xvi.  21.)  At 
any  rate,  Paul  lodged  at  his 
house  when  he  visited  that 
city.  The  apostle’s  plain  scrip¬ 
tural  preaching  a  few  Sab¬ 
baths  (Acts  xvti.  2,  3)  result¬ 
ed  in  the  conversion  of  a  great 
multitude  of  the  citizens,  and 
in  the  excitement  and  opposi¬ 
tion  of  the  unbelieving  Jews, 
who  gathered  a  mob  from 
among  the  idle  and  worthless 
of  the  place,  and  attacked 
Jason's  house,  in  order  to  seize 
the  apostle;  but  not  finding 
the  man  they  sought,  and  still 
determined  to  vent  their  rage 
on  somebody,  they  laid  violent 
hands  on  Jason  and  some 
friends  who  were  with  him, 
and  dragged  them  before  the 
police,  and  charged  them  with 
treason,  because  they  said  that 
there  is  another  king,  (besides 
Ctesar,)  one  Jesus.  (Lukexxiii. 
2.  John  xix.  12.)  However,  as 
there  was  prqbably  no  evi¬ 
dence  to  support  the  charge, 
they  gave  some  sort  of  security, 
either  for  their  own  future  ap¬ 
pearance  or  good  conduct, or  for 
the  appearance  of  the  apostle, 
and  were  then  discharged. 

JASPER.  (Rev.  iv.  3.)  A 
precious  stone,  usually  regard¬ 
ed  as  of  the  quartz  species.  It 
is  obtained  chiefly  from  Per¬ 
sia,  the  Indies,  Syria,  &c.,  and 
is  chiefly  used  for  vases,  watch- 
seals,  &c.  Its  colours  are  beau¬ 
tifully  variegated  and  it  is 
susceptible  of  a  fine  polish. 
The  red  jasper  is  found  in 
Saugus,  near  Boston,  Mass. 

JAYAN.  (Gen.  x.  2.)  The 
fourth  son  of  Japheth,  and  the 
ancestor  of  the  Grecians  or 
.onians.  Hence  the  word  Ja¬ 
van,  in  the  Old  Testament, 


JEA 

denotes  Greece,  or  the  Greeks. 
(Isa.  lxvi.  19.  Ezek.  xxvii.  13.) 
JAVELIN.  (See  Arms.) 
JAZER,  (Josh.  xxi.  39,)  or 
JAAZER.  (Num.  xxi.  32.)  A 
city  of  the  Ammonites,  on  the 
river  Jahbok,  the  ruins  of 
which  are  still  visible  about 
fifteen  miles  from  Heshbon. 

Sea  op.  (Jer.  xlviii.32.)  Pro¬ 
bably  a  lake  existing  in  an¬ 
cient  times  near  the  city  of 
Jazer.  A  body  of  water  is  now 
to  be  seen  near  the  city,  ou 
of  which  the  Debir  flows. 

JEALOUSY.  (2  Cor.  xi.  2. 

It  is  most  frequently  used  to 
denote  a  suspicion  of  conjugal 
infidelity.  It  is  sometimes  used 
for  anger,  or  indignation,  (Ps. 
lxxix.  5.  1  Cor.  x.  22,)  or  an 
intense  interest  for  the  honour 
and  prosperity  of  another. 
(Zech.  i.  14;  viii.  2.) 

When  God  is  said  to  be  a 
jealous  God,  or  to  be  moved  to 
jealousy,  or  when  the  still 
stronger  expression  is  used, 
Jehovah,  tchose  name  is  Jea¬ 
lous,  (Ex.  xxxiv.  14,)  we  are  to 
understand  this  language  as 
employed  to  illustrate,  father 
than  to  represent,  the  emotions 
of  the  Divine  mind.  The  same 
causes  operating  upon  the 
human  mind,  would  produce 
what  we  call  anger, jealousy , re¬ 
pentance,  grief, "&c.;  and  there¬ 
fore,  when  these  emotions  are 
ascribed  to  the  mind  of  God, 
this  language  is  used  because 
such  emotions  can  be  repre¬ 
sented  to  us  by  no  other. 

Thus  God  is  represented 
as  a  husband,  related  to  his 
church  by  a  marriage  cove¬ 
nant  that  binds  her  to  be 
wholly  for  him,  and  not  for 
another.  The  more  sincere 
and  constant  the  love,  the 
more  sensitive  is  the  heart  to 
the  approach  of  a  rival :  and 
the  thought  of  such  affection 
being  alienated  or  corrupted, 
fills  the  soul  with  grief  and 
indignation.  So  God  commends 
336 


J  E  A 

the  purity,  the  fervency,  and 
the  sincerity  of  hia  love  to  his 
etiurch,  by  the  most  terrific 
expressions  of  jealousy. 

The  various  significations  of 
the  word  jealousy  are  denoted 
usually  by  its  connexion.  It  is 
one  of  the  strongest  passions  of 
our  nature.  (Prov.  vi.  34.  Sol. 
Song  viii.  6.) 

TTie  IMAGE  OP  JEALOUSY 
(Ezelt.  viii.  3.  5)  is  the  same 
with  Tammuz,  in  ver.  14. 
'See  Tammuz.) 

Jealousy-offering.  (Num. 
v.  18.)  The  Jewish  law  con¬ 
tained  a  singular  provision 
for  the  trial  of  the  crime  of 
adultery.  A  man  who  was 
jealous  of  his  wife,  without 
any  actual  evidence  of  her 
infidelity,  was  required  to 
bring  her  to  the  priest,  with 
an  offering;  and  when  they 
came  to  the  presence  of  the 
Lord,  a  part  of  the  water  of  the 
temple  was  taken,  with  cer¬ 
tain  ceremonies, and  presented 
to  the  woman  to  drink;  she  at 
the  same  time  holding  the 
offering  in  her  hand.  Before 
drinking  the  water,  the  most 
bitter  curses  were  imprecated 
upon  her ;  and  if  she  was 
guilty,  the  water  was  to  be¬ 
come  the  cause  of  terrible  bo¬ 
dily  diseases. 

This  imprecation-water,  or 
water  of  curses,  is  not  unlike 
the  ordeal  of  later  ages;  and 
we  are  told  that  among  the 
savages  of  western  Africa,  the 
custom  is  to  make  the  suspect¬ 
ed  wife  drink  poison;  in  which 
ease,  innocence  can  be  pro¬ 
tected  only  by  a  miracle ;  but 
in  the  administration  of  the 
Jewish  law,  there  was  nothing 
in  the  ceremony  which  could 
harm  the  accused  person, with¬ 
out  the  direct  judgment  of  God 
in  the  infliction  of  a  particu¬ 
lar  and  very  peculiar  disease; 
and  still  the  ceremony  was  so 
solemn  and  imposing,  that  a 
Jewish  woman  must  have  had 
the  most  unparalleled  effronl- 1 


JEH 

ery  to  have  gone  through  it 
without  betraying  guilt,  if  it 

pvimpil 

JEBUS.  (Judg.  xix.  10.)  The 
Jebusite  is  mentioned  among 
the  descendants  of  Canaan  the 
son  of  Ham,  (Gen.  x.  1G,)  and 
there  was  a  warlike  race  call¬ 
ed  Jebusites,  inhabiting  the 
mountainous  country  around 
Jerusalem,  and  keeping  pos¬ 
session  of  it,  (Josh.  xv.  G3,)  until 
it  was  wrested  from  them  by 
David,  and  made  the  capital  of 
Judea.  (1  Citron,  xi.  4—8.  See 
Jerusalem.)  The  Jebusites 
were  probably  permitted  tu 
remain  on  the  ground  after 
their  conquest.  (2  Sam.  xxiv. 
16.  24.)  It  is  supposed  they 
were  dispossessed  for  a  season 
by  Joshua,  (Josh.  x.  23.40 ;  xii. 
10,)  and  afterwards  regained 
some  districts,  while  the  Isra¬ 
elites  possessed  others.  (Comp. 
Josh.  xv.  63.  1  Sam.  xvii.  54. 
2  Sam.  v.  6.) 

JECONIAH.  (See  Je'hoia- 

CHIN.) 

JEDUTHUN.  (lChron.xvi. 
38.)  An  eminent  master  of 
the  temple  music,  to  whom 
several  of  the  psalms  are  in¬ 
scribed,  (see  Ps.  xxxix.  Ixii. 
lxxvii.  &c.,)  or,  as  some  sup¬ 
pose,  were  written  by  him. 

JEHOAHAZ.  1.  (2Kingsxiii. 
1 .)  Son  and  successor  of  Jehu 
king  of  Israel,  whose  reign 
was  disastrous  to  the  kingdom 
to  such  a  degree,  that  his  army 
was  reduced  to  a  mere  nomi¬ 
nal  existence;  and  the  kings 
of  Syria  (Hazael  and  Benha- 
dad)  are  said  to  have  destroyed 
them,  and  to  have  made  them 
like  the  dust  of  the  threshing 
floor.  (2Kingsxiii.7.)  Before 
death,  however,  he  was  brough' 
to  reflect  and  humble  himself 
before  God,  on  account  of  thi 
calamities  with  which  his  srrb 
jects  were  visited ;  and  Goi) 
was  pleased  to  raise  up  fo< 
them  a  deliverer  in  the  person 
of  JoaSh,  the  son  and  succes- 
I  sor  of  Jehoahaz. 


337 


J  E  H  * 

2.  (2  Kings  xxiii.  30.)  Son 
and  successor  of  Josiah  kin" 
of  Judah.  He  is  called  Shal- 
lum,  1  Chron.  iii.  15.  Jer.  xxii. 
11.  He  was  the  fourth  son,  and 
of  course  not  the  rightful  heir 
to  the  crown ;  hut  his  father, 
being  mortally  wounded  in  the 
battle  of  Megiddo,  the  people 
immediately  placed  Jehoahaz 
on  the  throne.  This  irregular 
step,  taken  without  consulting 
him,  offended  the  king  of 
Egypt ;  and  before  he  had 
reigned  four  months,  he  ma¬ 
naged  to  get  Jehoahaz  into  his 
power  at  Riblah,  in  Syria, 
whence  he  sent  him,  a  prison¬ 
er,  loaded  with  chains,  into 
Egypt,  and  there  he  died,  (Jer. 
xxii.  11,  12;)  and  his  brother, 
Jehoiakim,  became  king  in 
his  stead.  (2  Kings  xxiii.  29. 
35.) 

3.  (2  Chron.  xxi.  17.)  The 
same  with  Ahaziah  and  Aza- 
riah.  (Comp.  2  Chron.  xxi.  17; 
xxii.  1.  6.  8,  9.) 

JEHOASH.  (See  Joash.) 
JEHOIACHIN,  (2Kings  xxiv. 
8,)  or  CONIAH.  (Jer.  xxii.  24,) 
or  JECONIAH,  (1  Chron.  iii. 
17,)  or  JECONIAS,  (Matt.  i. 

:  2,)  sin  ar.l  sue  ;essoi  of  Ji- 
hoiakim  king  of  Judah.  It  is 
supposed  by  some  that  when 
he  was  only  eight  years  old 
he  was  associated  with  his 
father  in  the  administration  of 
the  government.  This  suppo¬ 
sition  is  adopted  in  order  to 
reconcile  the  apparent  incon¬ 
sistency  of  2Kings  xxiv.  8,  and 
2  Chron.  xxxvi.  9;  but  it  seems 
hardly  necessary  to  resort  to 
such  means  to  account  for  a 
very  natural  error  or  omis¬ 
sion  of  a  transcriber,  especial¬ 
ly  in  an-  immaterial  chronolo¬ 
gical  fact  of  such  remote  date. 
The  reign  of  Jehoiachin  ter¬ 
minated  at  the  end  of  three 
months ;  at  which  time,  the 
city  of  Jerusalem  was  besieged 
by  Nebuchadnezzar,  the  king 
of  Babylon,, in  the  eighth  year 
of  his  reign,  (comp.  2  Kings 


JEH 

xxiv.  12,  and  xxv.  1 ;)  and  the 
king  and  his  family,  and  the 
principal  part  of  the  nation, 
with  the  royal  treasures  ana 
the  temple  furniture,  were  car¬ 
ried  away  to  Babylon. 

The  wickedness  of  this  king 
is  described  in  very  strong 
language  by  the  prophet  Jere¬ 
miah.  (Jer.  xxii.  24—30.) 

The  expression,  however,  in 
Jer.  xxii.  30,  is  not  to  be  con¬ 
strued  literally.  (1  Chron.  iii. 
17, 18.  Matt.  i.  12.)  Write  this 
man  childless  might  as  well 
read,  lie  shall  have  no  succes¬ 
sor  or  heir,  or  None  of  his  seed 
shall  prosper.  (See  Life  op 
Jeremiah,  ch.  viii.,  and  Eli- 
sama,  pp.  64 — 66,  both  by  Am. 
S.  S.  Union.) 

JEHOIADA.  (2  Kings  xi.  4.) 
A  high-priest  of  the  Jews,  and 
the  husband  of  Jehosheba.  (See 
Athaliah.)  His  administra¬ 
tion  was  so  auspicious  to  the 
civil  and  religious  interests  of 
the  nation,  (2"Kingsxii.  2Chr. 
xxiii.  16,)  that  when  he  died, 
at  the  advanced  age  of  one 
hundred  and  thirty  years,  he 
was  buried  in  the  royal  sepub 
chres  at  Jerusalem.  (2  Chron. 
xxiv.  1(, ) 

JEHOIAKIM.  (2  Kings  xxiii, 
36.)  Eldest  son  of  Josiah,  and 
the  brother  and  successor  of 
Jehoahaz  king  of  Judah.  His 
original  name  was  Eliakim : 
but  it  was  changed  by  order  of 
the  king  of  Egypt,  (2  Kings 
xxiii.  34,)  who  put  him  on  the 
throne.  The  iniquity  of  his 
reign  is  strongly  depicted  by 
the  historian  and  prophet, 
(2Kingsxxiv.4.  2Chron.  xxxvi. 
8.  Jer.  xxii.  xxvi.  xxxvi.;)  and 
his  end,  as  Jewish  historians 
inform  us,  was  in  strict  accord¬ 
ance  with  the  prediction  con¬ 
cerning  him. 

For  the  first  four  years  of  his 
reign,  Jehoiakim  was  subject 
to  the  king' of  Egypt,  and  paid 
an  enormous  tribute.  Then 
he  became  tributary  for  three 
years  to  Nebuchadnezzar  kins 
338 


JEH 

of  Babylon,  (2 Kings  xxiv.  1,) 
who  at  first  hound  him  with 
chains  to  carry  him  to  Baby¬ 
lon,  (2Chron.  xxxvi.  6.  Dan.  i. 
2,)  hut  afterwards  set  him  at 
liberty,  and  left  him  at  Jeru¬ 
salem  to  reign  as  a  tributary 
prince.  The  whole  time  of  his 
reign  was  eleven  years. 

The  expression,  Jer.  xxxvi. 
30,  is  not  to  be  taken  strictly ; 
and  yet,  as  the  reign  of  Jehoia- 
cliin  was  for  only  thirteen 
weeks,  Jehoiakim  may  be 
said  to  have  been  compara¬ 
tively  without  a  successor.  He 
scarcely  sat  down  upon  the 
throne  before  he  was  deposed. 
The  same  explanation  applies 
to  2Kings  xxiii.34,  where  Eli- 
akim  is  said  to  have  succeeded 
his  father  Josiah;  whereas,  the 
reign  of  Jehoahaz  intervened. 
This  was  so  short,  however,  as 
not  to  be  reckoned  in  the  suc¬ 
cession.  (See  Elisama,  ch.iii. 
and  iv.,  by  Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

JEHONADAB.  (SeeKE- 

GHABITES.) 

J  E  H  O  It  A  M,  or  JORAM, 
(2  Kings  viii.  16.  21,)  was  the 
son  and  successor  of  Jehosha- 
hat  king  of  Judah.  When 
e  was  thirty-two  years  of  age 
he  was  associated  with  his 
father  in  the  government  of 
the  kingdom.  (2Kings  viii.  17. 
2  Chron.  xxi.  5.)  At  the  end 
•f  four  years,  his  father  died, 
and  he  became  sole  king.  One 
of  the  first  acts  of  his  govern¬ 
ment  was  to  put  to  death  his 
six  brothers  and  several  of  the 
chief  men  of  the  kingdom. 
(2Chron.  xxi.  4.)  To  punish 
him  for  this  and  other  abomi¬ 
nations  of  his  reign,  (2Chron. 
xxi.  11—13,)  the  Edomites, who 
had  long  been  subject  to  the 
throne  of  Judah,  revolted,  and 
secured  their  independence. 
(2Chron.  xxi.  8 — 10.)  One  of 
hisown  cities  also  re  volted,and 
about  the  same  time  he  receiv¬ 
ed  a  writing  from  Elijah,  or,  as 
some  suppose,  Elisha,  admo¬ 
nishing  him  of  the  dreadful  ca-  I 


JEH 

lamities  which  he  was  bring¬ 
ing  on  himself  by  his  wicked 
conduct.  In  due  time  these 
calamities  came  upon  him  and 
his  kingdom.  Their  territory 
was.  overrun  with  enemies;  the 
king’s  palace  was  plundered, 
and  the  royal  family,  except 
the  youngest  son,  made  prison 
ers.  The  king  himself  was 
smitten  with  a  terrible  and 
incurable  disease,  which  car¬ 
ried  him  to  the  grave,  unla¬ 
mented;  and  he  was  buried 
without  royal  honours.  (2Chr. 
xxi.  14—20.) 

JEHOSHAPHAT,  (1  Kings 
xv.  24,)  or  JOSAPHAT,  (Matt, 
i.  8,)  was  the  son  and  succes¬ 
sor  of  Asa  king  of  Judah.  He 
is  called  king  of  Israel  (2Chr. 
xxi.  2)  possibly  because  his 
kingdom  was  a  part  of  the 
ancient  kingdom  of  Israel,  but 
probably  by  mistake ;  Israel 
being  written  for  Judah.  He 
was  a  prince  of  distinguished 
piety,  and  his  reign,  which, 
lasted  twenty-five  years,  was 
powerful  and  prosperous.  This 
remarkable  commendation  is 
given  Jehoshaphat  by  the  sa¬ 
cred  historian,  that  the  more 
his  riches  and  honour  increas¬ 
ed,  the  more  his  heart  was 
lifted  up  in  the  ways  of  the 
Lord.  (2  Chron.  xvii.  5,  G.) 
Among  other  evidences  cf  his 
piety  and  benevolence,  we  are 
told  that  he  caused  the  altars 
and  places  of  idolatry  to  be 
destroyed,  a  knowledge  of  the 
law  to  be  diffused  throughout 
the  kingdom,  and  the  places 
of  judicial  and  ecclesiastical 
authority  to  be  filled  by  the 
wisest  and  best  men  of  the 
land.  (2  Chron.  xvii.  6 — 9; 
xix.  5 — 11.)  His  sin  in  form¬ 
ing  a  league  with  Ahab,  con- 
trary  to  the  counsel  of  Mica- 
iah,  against  Ramoth-gilead. 
(2 Chron.  xviii.)  was  severely 
censured  by  Jehu,  (2  Chron. 
xix.  2,)  and  had  nearly  cos* 
him  his  life.  (2  Chron.  xviii 

31.) 


339 


JEH 

A  few  years  after  this,  the 
kingdom  of  Judah  was  invaded 
by  a  confederacy  of  Edomites, 
Moabites,  and  others.  They 
collected  their  forces  at  Enge-, 
di,  and  threatened  to  over¬ 
throw  the  kingdom.  Jehosha- 
phat  proclaimed  a  fast ;  and 
the  people  came  from  all  parts 
of  the  kingdom,  men,  women, 
and  children,  up  to  Jerusalem ; 
and  being  assembled  in  one 
place,  the  king  himself  made 
supplication  to  God  for  help 
in  their  extremity.  His  re¬ 
markable  prayer  is  recorded, 

2  Chron.  xx.  6—12 ;  and  while 
he  was  yet  speaking,  his  pray¬ 
er  was  answered,  and  a  certain 
and  easy  victory  was  promised. 
On  the  following  day,  the  army 
of  Judah  went  forth  to  meet  the 
enemy,  preceded  by  a  compa¬ 
ny  of  singers,  who  praised  the 
name  of  the  Lord.  The  vast 
army  of  his  enemies  were  pa¬ 
nic-struck,  and  fell  into  irre¬ 
coverable  confusion ;  and  in¬ 
stead  of  facing  their  adver¬ 
saries,  turned  their  swords 
against  each  other,  until  they 
were  utterly  routed  and  over¬ 
thrown;  so  that  Jehoshaphat 
and  his  men  had- no  occasion 
to  engage  in  the  conflict.  And 
such  abundance  of  spoil  re¬ 
mained  in  the  camp,  that  the 
men  of  Judah  were  employed 
Jiree  days  in  collecting  it. 
(2  Chron.  xx.  14—27.) 

Still  later  in  his  life,  Jeho- 
■shaphat  connected  himself 
with  Ahaziah,  son  and  succes¬ 
sor  of  Ahab  king  of  Israel,  in 
a  naval  expedition;  but  this 
alliance  with  a  wicked  king 
turned  out  disastrously,  as  had 
been  predicted  by  Eliezer,  the 
son  of  Dodavah ;  for  while  the 
fleet  lay  at  Ezion-geber,  it 
was  utterly  destroyed  by  a  vio¬ 
lent  storm.  (2  Chron.  xx.  35. 
See  Ahaziah.) 

Again  he  involved  himself 
in  an  alliance  with  Jehoram, 
the  second  son  of  Ahab,  and 
also  with  the  Edomites,  for 


JEH 

the  purpose  of  invading  the 
land  ofMoab;  but  while  they 
attempted  to  make  their  way 
through  the  wilderness,  their 
water  failed,  and  the  whole 
army  must  have  perished  with 
thirst,  had  not  a  miraculous 
supply  been  granted  in  answer 
to  the  prayers  of  Elisha,  who 
accompanied  the  army.  (2 
Kings  lii.  6— 20.)  Jehoshaphat 
left  seven  sons,  one  of  whom 
(Jehoram)  succeeded  him. 

Vali.et  op  Jehoshaphat. 
(Joel  iii.  2.  12.)  A  narrow 
glen  running  north  and  south, 
between  Jerusalem  and  the 
mount  of  Olives,  through  which 
flows  the  brook  Cedron.  This 
valley  is  supposed  to  be  meant 
by  the  king’s  dale,  (Gen.  xiv. 
17.  2  Sam.  xviii.  18;)  and  its 
name  to  be  derived  either  from 
the  burial  of  king  Jehosha- 
hat,  or  for  the  great  victory 
e  obtained  there  over  the 
Moabites  and  their  allies. 
(2  Chron.  xx.  25.)  This  valley, 
it  is  supposed  by  the  Moham¬ 
medans,  (from  the  passage 
first  above  cited,)  will  be  the 
scene  of  the  final  judgment. 
The  better  opinion  is,  however, 
that  the  prophetic  language  in 
this  connexion  refers  to  the 
event  of  the  general  judgment, 
and  not  to  the  place ;  the 
meaning  of  the  word  Jehosha* 
phat  being  judgment  of  God. 
(For  a  beautiful  lithographic 
view  of  this  valley,  and  a 
minute  description  of  scenery, 
localities,  &c.,  see  Views  op 
Palestine,  pp.  10—12 ;  Selu 
miel,  pp.  111—114;  and  Map 
of  Jerusalem,  accompanying 
the  same,  all  by  Am.  S.  S. 
Union.) 

JEHOVAH.  (Ex.  vi.  3.)  A 
title  of  the  Supreme  Being 
indicative  of  the  attribute  of 
self-existence.  It  is  similar 
in  import  to  the  title,  I  am, 
(Ex.  iii.  14,)  and  denotes  not 
only  self-existence,  but  perfect 
independence,  eternity,  and 
immutability.  (SeeJAH,  God.) 


JEH 

JEHU,  1.  (lKingsxvi.7,)  was 
vhe  son  of  Hanani  the  seer, 
with  whom  Asa  was  so  much 
enraged  as  to  cast  him  into 
prison.  (2  Chron.  xvi.  7— 10.) 
He  was  appointed  to  carry  a 
message  to  Baasha  from  God, 
threatening  to  visit  upon  him 
the  most  fearful  judgments. 
He  was  afterwards  employed 
on  a  similar  errand  to  Jeho- 
shaphat.  (2 Chron.  xix.  1,  2.) 

2.  (1  Kings  xix.  16.  Comp. 
2  Kings  ix.  2.)  The  sou  of 
Nimsiii,  and  grandson  of  Jeho- 
siaphat,  was  selected  by  God 
to  reign  over  Israel,  and  to  be 
the  instrument  of  executing 
his  judgments  on  the  house  of 
Ahab.  (1  Kings  xix.17.  2  Kings 
ix.  1 — 10.)  In  executing  tills 
commission,  he  commenced 
with  the  reigning  king,  Joram, 
who  was  then  lying  ill  at  Jez- 
reel.  Having  been  proclaimed 
king  by  a  few  adherents  who 
were  with  him  at  Ramoth-gi- 
Iead,  he  proceeded  towards 
Jezreel.  Upon  his  approach 
within  sight  of  that  place,  Jo¬ 
ram  despatched  two  or  three 
messengers  to  ascertain  his 
design;  and  finding  they  did 
not  return,  he  went  out  him¬ 
self  to  meet  him.  It  happened 
that  they  met  on  the  ground 
of  Naboth  the  Jezreelite, 
(1  Kings  xxi.  1—24;)  and  Jehu 
at  once  charged  him  with  his 
gross  iniquities,  and  immedi¬ 
ately  shot  him  dead  in  his 
chariot.  (Comp.  1  Kings  xxi’. 
19,  and  2  Kings  ix.  25.) 

Jehu  rode  on  to  Jezreel,  and 
as  he  was  passing  in  atlhe  gate, 
the  wicked  Jezebel,  who  had 
prepared  herself  for  the  occa¬ 
sion,  and  was  looking  out  at  a 
window,  said  something  in  al¬ 
lusion  to  what  had  happened 
to  Ahab.  Jehu  called  to  two 
or  three  persons  who  were  at 
the  same  window  to  throw  her 
down,  which  they  did ;  and  as 
she  struck  the  ground,  her 
blood  flew  out  upon  the  wall, 
and  upon  the  horses,  and  her 


‘EH 

body  was  actually  trodden  un 
der  foot.  Jehu’s  party  then 
went  into  the  ciLy,  and  dined; 
and  after  dinner,  he  ordered 
his  attendants  to  go  and  bury 
the  cursed  woman,  as  this  re¬ 
spect  might  be  due  to  a  king's 
daughter;  and  when  they  came 
lo  the  place,  nothing  could  be 
found  of  her  but  the  skull,  the 
feet,  and  a  part  of  the  hands. 
The  dogs  had  consumed  the 
residue,  in  fulfilment  of  the 
prophecy.  (1  Kings  xxi.  23. 
2 Kings  ix.  32—37.) 

Jehu  then  proceeded  to  ex¬ 
terminate  the  family  of  Ahab. 
He  addressed  letters  lo  those 
who  had  the  care  of  his  sons, 
(no  less  than  seventy  in  num¬ 
ber,)  and  proposed  to  them  to 
select  the  fittest  of  them,  and 
place  him  on'  the  throne  of  his 
father.  This  they  declined  to 
do,  (through  fear  of  Jehu,)  but 
promised  to  do  any  thing  else 
that  might  be  required.  Ac¬ 
cordingly,  Jehu  directed  them 
to  bring  to  him  the  heads  of 
Ahab’s  sons  the  next  day  at 
Jezreel;  and  they  were  sent 
in  two  baskets.  He  directed 
them  to  be  emptied  out  in  two 
heaps,  at  the  gate  of  the  city, 
and  to  remain  there  over  night. 
The  next  morning  he  ordered 
a  general  slaughter  of  all 
Ahab’s  family  and  adherents 
in  the  town  of  Jezreel.  He 
then  set  out  for  Samaria,  and 
meeting  on  his  way  a  party  of 
forty-two  persons,  all  the  fa¬ 
mily  of  Ahaziel,  (a  branch  of 
Ahab’s  house,)  he  seized  and 
slew  them. 

But  the  most  revolting  of 
these  deeds  of  blood  remains  to 
be  fold.  When  he  arrived  at 
Samaria,  and  had  cut  off  every 
branch  of  the  house  of  Allah 
that  he  could  find,  (2 Kings  x. 
17,)  he  ordered  a  general  con¬ 
vention  of  all  the  worshippers 
of  Baal  throughout  Hie  land, 
and  made  every  arrangement 
as  if  he  would  have  an 
united  universal  act  of  ho- 
SU 


JEP 

mage  to  the  false  god ;  and  so 
strict  were  his  orders  that  no 
worshipper  of  Baal  could  ab¬ 
sent  himself  but  upon  pain  of 
death.  They  assembled ;  and 
we  are  told  that  not  a  man 
was  absent.  Each  of  the  wor¬ 
shippers  was  furnished  with  a 
eculiar  dress,  that  they  might 
e  distinguished  from  all 
others;  and  when  the  assem¬ 
bly  was  convened,  Jehu  took 
pains  to  exclude  every  indivi¬ 
dual  except  the  worshippers 
of  Baal.  As  soon  as  they  com¬ 
menced  their  worship,  Jehu 
appointed  a  detachment  of 
eighty  men  to  go  in  among 
the  assembled  idolaters,  and 
put  every  one  of  them  to  death  ; 
and,  to  ensure  the  execution  of 
his  orders,  he  ordained,  that  if 
a  single  worshipper  escaped, 
the  life  of  him  who  suffered  the 
escape  should  be  forfeited.  But 
there  was  no  escape;  every 
individual  was  put  to  the 
sword  ;  the  image  of  Baal  was 
broken  down  and  destroyed ; 
and  the  temple  was  made  the 
receptacle  of  offal  and  filth,  in 
contempt  and  abhorrence  of 
the  idolatry  which  had  been 
practised  there;  and  every 
trace  of  Baal’s  worship  was 
blotted  out  of  Israel. 

This  dreadful  extermination 
of  the  house  of  Aliab,  and  of 
the  idolatrous  worship  which 
he  sanctioned,  was  in  accord¬ 
ance  wiLh  the  divine  com¬ 
mand,  and  received  the  divine 
approbation.  (2  Kings  x.  30.) 
Jenu  himself,  however,  was 
ambitious  and  tyrannical,  and 
fell  into  idolatrous  practices. 
(2 Kings  x.  31.)  His  reign  lasted 
twenty-eight  years ;  and  he 
was  succeeded  by  his  son  Jeho- 
ahaz.  (For  a  full  and  inte¬ 
resting  account  of  Jehu,  and 
the  various  incidents  of  his 
life, see  I.ife  of  Elisha,  ch.x.) 

JEPHTHAH,  (Judg.  xi.  1,) 
one  of  the  judges  of  Israel,  was 
the  illegitimate  son  of  Gilead  ; 
and  this  fact  made  him  so 


JEP 

odious  to  the  other  children 
of  the  family  that  they  banish-, 
ed  him  from  the  house,  and  he 
took  up  h's  residence  in  the 
land  of  Tob,  a  district  of  Syria 
not  far  from  Gilead,  and  pro¬ 
bably  the  same  with  Ish-tob. 
(2  Sam.  x.  8.)  Here,  it  is  sup¬ 
posed,  he  became  the  head  ol  a 
marauding  paity;  and  when 
a  war  broke  out  between  the 
children  of  Israel  and  the 
Ammonites,  he  probably  sig¬ 
nalized  himself  for  courage 
and  enterprise.  This  led  the 
Israelites  to  seek  his  aid  as 
their  commander-in-chief;  and 
though  he  objected  at  first,  on 
the  ground  of  their  ill  usage 
of  him,  yet,  upon  their  solemn 
covenant  to  regard  him  as 
their  leadei,  in  case  they  suc¬ 
ceeded  against  the  Ammon¬ 
ites,  he  took  command  of  their 
army.  After  some  preliminary 
negotiations  with  the  Ammon¬ 
ites,  in  which  the  question  of 
the  riaht  to  the  country  is  dis- 
cuss’ea  with  great  force  and 
ingenuity,  and  finding  every 
attempt  to  conciliate  them 
abortive,  the  two  armies  met: 
the  Ammonites  were  defeated 
with  great  loss  of  life,  and 
their  coun'.rv  scoured  by  the 
Israelites. 

On  the  eve  of  the  battle, 
Jephthah  made  a  vow,  that  if 
he  obtained  the  victory,  he 
would  devote  to  God  whatever 
should  come  forth  from  his 
house  to  meet  him  on  ids  re¬ 
turn  home.  This  turned  out 
to  be  bis  daughter,  an  only 
child,  who  welcomed  his  re¬ 
turn  with  music  and  dancing. 
Jephthah  was  greatly  afflicted 
by  this  occurrence ;  but  his 
daughter  cheerfully  consented 
to  the  performance  of  his  vow, 
which  took  place  at  the  expi¬ 
ration  of  two  months  ;  and  the 
commemoration  of  the  event 
by  the  daughters  of  Israel  was 
required  by  apulilicordinauce. 

Whether  Jephthah  actually 
offered  up'  his  daughter  for  a 
342 


JEP 

burnt-offering,  ia  a  question  of 
great  difficulty,  and  continues 
to  be  much  disputed.  Those 
who  maintain  the  negative  al¬ 
lege,  that  by  translating  the 
Hebrew  prefix  or,  rendered 
and  in  our  version,  all  diffi¬ 
culty  will  be  removed.  His 
vow  will  then  read,  ‘shall 
surely  be  the  Lord’s,  or,  I  will 
offer  a  burnt-offering;’  and  not 
unfrequently  the  sense  re¬ 
quires  that  the  Hebrew  should 
be  thus  rendered.  Moreover, 
when  Jephthah  made  this  vow, 
he  could  not  have  intended  to 
insult  the.Lord  by  promising  a 
sacrifice  against  which  he  had 
expressed  “the  utmost  abhor¬ 
rence,  (Lev.  xx.  2—5.  Deut. 
si.  31,)  especially  as  it  is  re¬ 
corded  that  the  Spirit  of  the 
Lord  was  upon  him  when  he 
uttered  his  vow.  Suppose  a 
dog  had  come  out  of  the  house 
of  Jephthah,  can  any  one  sup¬ 
pose  that  he  would  have  offer¬ 
ed  this  unclean  animal  as  a 
burnt-offeri  ng  to  the  Lord  ! 
And  why  then  should  we  Bup- 
ose  that  he  would  offer  a 
uman  sacrifice,  which  would 
have  been  so  much  more  abo¬ 
minable  ;  and,  in  all  such 
cases,  the  law  allowed  the 
right  of  redemption,  for  a 
small  sum  of  money.  It  is, 
moreover,  argued  that  no  men¬ 
tion  is  made  of  any  bloody  sa¬ 
crifice  of  the  young  woman. 
But  merely  that  he  did  with 
her  according  to  his  vow  which 
he  had  vowed. ;  and  she  knew 
no  man;  which  last  words 
seem  to  convey,  not  obscurely, 
the  idea  that  Jephthah  devoted 
his  daughter  to  the  Lord,  by 
consecrating  her  to  a  life  of 
celibacy.  And  it  should  not 
be  forgotten,  that  in  the  epistle 
to  the  Hebrews,  (ch.  xi.,)  Jeph¬ 
thah  is  placed  among  the  wor¬ 
thies  who  were  distinguished 
for  their  faith.  Now  can  we 
suppose  that  such  a  man  would 
be  guilty  of  the  crime  of  sa¬ 
crificing  hlr  own  daughter! 


JEP 

(Comp.  Heb.  xi.  32,  with  2  Sam. 
Xii.  9.  1  Kings  xi.  5.  7.)  It  is 
suggested  whetherthe  insertion 
of  Jephthah’s  name  in  this  pas¬ 
sage  is  conclusive  evidence  of 
his  piety.  That  he  was  distin¬ 
guished  for  one  kind  of  faith  is 
evident;  but  was  it  saving 
faith  t  (1  Cor.  xiii.  2.) 

Those,  on  the  other  hand, 
who  receive  the  common  read¬ 
ing  of  this  passage,  and  follow 
the  obvious  meaning,  reason 
in  the  following  manner;  That 
upon  every  fair  principle  of 
construction,  it  must  be  admit¬ 
ted,  that  Jephthah’s  vow  was 
single,  and  that  he  did  actually 
bind  himself,  by  this  solemn 
bond,  to  offer  as  a  burnt-offer¬ 
ing  to  the  Lord  whatever 
should  first  come  forth  from 
his  house  to  meet  him  on  his 
return.  That  the  time  in  which 
Jephthah  lived  was  one  of  gross 
ignorance  and  idolatry,  (Judg. 
x.  G ;)  that  a  pious  man  might 
have  felt  himself  bound  by  the 
obligation  of  a  vow,  in  making 
which  he  had  none  but  a  pious 
intention  ;  that  the  law  of  re¬ 
deeming  devoted  persons  and 
things  for  money  did  not  apply 
to  the  case  of  such  a  vow ;  that 
Jephthah’s  excessive  grief  on 
seeing  his  daughter  come  forth 
to  meet  him,  “can  only  be  ac¬ 
counted  for  on  the  supposition 
that  he  considered  her  devoted 
to  death ;  that  the  mourning 
for  the  daughter  of  Jephthah 
for  four  days  in  the  year  can 
be  reconciled  only  with  the 
opinion  that  she  was  offered 
up  as  a  burnt-offering;  and 
that  there  is  no  law  or  prece¬ 
dent  to  authorize  the  opinion 
that  to  devote  her  to  perpetual 
celibacy  was  not  an  offence  to 
God  of  equal  enormity  with 
that  of  sacrificing  her  as  a 
burnt-offering.  It  seems  the 
difficulties  which  attend  this 
construction  of  the  passage  are 
less  than  those  which  attend 
the  other;  and  it  has  been 
well  remarked,  that  if  it  was 


JER 

vierffarilljr  dear  that  Jephthah 
sacrificed  his  daughter,  there 
is  not  the  least  evidence  that 
his  conduct  was  sanctioned  by 
God.  He  was  a  superstitious 
and  ill-instructed  man,  and, 
like  Samson,  an  instrument 
of  God’s  power  rather  than  an 
example  of  his  grace. 

The  Ephraimttes,  who  had 
not  been  invited  to  take  part 
n  the  war  against  the  Am¬ 
monites, quarrelled  with  Jeph- 
hah,  and  in  a  battle  with  the 
Gileadites,  were  defeated ;  and 
he  latter,  seizing  the  fords  of 
Jordan,  slew  every  Ephraimite 
who  attempted  to  escape  by 
crossing  the  river;  and  the 
method  employed  to  ascertain 
whether  they  belonged  to 
Ephraim  was,  to  cause  them 
to  pronounce  the  word  ‘shib¬ 
boleth,’  which  they  sounded 
‘sibboleth  for,  it  seems,  that 
by  this  time  a  difference  in 
the  manner  of  pronouncing  at 
least  one  Hebrew  letter  had 
arisen  between  the  inhabitants 
on  the  different  sides  of  Jordan. 
On  this  occasion,  42,000  men  of 
Ephraim  were  slain ;  which 
was  a  just  punishment  for 
commencing  a  war  with  so 
small  a  provocation.  (Judg. 
xl.  xii.) 

JEREMIAH,  or  JEREMY, 
(Matt.  ii.  17,)  or  JEREMIAS, 
(Matt.  xvi.  14,)  one  of  the 
chief  of  the  Hebrew  prophets, 
was  the  son  of  Hilkiah,  and  of 
the  sacerdotal  race.  (Comp. 
Jer.  i.  1,  and  Josh.  xxi.  18.)  He 
was  very  young  when  he  was 
called  to  the  prophetic  office, 
and  on  that  account  declined 
it,  (Jer.  i.  6 ;)  but  God  promised 
him  grace  and  strength  suffi¬ 
cient  for  his  work;  and  for 
forty-two  years  he  persisted  in 
this  arduous  service,  with  un¬ 
wearied  diligence  and  fidelity, 
in  the  midst  of  the  severest 
trials  and  persecutions. 

During  all  this  time,  Jerusa¬ 
lem  was  in  a  most  distracted 
and  deplorable  condition,  and 


JER 

the  prophet  was  calumniated, 
imprisoned,  and  often  in  dan¬ 
ger  of  death.  But  no  ill  treat¬ 
ment  or  threatenings  could 
deter  him  from  denouncing 
the  judgments  of  God,  which 
were  coming  upon  the  nation 
and  that  devoted  city.  His 
exhortation  to  the  king  and 
rulers  was  to  submit  at  once 
to  the  arms  of  Nebuchadnez¬ 
zar,  for  by  that  means  they 
would  preserve  their  lives; 
but  he  assured  them,  as  a 
message  received  from  God, 
that  their  continued  resistance 
would  have  no  other  effect 
than  to  bring  certain  jmd 
dreadful  destruction  Upon  Je¬ 
rusalem  and  on  themselves. 
At  this  time,  Jerusalem  swarm¬ 
ed  with  false  prophets,  who 
contradicted  the  words  of  Jere¬ 
miah,  and  flattered  the  king 
and  his  courtiers  that  God 
would  rescue  them  from  the 
impending  danger;  and  after 
the  city  was  taken,  and  part 
of  the  people  carried  away  to 
Babylon,  these  prophets  confi¬ 
dently  predicted  a  speedy  re¬ 
turn.  On  the  other  hand,  Jere¬ 
miah  sent  word  to  the  captives 
that  the  time  of  their  captivity 
would  be  long,  and  that  their 
best  course  was  to  build  houses 
and  plant  vineyards  in  the 
land  to  which  they  were  car¬ 
ried,  and  to  pray  for  the  peace 
of  the  country  in  which  they 
resided.  Indeed,  he  expressly 
foretold  that  the  captivity 
would  endure  for  seventy 
years ;  which  duration,  he  in¬ 
timated,  was  to  make  up  for 
the  sabbatical  years  which 
they  had  neglected  to  observe. 
He  also  foretold  the  deliver¬ 
ance  of  the  people,  and  their 
return  to  their  own  country. 
Towards  the  close  of  his  life, 
he  was  carried  into  Egypt 
against  his  will,  by  the  Jews 
who  remained  in  Judea  after 
the  murder  of  Gedaliah.  On 
this  occasion,  he  was  requested 
I  by  Johanan  and  his  followers 
r  344 


i 


JKR 


JER 


to  inquire  of  the  Lord  whether 
they  should  flee  into  Egypt: 
in  answer,  after  accusing  them 
of  hypocrisy,  he  warned  them 
in  the  most  solemn  manner, 
from  the  Lord,  not  to  go  down 
to  Egypt;  but  they  disre¬ 
garded  the  commandment  of 
God,  and  went,  and  took  Jere¬ 
miah  forcibly  along  with  them, 
where,  in  all  probability,  he 
died,  some  think,  as  a  mar¬ 
tyr.  For  the  reference  to  Jere¬ 
my  in  Matt,  xxvii.  9,  see  Zech. 
Xi.  12, 13.  (See  the  Lira  and 
Prophecies  ofJeremiah,  and 
Elisama,  ch.  iii.— vi.,  both  by 
Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

Prophecy  of,  is  the  twenty- 
fourth  book  of  the  Old  Testa¬ 
ment  and  the  ninth  prophet¬ 
ical  book  in  chronological 
order.  It  embraces  a  period 
of  upwards  of  forty  years,  be¬ 
tween  B.  c.  628  and  B.  c.  586. 
Jeremiah  entered  upon  the  of¬ 
fice  of  a  prophet  in  the  thir¬ 
teenth  year  of  the-  reign  of 
Josiah,  (Jer.  i.  2;)  and  his 
prophecy  relates  to  the  judg¬ 
ments  that  were  to  come  upon 
the  people  for  their  gross  idol¬ 
atry  ana  corruption  ;  to  the  re¬ 
storation  which  awaited  them, 
whenever  they  would  repent 
of  their  sins,  and  forsake  them ; 
and  to  the  future  glory  which 
would  arise  on  the  church  of 
God,  and  on  such  as  were 
steadfast  in  his  service  ;  when 
the  Desire  of  nations  should 
come,  and  all  flesh  should  see 
the  salvation  of  God. 

The  just  and  natural  order 
of  this  book  is  as  follows : 

1.  The  prophecies  uttered  in 
Josiah’s  reign,  ch.  i.— xii. 

2.  In  Jehoiakim’s,ch.xiii.xx 
xxii.  xxiii.  xxxv.  xxxvi.  xlv. 
— xlviii.  xlix.  1—33. 

3.  In  Zedekiah’s,  ch.  xxi. 
Kxlv.  xxvii. — xxxiv.  xxxvii. — 
xxxix.  xlix.  34—39;  1.  li. 

4.  In  Gedaliah’s,  ch.  xl. — 
xliv. 

This  arrangement  of  the 
matter  will  mate  the  book 


much  more  intelligible  to  the 
reader. 

The  fifty-second  chapter, 
which  seems  to  have  been 
compiled  from  the  latter  part 
of  the  second  book  of  Kings, 
was  probably  added  to  the 
book  by  Ezra ;  and  seems  de¬ 
signed  partly  as  an  illustration 
of  the  accomplishment  of  Jere¬ 
miah’s  prophecies  respecting  tt 
Zedekiah,  and  partly  as  an  w- 
introduction  to  the  Lamenta 
tions. 

Lamentations  of, (the  boob 
immediately  succeeding  the 
prophecy,)  are  a  series  of  ele¬ 
gies  written  in  view  of  tha 
dreadful  calamities  which  the 
city  of  Jerusalem,  and  the  Jew¬ 
ish  nation  generally,  were  to 
suffer  for  their  continued  re¬ 
bellion  against  God ;  and  these 
events  are  described  as  if  they 
were  actually  accomplished. 
The  lamentations  of  Jeremiah 
have  been  regarded  by  distin¬ 
guished  critics  as  the  most  per¬ 
fect  and  regular  elegiac  com¬ 
position  in  the  world.  One 
would  think  that  every  letter 
was  written  with  a  tear,  and 
every  word  with  the  anguish 
of  a  broken  heart,  by  one  who 
never  breathed  but  in  a  sigh, 
nor  spoke  but  in  a  groan.  (Sea 
Life  and  Prophecies  of  Je¬ 
remiah,  pp.  75—78,  by  Am.  S. 

S.  Union.) 

Mr.  Fisk,  an  American  mis¬ 
sionary,  who  was  at  Damascus 
in  1823,  visited  a  place  near 
the  gate  of  that  city,  where  it 
is  said  Jeremiah  wrote  this 
book.  It  is  a  natural  cave, 
over  which  the  rock  rises  forty 
or  fifty  feet  perpendicularly; 
and  its  whole  appearance  be¬ 
tokens  a  fit  place  lor  such  me¬ 
lancholy  musings.  The  travel¬ 
ler  sat  down  in  the  cave,  and 
read  Jer.  ix.  1—8 :  and  a  more 
exact  description  of  the  present 
character  and  conduct  of  the 
people  of  Jerusalem  could  not 
be  written. 

JERICHO,  (Num.  xxii.  1,) 
345 


JER 

one  of  the  oldest  cities  in  the 
Holy  Land,  was  situated  in  the 
tribe  ofBeniamin, about  twenty 
miles  from  Jerusalem,  and  two 
from  the  river  Jordan.  This, 
or  some  place  in  its  vicinity, 
is  called  the  city  of  palm  trees , 
(Deut.  xxxiv.  3';)  perhaps  from 
the  abundant  growth  of  the 
aim  tree  in  that  neighbour- 
ood.  The  word  Jericho  may 
be  from  Jerah,  the  moon  ;  and 
the  worship  of  the  moon  may 
have  prevailed  there.  This 
city,  which  was  next  in  size  to 
Jerusalem,  was  besieged  and 
Bubdued  by  the  Israelites  im¬ 
mediately  after  the  passage  of 
the  Jordan.  The  siege  was 
Conducted  under  the  divine  di¬ 
rection  ;  and,  at  a  given  signal, 
by  the  immediate  interposition 
of  miraculous  power,  the  walls 
fell  flat  to  the  earth,  probably 
destroying  many  lives,  and 
throwing  the  citizens  into  uni¬ 
versal  consternation.  The  Is¬ 
raelites  marched  directly  to 
the  heart  of  the  city,  and  in 
obedience  to  the  express  com¬ 
mand  of  God,  they  put  to  death 
every  living  creature,  except 
Rahab  and  ner  family,  and  the 
two  men  sent  as  spies  from  the 
camp  of  Israel,  (Josh.  ii.  1,2,) 
whom  she  had  concealed.  The 
city  itself  was  then  set  on  fire, 
every  thing  in  it, except  the  ves¬ 
sels  of  gold,  silver,  brass,  and 
iron,  which  were  previously  re¬ 
moved,  was  burnt  to  ashes,  and 
tl  e  very  site  of  it  was  cursed. 
(Comp.  Josh.  vi.  26.  1  Kingw 
xvi.  34.) 

A  city  was  rebuilt  on  or  Dear 
this  spot,  which  is  afterwards 
mentioned  (2  Sam.  x.  5)  ax  con¬ 
taining  a  school  if  the  prophets, 
(2  Kings  ii.  5,)  and  as  being  the 
residence  ofElisha  (2FJngs  ii. 
18)  and  ?accheus.  (Luke  xix. 
1—10.)  It  was  in  the  vicinity 
if  this  place  that  a  miraculous 
change  was  effected  by  Elisha 
in  tha  taste  'if  the  waters  of  a 
particular  th  ring,  and  that  the 
two  blind  m?n  were  miracu- 


JER 

lously  restored  by  our  Saviour. 
(Matt.  xx.  29 — 34.) 

Under  the  Romans,  Jericho 
was  a  royal  residence,  and 
Herod  the  Great  died  there. 
It  was  more  tha-n  once  laid 
waste,  and  rebuilt,  after  He¬ 
rod's  day ;  and  there  is  now  a 
miserable  hamlet,  called  Riha, 
or  Rah,  situated  on  the  ruins 
of  the  ancient  city,  (or,  as  some 
think,  three  or  four  miles  east 
of  it,)  which  a  modern  travel¬ 
ler  describes  as  a  poor,  dirty 
village  of  the  Arabs.  There 
are  perhaps  fifty  houses,  of 
rough  stone,  with  roofs  of 
bushes  and  mud,  and  the 
population,  two  hundred  or 
three  hundred  in  number,  is 
entirely  Mohammedan.  The 
road  from  Jerusalem  to  Jericho 
lies  through  what  is  called  the 
wilderness  of  Jericho ,  and  is 
described  by  modern  travellers 
as  the  most  dangerous  and  for¬ 
bidding  about  Palestine.  As 
lately  as  1820,  an  English  tra¬ 
veller,  Sir  Frediricli  Henni-. 
kef,  was  attacked  on  this  road 
by  the  Arabs,  with  fire-arms 
who  left  him  naked  and  se¬ 
verely  wounded.  (Lukex.30.) 

Messrs.  Fisk  and  King, 
American  missionaries,  were 
at  Jericho  in  June,  1823.  They 
confirm  the  accounts  cf  other 
travellers,  and  mention  parti¬ 
cularly  tile  mountain  Quar- 
rantania,  where  tradition  says 
Christ  fasted,  and  from  the 
base  of  which  rises  a  fountain 
whose  waters  were  the  subject 
of  Elisha’s  miracle.  (2Kings 
ii.  19—22.)  This  is  the  river, 
or  water  of  Jericho ,  referred 
to,  Josh.  xvi.  1.  (See  Omar, 
pp.  137—142,  by  the  Am.  S.  S. 
Union.) 

Plains  op,  (Josh.  iv.  13,)  de¬ 
note  that  tract  of  country  lying 
between  the  city  and  river 
Jordan,  down  to  the  Dead  Sea, 
(See  Lipe  op  Elisha,  ch.  ii. 
by  Am.  S.  S.  TJnion.t 

JEROBOAM,  1.  (i  Kings  xi. 
26,)  the  son  ofNebat,  is  distin. 

346 


JER 

guished  as  the  man  tcho  made 
Israel  to  sin.  He  was  evidently 
a  bold,  ambitious, unprincipled 
man;  and  having  received  from 
the  prophet  Ahijah  a  most  sin¬ 
gular  intimation  that  the  king¬ 
dom  of  Solomon  was  to  be 
divided,  and  he  was  to  become 
the  head  of  the  ten  tribes,  he 
perhaps  made  the  fact  known, 
or  took  some  means  to  bring 
about  the  event.  At  any  rate, 
Solomon  was  alarmed,  and 
took  measures  to  apprehend 
Jeroboam,  who  fled  to  Eeypt, 
and  remained  there  till  Solo¬ 
mon’s  death.  Rehoboam  his 
eon  succeeded  him;  and  had 
already  m  de  himself  so  unpo¬ 
pular  with  ten  of  the  tribes, 
that  they  had  withdrawn  from 
his  interest,  and  were  found  by 
Jeroboam,  on  his  return,  ready 
to  receive  him  as  their  king. 
He  fixed  his  residence  at  She- 
chem,  which,  with  other  cities, 
he  fortified  for  the  furtherance 
of  his  plans. 

Fearing  that  if  the  revolted 
tribes  should  go  up  to  the  so¬ 
lemn  national  feasts  at  Jerusa¬ 
lem,  they  would  be  persuaded 
to  return  to  their  allegiance, 
and  forgetting  his  obligations 
to  God  and  his  dependence  on 
him,  (1  Kings  xi.  14—39,)  he 
caused  two  golden  calves  to  be 
erected ;  one  at  Dan,  and  the 
other  at  Bethel,  the  extremi¬ 
ties  of  his  dominions,  and 
caused  a  proclamation  to  be 
made,  requiring  the  worship 
of  these  idols.  (1  Kings  xii.  26 
—33.) 

Jeroboam,  having  set  up  the 
Idols,  assembled  the  people  at 
the  former  place,  to  engage  in 
the  solemn  worship  of  them  ; 
and  to  show  his  zeal  for  the 
service,  he  officiated  at  the 
altar  himself.  But  while  he 
was  thus  occupied,  a  prophet 
from  the  land  of  Judah  appear¬ 
ed  in  the  midst  of  the  assem¬ 
bly,  and  in  the  hearing  of  all 
the  people,  uttered  a  predic¬ 
tion,  that  a  man  by  the  name 


JER 

of  Josiah  should  arise,  and  de¬ 
stroy  that  altar,  and  should 
burn  upon  it  the  bones  of  the 
priests;  and  to  confirm  his  au¬ 
thority,  he  gave  this  sign,  that 
the  altar  should  immediately 
be  broken  in  pieces,  and  the 
ashes  upon  it  be  poured  out; 
and  it  was  so.  Jerouoam,  great¬ 
ly  provoked  by  his  bold  intei 
ference,  put  forth  his  hand  to 
seize  the  prophet;  but  in  a 
moment  it  was  stiffened,  so 
that  he  could  not  draw  it  in- 
Intimidated  by  this  miracu¬ 
lous  judgment,  and  convinced 
that  the  man  was  indeed  a 
prophet  of  the  Lord,  he  begged 
that  he  would  intercede  for 
him,  that  his  arm  might  be  re¬ 
stored  ;  which  was  done  accord¬ 
ingly.  Jeroboam,  however,  was 
not  reformed  by  this  divine 
message  and  double  miracle, 
but  continued  to  cause  Israel  to 
sin,  in  worshipping  the  calves 
which  he  had  set  up.  His  son 
was  taken  sick,  and  he  in¬ 
structed  his  wife  to  disguise 
herself  and  go  to  Ahijah,  who 
was  now  blind  with  age,  and 
consult  him  as  to  the  event  of 
the  disease.  The  prophet  was 
forewarned  of  her  approach; 
and  as  soon  as  he  heard  her 
footsteps,  he  called  her  by 
name,  and  then  recounted  tha 
sins  of  Jeroboam,  and  predicted 
the  disgrace,  and  ruin,  and 
utter  extirpation  of  his  whole 
family,  and  also  the  captivity 
and  dispersion  of  the  people 
of  Israel.  He  also  told  her  that 
the  child  should  die,  and  that 
the  nation  should  mourn  for 
him  as  the  only  individual  of 
the  house  of  their  king  who 
should  come  to  a  peaceful  end ; 
and  also  as  one  who,  in  the 
midst  of  all  the  idolatry  and 
wickedness  of  the  times,  had 
some  pious  emotions,  even  in 
the  house  of  Jeroboam.  As  she 
entered  the  door  of  her  Jiouse* 
the childdied.  (1  Kings xiv.I7.) 

Jeroboam  reigned  in  Israel 
twenty-two  years,  and  was 


JER 

succeeded  by  bis  son  Nadab. 
During  his  life,  there  were 
almost  unceasing  wars  be¬ 
tween  him  and  the  house  of 
David ;  and  history  records  not 
more  destructive  wars ;  for  in 
one  conflict,  the  Israelites  lost 
no  less  than  500,000  men. 

2.  (2Kines  xiv.  23 — 29,)  the 
Bon  of  JoasE,  and  great-grand¬ 
son  of  Jehu,  reigned  forty-one 
years,  and  followed  the  former 
Jeroboam  in  his  idolatrous 
worship.  The  Lord,  however, 
by  him,  according  to  the  pre¬ 
dictions  of  the  prophet  Jonah, 
raised  the  kingdom  of  the 
ten  tribes  to  its  greatest  splen¬ 
dour.  All  the  countries  on  tho 
east  of  Jordan  he  reduced.  It 
appears  from  the  writings  of 
Hosea  and  Amos,  that  idleness, 
effeminacy,  pride,  oppression, 
injustice,  idolatry,  and  luxury, 
greatly  prevailed  in  his  reign. 
(Amos  it.  6— 16;  v.  vi.)  Nor 
was  it  long  after  his  death, 
before  the  Lord,  according  to 
the  predictions  of  Amos,  cut 
off  his  family  with  the  sword. 
(2  Kings  xv.  10.  Hos.  i.  1,  &c.  ) 

JERUB-BAAL.  (See  Gide¬ 
on.) 

JERUSALEM.  (Josh,  xviii. 
28.)  The  capital  of  the  king¬ 
dom  of  Judah,  and  the  scene  of 
the  most  extraordinary  events 
which  occur  in  the  annals  of 
the  human  race;  events,  in 
which  men  and  angels  have 
and  must  for  ever  nave  the 
deepest  interest.  This  was  the 
place  selected  by  the  Almighty 
for  his  dwelling,  and  here  his 
glory  was  rendered  visible. 
This  was  the  “perfection  of 
beauty,”  and  the  “  glory  of  all 
lands.”  Here  David  sat,  and 
tuned  his  harp,  and  sung  the 
praises  of  Jehovah.  Hitherthe 
tribes  came  up  to  worship.  | 
Here  enraptured  prophets  saw 
bright  visions  of  the  world 
above,  and  received  messages 
from  on  high  for  guilty  man.  ! 
Here  our  Lord  and  Saviour 
came  in  the  form  of  a  servant, 


JER 

and  groaned,  and  wept,  and 
poured  out  his  soul  unto  death, 
to  redeem  us  from  sin,  and  save 
us  from  the  pains  of  hell.  Here, 
too,  the  wrath  of  an  incensed 
God  has  been  poured  out  upon 
his  chosen  people,  and  has  laid 
waste  his  heritage. 

It  was  probably  once  called 
Salem,  (Gen.  xiv.18.  Ps.  lxxvi. 
2.  Heb.  vii.  1,2,)  and  in  the 
days  of  Abraham  was  the 
abode  of  Melchizedek.  When 
the  Israelites  took  possession 
of  t/he  promised  land,  they 
found  this  stronghold  in  the 
possession  of  the  Jebusites, 
(see  Jebus,)  and  it  was  by 
them  called  Jebus ,  (Judg.  xix. 
10,)  or  Jebusi.  (Josh,  xviii.  28.) 
Perhaps  the  more  modern 
name  of  the  city  may  be  com¬ 
pounded  of  these  two,  with  a 
little  modification  for  the  sake 
of  sound. 

We  have  called  it  a  strong¬ 
hold, and  so  indeed  it  was,  even 
in  its  earlier  days.  r2  Sam.  v. 
6—8.  1  Chron.  xi.  4—6.)  The 
whole  foundation  was  of  rock, 
with  steep  ascents  on  three 
sides.  Then  it  was  nearly.sur- 
rounded  by  a  deep  valley, 
which  was  again  embosomed 
with  hills. 

This  natural  position  of  the 
city  furnishes  some  of  the 
beautiful  illustrations  of  the 
Bible.  (Ps.  xlviii.  2. 13 ;  cxxv. 
1,2.)  The  ancient  Salem  was 
probably  built  upon  Acra  and 
Moriah,  the  eastern  and  west¬ 
ern  hills.  When  the  Jebusites 
became  masters  of  it,  they 
erected  a  fortress  in  the  south¬ 
ern  quarter  of  the  city,  which 
was  afterwards  called  mount 
Zion,  but  to  which  they  gave 
the  name  of  their  ancestor, 
Jebus  ;  and  although  the  Isra- 
I  elites,  under  Joshua,  took  pos¬ 
session  of  the  circumjacent 
territory,  (Josh,  xviii.  28,)  the 
Jebusites  slillheldthis  fortress, 
;  or  upper  town,  until  the  time 
!  of  David,  who  wrested  it  from 
I  them,  (2  Sam.  v.  7—9,)  and 
348 


JER 

then  Temoved  hig  court  from 
tiebron  to  Jerusalem,  which 
Was  thenceforward  known  as 
the  city  of  David.  (2  Sam.  vi. 
10.12.  1  Kings  viii.  1.)  As  the 
city  was  on  the  boundary  line 
between  the  tribes  of  Judah 
and  Benjamin,  it  is  sometimes 
spoken  of  as  the  possession  of 
each. 

Upon  this  eminence, Solomon 
erected  the  temple,  or  place 
of  worship  for  the  whole  Jew¬ 
ish  nation,  and  also  a  palace 
for  himself,  called  the  house  of 
the  forest  of  Lebanon,  on  ac¬ 
count  of  the  multitude  of  cedars 
from  that  mountain  employed 
in  the  construction  of  it, (IKings 
vii.  2  ;  x.  17 ;)  and  in  his  reign 
the  city  became  renowned 
for  its  commercial  enterprise, 
(IKings  x.  22,)  its  boundless 
wealth,  (1  Kin|s  x.  14—29,) 
and  especially  for  the  enjoy¬ 
ment  of  the  peculiar  presence 
and  favour  of  the  Almighty. 
(Ps.  ii.  6;  xv.  1;  lxxiv.  2.) 
This  eminence  it  maintained 
for  nearly  five  hundred  years, 
when  it  was  destroyed  by  Ne¬ 
buchadnezzar.  Then  it  lay 
in  ruins  seventy  years,  while 
the  Jews  were  in  captivity; 
after  which  it  was  restored  in 
some  degree  to  its  former  im¬ 
portance,  and  so  remained 
for  nearly  six  hundred  years, 
when  it  was  finally  destroyed 
by  Titus,  a.  d.  70.  In  the  reign 
of  Adrian,  the  city  was  partly 
rebuilt,  under  the  'name  of 
jElia.  After  being  transformed 
into  a  pagan  city,  Helena,  the 
mother  of  Constantine,  over¬ 
threw  its  monuments  of  idola¬ 
try,  and  erected  over  the  sup¬ 
posed  site  of  the  sepulchre  of 
Christ  a  magnificent  church, 
which  included  as  many  of  the 
scenes  of  our  Saviour’s  suffer¬ 
ings  as  superstition  and  tradi¬ 
tion  could  conveniently  crowd 
into  one  spot. 

The  emperor  Julian,  in  the 
true  spirit  of  an  apostate,  de¬ 
signing  to  give  the  lie  to  pro- 
“  30 


JER 

phecy,  assembled  the  Jews  at 
Jerusalem,  and  endeavoured 
in  vain  to  rebuild  the  temple. 
In  this  attempt  he  was  frus¬ 
trated  by  an  earthquake,  and 
fiery  eruptions  from  the  earth, 
which  totally  destroyed  the 
work,  consumed  the  materials 
which  had  been  collected,  and 
killed  a  great  number  of  the 
workmen. 

Jerusalem  continued  in  the 
power  of  the  eastern  emperors 
till  the  reign  of  the  caliph 
Omar,  the  third  in  succession 
from  Mohammed,  who  reduced 
it  under  his  subjection.  This 
Omar  was  afterwards  assassi¬ 
nated  in  Jerusalem,  in  643. 

The  Saracens  continued  mas¬ 
ters  of  Jerusalem  till  the  year 
1099,  when  it  was  taken  by 
the  crusaders,  under  Godfrey 
of  Bouillon.  They  founded  a 
new  kingdom,  of  which  Jeru¬ 
salem  was  the  capital,  and 
which  lasted  eighty -eight 
years,  under  nine  kings.  At 
last  this  kingdom  was  utterly 
ruineS  by  Saladin ;  and  though 
the  Christians  once  more  ob¬ 
tained  possession  of  the  city, 
they  were  again  obliged  to  re¬ 
linquish  it.  In  1217,  the  Sara¬ 
cens  were  expelled  by  the 
Turks,  who  have  ever  since 
continued  in  possession  of  it. 

Seventeen  times  has  Jerusa¬ 
lem  been  taken  and  pillaged  ; 
millions  of  men  have  been 
slaughtered  within  its  walls. 
No  other  city  has  experienced 
such  a  fate.  This  protracted 
affil  almost  supernatural  pun¬ 
ishment,  betokens  unexampled 
guilt.  .  , 

The  present  political  state 
of  Jerusalem  is  perhaps  as  low 
as  it  has  been  at  any  time 
while  under  the  dominion  of 
the  Turks.  It  has  not  even 
the  honour  of  ranking  as  a 
provincial  capital,  and  enjoys 
none  of  the  immunities  pecu¬ 
liar  to  the  other  holy  cities  of 
!  Islamism.  It  is  included  with 
i  in  the  pashalic  of  Damascus 
349 


JER 


JEK 


350 


JER 


JEB 


1  Castle  of  Hippicus. 

2  Gate  of  the  gardens. 

3  Tomb  of  high-priest  John. 

4  Bridge  between  temple  and  city. 

5  Supposed  site  of  the  Xistus. 

6  Castle  of  Antonia. 

a  Jaffa  gate. 
b  Zion  gate, 
c  St.  Stephen’s  gate. 
d  Damascus  gate. 
e  Pool  of  Bethesda, 
f  Pool  of  Siloam. 
g  Fountain  of  the  virgin. 
h  Garden  of  Gethsemane. 

»'  Monuments  of  Absalom  and  Zechariah.  < 

k  Village  of  Silor. 

I  Mount  of  Corruption.  ' 

7/1  Jaffa  road.  • 

»  Bethlehem  road. 
o  Road  to  Bethphage  add  Bethany. 


The  line  with  black  squares  ml  upon  it  shows  the 
course  of  the  wall  in  our  Saviour’s  time. 

The  zig-zag  line  shows  the  extent  of  the  wall 

built  by  Agrippa,  after  Christ’s  death. 

The  dotted  line . shows  the  present  wall. 

The  square  on  the  eastern  side  represents  the  site  of  the 
ancient  tempi?,  now  occupied  by  the  mosque  of  Omar. 


351 


J  E  R 

and  is  governed  by  a  deputy 
appointed  from  thence.  No 
deference  is  created  by  the 
peculiar  sanctity  of  the  place, 
(except  in  the  minds  of  Chris¬ 
tians,)  as  is  done  by  that  of 
the  Arabian  cities  of  Mecca 
and  Medina;  for,  while  a  go¬ 
vernor  of  either  of  these  is 
honoured  by  distinguished  pri¬ 
vileges,  the  governor  of  Jerusa¬ 
lem  ranks  only  as  a  magistrate 
of  a  provincial  town. 

The  force  usually  kept  in 
erusalem  consists  of  about  a 
thousand  soldiers,  including 
horse  and  foot,  armed  anu 
equipped  in  the  common  Turk¬ 
ish  fashion,  and  composed  of 
Turks,  Arabs,  and  Albanians. 
These  are  stated  to  be  suffi¬ 
cient  to  repel  any  attack  from 
the  armies  of  the  country,  but 
could  offer  no  effectual  resist¬ 
ance  to  European  troops. 

The  site  of  the  city  of  Jeru¬ 
salem  has  never  been  called 
in  question.  The  associations 
with  it  have  been  permanent 
and  uninterrupted,  and  seem 
designed  to  connect  the  great 
eras  in  the  history  of  the 
church  of  the  Redeemer,  to 
be  an  everlasting  monument 
of  the  truth  and  faithfulness 
of  the  God  of  Jacob. 

There  have  been  many 
changes  in  its  form  and  ap¬ 
pearance  ;  the  most  important 
of  which  we  proceed  to  state, 
and  to  illustrate  them  by  a 
map,  which  is  prepared  from 
the  best  materials  that  the 
journals  of  travellers  supply, 
down  to  the  year  1836. 

The  city  of  Jerusalem  stands 
in  31°  50'  north  latitude,  and 
35°  20'  east  longitude,  from 
Greenwich.  It  is  thirty-four 
miles  south-easterly  from  Jaffa, 
(Joppa,)  its  port,  and  one  hun¬ 
dred  and  twenty  miles  south- 
westward  ly  from  Damascus. 
It  has  the  valley  of  Jehosha- 
phat,  or  Kedron,  on^the  east, 
and  the  valley  of  Hinnom  on 
the  south  and  west. 


'JER 

Mount  Moriah  is  now  on  a 
level  with  other  parts  of  the 
city,  and  is  occupied  by  the 
mosque  of  Omar,  which  stands 
probably  very  near,  if  not  on 
the  very  site  of  the  temple  of 
Solomon.  So  sacred  is  this 
edifice  in  the  view  of  the 
Turks,  that  no  Christian  is 
permitted  to  place  his  foot 
even  within  the  spacious  en¬ 
closure  which  surrounds  it. 
Although  the  elevation  of  this 
mountain  has  disappeared,  its 
position  is  beyond  controversy. 
To  prepare  it  for  the  vast 
structure  of  the  temple,  Solo¬ 
mon  enclosed  the  mountain 
by  a  stupendous  wall,  of  an 
average  perpendicular  height 
of  five  hundred  feet;  filling  up 
the  intervening  space  between 
the  wall  aiqj  the  mountain,  so 
as  to  form  a  spacious  and  level 
area  for  the  temple  and  ils 
extensive  courts.  At  the  north¬ 
western  angle  of  this  area  was 
a  magnificent  tower,  which 
was  called  by  Herod  the  tower 
of  Antonia,  in  honour  of  Mark 
Antony. 

Mount  Zion  was  south-west 
of  Moriah;  and  its  present 
position  and  elevation  corre¬ 
spond  very  exactly  with  the 
most  ancient  records. 

It  is  impossible.after  so  many 
desolations  as  the  city  has  suf¬ 
fered,  to  trace  the  boundaries 
of  this  mountain.  There  is, 
however,  a  rise  of  ground  be¬ 
tween  Zion  and  Moriah,  which 
corresponds  so  entirely  to  the 
east  part  of  Acra,  as  described 
by  ancient  historians,  as  to 
leave  no  doubt  that  it  formed 
a  portion  of  it.  The  Jews  at 
present  call  the  whole  hill 
Zion. 

Acra  (so  called  from  a  Greek 
word,  signifying  high)  is  some 
times  called  the  lower  city,  as 
mount  Zion  was  called  the 
upper  city.  It  was  north  of 
mount  Zion,  from  which  it  was 
separated  by  the  valley  of  the 
cheesemongers.  A  town  was 


«TER 

once  erected  on  a  peak  of 
Acra,  which  overlooked  the 
ternpie.  After  standing  about 
twenty-five  years,  it  was  de¬ 
molished,  and  the  mountain 
reduced  to  a  level  with  .the 
adjoining  districts. 

Bezetha ,  or  the  new  city,  was 
a  spacious  suburb,  stretching 
northward  from  mount  Moriah, 
which  was  not  taken  within 
the  city  proper  until  nearly 
fifty  years  after  the  crucifix¬ 
ion.  It  embraces  what  is  sup¬ 
posed  to  have  been  the  scene 
of  that  wonderful  event. 

The  modern  city  of  Jerusa¬ 
lem  is  chiefly  built  on  mount 
Moriah,  and  derives  its  princi¬ 
pal  support  from  the  visits  of 
pilgrims.  The  different  ac¬ 
counts,  given  by  travellers,  of 
the  appearance  of  the  city, 
may  be  accounted  for  in  part 
by  the  direction  in  which  it  is 
approached.  From  the  north, 
it  appears  to  the  best  advan¬ 
tage;  and  from  the  west,  to 
the  least.  It 'is  about  two  miles 
and  a  half  in  circuit,  and  con¬ 
tains  a  population  variously 
estimated  from  15,000  to  50,000. 
The  most  accurate  estimate 
we  have  seen  places  it  at 
20,000. 

It  will  be  observed  that  the 
map  presents  the  city  in  three 
different  aspects. 

. marks  the  present 

boundary  of  the  city. 

wvw  the  wall  built  by 
Agrippa. 

nn  what  was  the  city 
at  the  time  of  the  crucifixion. 

At  present,  the  south  wall 
passes  over  mount  Zion,  near 
its  summit,  so  that  a  great  part 
of  the  city  is  without  the  walls. 
South  of  mount  Zion  is  the 
deep  valley  of  the  son  of  Hin- 
nom ;  the  same  valley,  turning 
north,  bounds  Zion  likewise  on 
the  west.  Moriah  has  on  the 
east  the  deep  valley  of  Cedron. 
On  the  south  of  it,  without  the 
city,  is  a  little  elevation, which 
is  marked  on  D’Anville’s  map 


JER 

as  Ophel ;  thence  the  descent 
is  steep,  till  we  come  to  the 
fountain  of  Siloah.  The  val¬ 
leys  north  and  west  of  Moriah 
at  present  are  not  very  deep. 
Calvary  was  perhaps  only  a 
small  elevation  on  a  greater 
hill,  which  is  now  the  north¬ 
west  part  of  the  city ;  but  the 
name  is  now  given  to  the 
whole  hill.  Bezetha  is  sepa¬ 
rated  from  Calvary  by  a  wide 
valley ;  and  east  of  Calvary  is 
the  dividing  valley  between 
Moriah  and  Bezetha,  in  which 
is  the  pool  of  Bethesda. 

We  have  viewed  Jerusa¬ 
lem,  says  a  Christian  traveller, 
from  different  stations,  have 
walked  around  it  and  within 
it,  and  have  stood  on  the  mount 
of  Olives,  with  Josephus’  de¬ 
scription  of  it  in  our  hands, 
trying  to  discover  the  hills  and 
valleys,  as  laid  down  by  him 
near  eighteen  hundred  years 
ago ;  and  after  all  our  research, 
w'e  compare  Jerusalem  to  a 
beautiful  person,  whom  we 
have  not  seen  for  many  years, 
and  who  has  passed  through  a 
great  variety  of  changes  and 
misfortunes,  which  have  caus¬ 
ed  the  rose  on  her  cheeks  to 
fade,  her  flesh  to  consume 
away,  and  her  skin  to  become 
dry  and  withered,  and  have 
covered  her  face  with  the 
wrinkles  of  age ;  but  who  still 
retains  some  general  features, 
by  which  we  recognise  her  as 
the  person  who  used  to  be  the 
delight  of  the  circle  in  which 
she  moved.  Such  is  the  pre¬ 
sent  appearance  of  the  Holy 
City,  which  was  once  the  per¬ 
fection  of  beauty ,  the  joy  of 
the  whole  earth. 

Jerusalem, as  to  general  form, 
may  be  called  a  square,  or 
rather  a  rhomboid ;  the  north- 
east  and  south-west  angles  aro 
acute,  and  the  north-west  and 
south-east  are  obtuse.  The 
east  wall  is  nearly  straight  th# 
whole  length.  On  the  north 
and  south  sides, the  wall  makes 


JER 

a  bend  outwardly,  and  on  the 
west  side  it  makes  an  inward 
bend  ;  so  that  it  would  not  be 
very  inaccurate  to  call  the 
city  a  heptagon.  There  are 
likewise  many  little  irregu¬ 
larities  in  the  wall. 

Near  the  bend  on  the  west 
side  is  Jaffa  gate,  called  also 
the  gate  of  Bethlehem  and  the 
Pilgrim’s  gate,  and  Bab  el 
Khaleel,  (the  gate  of  the  Be¬ 
loved,  i.  e.  Abraham.)  On  the 
south  side  is  the  gate  of  Zion, 
called  also  the  gate  of  David. 
On  the  east  side,  near  the  pool 
of  Bethesda,  is  the  gate  of 
Stephen,  called-  likewise  the 
Sheen  gale,  and  the  gale  of 
the  Virgin  Mary.  On  the  west 
side,  between  Calvary  and  Be¬ 
zetha, is  Damascus  gate.  These 
From  the  north-west  corner 
to  Jaffa  t^ate  - 
to  south-west  coiner  • 
to  Zion  gate  ... 
to  the  bend  in  the  south  wall 
to  the  Dung  gate 
to  the  south-east  corner 
to  the  Golden  gate 
to  St.  Stephen’s  gate  • 
to  north-east  corner  - 
to  Herod’s  gate  ... 
to  the  bend  ... 
to  Damascus  gate 
to  north-west  corner  - 

The  total  is  4279  paces ;  and 
allowing  five  paces  to  a  rod, 
this  gives  eight  hundred  ana 
fifty-six  rods,  or  about  two 
miles  and  two  thirds,  for  the 
circumference  of  the  city. 
Maundrell  measured  the  city, 
and  judged  it  to  betwt  miles 
and  a  half  in  circumference. 
According  to  Josephus,  it  was 
thirty-three  furlongs,  or  eight 
miles,  in  circumference  before 
Titus  destroyed  it.  Mount  Zion 
was  then  included ;  and  the 
city  seems,  from  his  descrip¬ 
tion,  to  have  extended  further 
porth  than  it  does  now.  The 
wall  of  the  city  is  high,  but  not 
thick.  From  counting  the  rows 
pf  stones,  the  height,  in  differ¬ 
ent  places,  is  supposed  to  be 
fony,  fifty,  and  perhaps  sixty 
feet.  There  is  a  castle,  with  two 


JER 

four  are  the  principal  gates 
of  the  city,  and  are  always 
open  from  morning  till  sunset- 
There  are  two  other  small 
gates,  which  are  opened  only 
occasionally.  One  is  on  the 
south  side,  a  little  west  of 
mountMoriah.  Maundrell  calls 
it  the  Dung  gate.  The  other, 
which  Maundrell  callsHerod's 
gate,  is  on  the  west  side,  and 
goes  out  from  Bezetha.  On 
the  east  side  of  Moriah  is  a  se¬ 
venth  gate,  or  rather  a  place 
where  there  was  one  when  the 
Christians  possessed  the  city: 
for  it  is  now  completely  walled 
tro.  Maundrell  calls  this  the 
Golden  gale. 

The  measure  of  the  city  by 
paces  gives  the  following  re¬ 
sult  : 

Paces. 

*  .  |  768  west  side. 

-  -  195^ 

-  -  244  Id  149  south  lid*. 

-  415  J 

-  -  853) 

-  -  230  f-  943  east  lido. 

-  -  360 1 

-  -  350-1 

I  "-  norths 

660 j 

towers,  on  the  west  side,  a 
little  south  of  Jaffa  gate,  to 
which  travellers  have  given 
the  name  of  the  Pisan’s 
tower.  For  a  little  distance, 
near  the  north-east  corner, 
there  is  a  trench  without  the 
wall,  but  now  nearly  filled  up. 

The  Jews  occupy  a  rnucn 
smaller  part  of  the  city  than 
the  Turks  and  Arabs.  The 
Armenians  live  in  and  around 
their  convent  on  mount  Zion; 
the  Greeks  and  Catholics  have 
their  convents  and  houses  on 
mount  Calvary.  The  Turks 
and  Arabs  occupy  Bezetha, 
and  all  the  eastern  part  ol 
the  city,  and  have  scattered 
dwellings  in  every  quarter. 
The  Jews  live  in  the  dust,  be¬ 
tween  Zion  and  Moriah.  The 
whole  area  of  the  ancient  Jew 
354 


JER 

ISh  temple  on  Moriah,  which 
now  encloses  the  mosque  of 
Omar,  is  walled  in,  and,  as 
was  before  observed,  none  but 
Mussulmans  are  allowed  to 
enter  it  on  pain  of  death, 
though  this  rule  seems  to  have 
been  lately  relaxed  in  some 
degree.  In  and  near  it  are 
four  minarets.  There  are  two 
others  on  Bezetha,  one  on 
Acra,  one  on  Zion,  and  two  on 
Calvary. 

The  Jews  have  a  number  of 
synagogues,  all  connected  to¬ 
gether,  in  the  quarter  where 
they  live.  The  church  of  the 
Holy  Sepulchre  stands  on  Cal¬ 
vary.  This  is  an  edifice  dis¬ 
tinguished  for  its  size  and  mas¬ 
siveness.  It  forms  altogether 
a  block  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  feet  long  and  one  hundred 
wide ;  and  includes  what  are 
called  the  chapel  of  the  cruci¬ 
fixion,  the  church  of  the  sepul¬ 
chre,  seven  small  chapels,  a 
monastery  and  cloisters.  The 
traditions  with  which  the  va¬ 
rious  apartments  are  associated 
are  scarcely  worthy  to  be  pre¬ 
served,  and  yet  the  votaries  of 
superstition  have  contrived  to 
group  and  connect  them  in 
such  a  manner  as  to  excite 
strong  and  probably  salutary 
emotions  in  the  mind  of  the 
reflecting  visiter.  The  Catho¬ 
lics  have  one  convent  on  the 
same  mountain.  The  Greeks 
have  twelve  here, and  one  near 
Ziongate.  The  Armenians  have 
three  convents  on  mount  Zion, 
a  large  one  and  a  small  one  in 
the  city,  and  another  a  little 
without  Zion  gate,  where,  it  is 
believed, stood  the  house  of  Cai- 
aphas,whereJesus  was  arraign¬ 
ed, and  wherePeterdenied  him. 
The  Copts,  Syrians,  and  Abys- 
sinians  have  also  each  a  small 
convent.  The  houses  are  of 
stone,  most  of  them  low  and 
irregular,  with  flat  roofs  or  ter¬ 
races,  in  the  middle  of  which 
usually  rises  a  small  dome. 
The  windows  are  small,  and 


JES 

those  towards  the  street  have 
usually  strong  iron  grates  for 
defence,  and  then  fine  wooden 
grates  to  prevent  the  women 
from  being  seen  by  those  who 
pass.  The  streets  are  narrow, 
and  most  of  them  irregular. 
There  are  but  few  gardens  in 
the  city. 

Jerusalem  is  seen  to  best 
advantage  from  mount  Olivet. 

The  substance  of  the  forego¬ 
ing  account  of  modern  Jerusa¬ 
lem  is  abridged  from  the  iour- 
hal  of  Messrs.  Fisk  and  King, 
American  missionaries,  who 
were  resident  there  in  1S23; 
and  its  accuracy  is  confirmed 
by  the  descriptions  of  travel¬ 
lers  who  have  visited  it  more 
recently. 

(For  a  more  minute  history 
and  description  of  the  city,  see 
Destruction  op  Jerusalem, 
ch.  vi.  xiv. ;  Elisama,  ch.  viii. 
—x. ;  Omar,  ch.  iv.  viii. ;  and 
Selumiel,  pp.  49—52. 150—174. 
195— 210,  all  by  Am.  S.S.Union. 
See  also  Map  of  Jerusalem, 
ublished  in  connexion  with 
elumiel,  which  corresponds 
in  its  principal  outlines  to  the 
foregoing  article.) 

Jerusalem,  new,  (Rev.xxi. 
2,)  is  a  term  employed  meta¬ 
phorically  to  represent  the  spi¬ 
ritual  church.  The  ancient 
Jews  regarded  the  taberna¬ 
cle,  the  temple,  and  Jeru¬ 
salem  itself,  as  descending 
directly  from  God  ;  and  they 
suppose  that  there  is  a  spirit¬ 
ual  tabernacle,  temple,  and 
city  corresponding  with  them. 
(Comp.  Gal.  iv.  26.  2  Pet.  iii. 
10—13.  Rev.  xxi.)  Jerusalem 
of  old  was  the  city  of  God, 
and  Jerusalem  above  is  called 
the  city  of  the  living  God,  or 
heavenly  Jerusalem.  (Heb.  xti. 
22.  Rev.  iii.  12.) 

JESHURUN.  (Deut.  xxxa 
15.)  A  significant  name,  de- 
scciptive  of  the  Israelitish  com¬ 
munity,  and  implying  either 
their  general  uprightness,  or 
the  peculiar  manifestation  of 
'  355 


JEW 

God’s  presence  which  they 
had  enjoyed,  and  which  aggra¬ 
vated  the  guilt  of  their  rebel¬ 
lion.  It  is  sometimes  used  as 
a  term  of  fondness,  and  may 
ne  rendered  the  beloved  one , 
or  the  object  of  God’s  special 
delight,  as  Benjamin  was. 
(Deut.  xxxiii.  12.)  It  is  syno¬ 
nymous  with  Israel.  (Isa.  xliv. 
2.) 

JESSE.  (lChron.ii.  13.)  The 
on  of  Obed,  and  father  of  Da¬ 
vid.  Hence  he  is  called  the 
root  of  David,  and  the  ancestor 
of  the  Messiah.  (Isa.  xi.  1. 10.) 
Christ  describes  himself  as  the 
root  and  the  offspring  cff  David, 
(Rev.  v.  5 ;  xxii.  16.)  in  refer¬ 
ence  to  his  twofold  nature ;  in 
one  of  which,  he  was  the  crea- 
torand  Source  of  all  being, (John 
i.  3,)  and  in  the  other,  he  was 
born  of  a  woman  of  a  descend¬ 
ant  of  the  family  of  David. 
(Matt.  i.  6—16.) 

JESUS.  (Matt.  i.  21.)  This 
term,  in  its  original,  imports 
the  office  of  a  Saviour,  or  one 
sent  to  save.  It  occurs  only 
in  the  New  Testament;  and 
though  it  is  not  exclusively 
applied  to  Christ,  it  should  be ; 
for  in  Acts  vii.  45.  Col.  iv.  11, 
and  Heb.  iv.  8,  Joshua,  and 
not  Jesus,  is  the  proper  ren¬ 
dering. 

In  the  evangelical  history, 
our  Saviour  is  designated  by 
the  name  of  Christ  alone,  in 
nearly  three  hundred  passages; 
by  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ, 
or  Christ  Jesus,  less  than  one 
hundred  times ;  and  by  the 
name  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
less  than  fifty.  (See  Christ 

T p  QTT5  ^ 

JETHRO.  (Ex.  iii.  1.)  A 
priest  or  prince  of  Midian,  and 
father-in-law  of  Moses.  He  is 
called  Raguel,  Num.  x.  29,  and 
Reuel,  Ex.  ii.  18;  and  was  pro¬ 
bably  known  by  either  name. 
It  is  highly  probable, too, that  he 
was  a  descendant  of  Abraham, 
(Gen.  xxv.  2;)  but  what  was 
the  nature  of  his  office  as 


JEW 

priest,  (or  prince,  as  some  say 
it  should  be  rendered,)  we 
know  not.  (See  Life  of  Mo¬ 
ses,  pp.  36 — 41,  by  Am.  S.  S. 
Union.) 

JEWELS.  (Gen.  xxiv.  5k) 
This  term  is  applied  to  orna¬ 
ments,  made  of  the  precious 
metals,  and  used  to  adorn  the 
person.  We  find  them  among 
the  presentswhich  the  servants 
of  Abraham  made  to  Rebekah 
and  her  family  when  they 
sought  her  in  marriage  for 
Isaac.  (Isa.  lxi.  10.)  It  is  pro. 
bable  that  much  skill  was  at¬ 
tained,  at  a  very  early  period, 
in  the  manufacture  of  metal 
ornaments ;  such  as  chains, 
bracelets,  ear-rings,  &c.  (Num. 
xxxi.  50.  Ezek.  xvi.  12.  Hos. 
ii.  13.) 

The  word  is  figuratively  used 
to  denote  any  thing  peculiarly 
precious ;  as,  the  chosen  peo¬ 
ple  of  God,  (Mai.  iii.  17,)  or 
wisdom.  (Prov.  xx.  15.) 

JEWRY.  (Luke  xxiii.  5.) 
The  same  with  Judea.  (Dan. 
v.  13.) 

JEWS.  (2  Kings  xvi.  6.) 
The  word  first  occurs  in  this 
passage,  and  denotes  the  Ju. 
deans,  or  men  of  Judah,  in 
contradistinction  from  the  se 
ceding  ten  tribes  who  retained 
the  name  of  Israel.  The  name 
Israelites  was  applied  to  the 
twelve  tribes,  or  descendants 
of  Jacob,  (Israel,)  as  a  body; 
but  after  the  separation  of  the 
tribes,  the  above  distinction 
obtained  until  the  Babylonish 
captivity,  which  terminated 
the  existence  of  the  kingdom 
of  Judah ;  and  thenceforward, 
until  the  present  day,  the  de¬ 
scendants  of  Jacob  are  called 
Jews,  and  constitute  one  of 
the  two  classes  into  which  the 
whole  human  family  is  fre. 
quently  divided,  viz.  Jews  and 
Gentiles.  (Rom.  ii.  9,  10.  See 
Hebrews.)^  Since  the  over¬ 
throw  of  their  government,  and 
the  final  destruction  of  their 
city,  the  Jews  have  been  set 


3  E  Z 

wd  on  high  as  a  visible,  incon¬ 
trovertible,  and  overwhelming 
evidence  of  the  truth  and  faith¬ 
fulness  of  Jehovah.  So  long  as 
they  were  the  objects  of  his 
regard,  no  weapon  formed 
against  them  could  prosper; 
but  when  they  became  the 
objects  of  his  displeasure,  on 
account  of  lljeir  sins  and  re¬ 
bellions,  no  plan  or  effort  for 
their  restoration  succeeds,  or 
will  succeed,  until  the  set  time 
to  favour  them  shall  come. 
Their  return  to  the  rest  and 
rivileges  of  God’s  people  will 
e  as  life  from,  the  dead.  (Rom. 
xi.  15.  25—28.  For  a  particular 
account  of  the  calamities  of 
this  nation,  from  century  to 
century,  and  the  connexion  of 
their  wonderful  history  with 
prophecy,  see  The  Bible  is 
True,  ch.  iv.  v.,  by  Am.  S.  S. 
Union.) 

The  number  of  Jews  in  the 
world  is  estimated  at  from 
three  to  six  millions.  Of  these, 
there  are  reckoned  in  Europe, 
2,000,000;  Asia,  700,000;  Africa, 
500,000.  The  largest  numbers 
are  in  Russia  and  Poland. 

The  number  of  Jews  in  the 
United  States  is  computed  at 
from  6.000  to  15,000. 

JEZEBEL,  (1  Kings  xvi.  31,) 
the  w  ife  of  Ahab  king  of  Israel, 
was  the  daughter  of  a  Zidonian 
king,  and  of  course  educated 
in  the  idolatrous  practices  of 
her  native  country.  It  is 
charged  upon  Ahab  as  a  sin  of 
the  deepest  die,  that  he  should 
connect  himself  with  such  a 
woman.  She  introduced  the 
worship  of  Baal  and  other 
idols,  maintaining  four  hun¬ 
dred  idolatrous  priests  at  her 
own  expense,  while  Ahab 
maintained  four  hundred  and 
fifty  more.  (1  Kings  xviii.  19.) 

This  wicked  woman  once 
resolved  on  the  extermina¬ 
tion  of  all  the  prophets  of 
God.  Obadiah,  who  was  a  pi¬ 
ous  man,  and  principal  officer 
of  Allah's  household,  rescued 


J  EZ 

one  hundred  of  them  at  one 
time  from  her  grasp,  and 
supplied  them  with  bread 
and  water  while  they  were 
concealed  in  caves.  (1  Kings 
xviii.  3, 4. 13.)  Soon  after  this. 
Elijah  caused  the  four  hundred 
and  fifty  priests  of  Baal,  sup¬ 
ported  by  Ahab,  to  be  put  to 
death.  For  this  proceeding, 
Jezebel  threatened  to  take  the 
life  of  Elijah,  but  her  purpose 
was  frustrated.  Soon  after 
wards,  she  planned  and  per¬ 
petrated  the  murder  of  Na¬ 
both.  And  by  using  the  king's 
name  and  authority  with  the 
leading  men  of  Jezreel,  she 
secured  their  co-operation  in 
the  flagrant  crime.  (1  Kings 
xxi.  1—13.) 

The  doom  of  this  impious 
woman  was  predicted  by  Eli¬ 
jah,  and  was  in  due  time  visit¬ 
ed  upon  her  to  the  very  letter. 
(See  Jehu,  Ahab.) 

In  Rev.  ii.  20,  there  is  an 
allusion  to  this  history;  but 
whether  the  word  Jezebel  is 
there  used  as  the  name  of  a 
person  then  living,  and  resem 
bling  in  character  Jezebel  of 
old,  or  whether  it  is  only  used 
proverbially,  as  it  is  in  modern 
Limes,  to  denote  a  cunning, 
wicked,  deceitful,  abandoned 
woman,  is  not  certain.  » 

JEZREEL.  (Josh.  xix.  18.) 
A  royal  city  within  the  bounds 
of  Manasseh,  in  the  valley  of 
Jezreel,  where  the  tidings  of 
Saul’s  death,  in  the  battle  at 
Gilboa,  were  first  announced, 
(2  Sam.  iv.  4,)  and  where  his 
son  Ishbosheth  reigned  after 
his  father’s  death.  (2  Sam.  ii. 
9.)  It  is  worthy  of  remark,  that 
the  fountain  in  Jezreel,  where 
the  Israelites  encamped  before 
the  battle  of  Gilboa,  (lSam. 
xxix.  1,)  was  the  very  spot 
where  the  crusaders  encamp¬ 
ed  in  1183,  when  on  the  eve 
of  a  battle  with  Saladin.  Ahab 
and  Joram  resided  at  Jezreel, 
(1  Kings  xviii.  45.  2  Kings  ix. 
15;)  and  Jezebel  and  Joram 


JEZ 

were  slain  there  by  Jehu. 
(2  Kings  ix.24 — 33.)  There  was 
also  a  city  in  Judah  of  this 
name.  (Josh.  xv.  56.) 

Valley  qf.  (Josh.  xvii.  16.) 
An  extensive  valley,  (i  Sam. 
xxxi.  7,)  called  by  the  Greeks 
Esdraelon,  stretching  south 
and  south-west  from  mount 
Tabor  and  Nazareth,  and  re¬ 
markable  for  its  beauty  and 
fertility.  It  was  the  scene  of 
many  battles.  Among  them, 
one  between  Deborah  and  Ba¬ 
rak  and  Sisera,  the  command¬ 
er  of  the  Syrians,  (Judg.  iv.  14,) 
one  between  Ahab  and  the  Sy¬ 
rians,  (comp.  1  Sam.  xxix.  1. 

1  Kings  xx.  26.)  another  be¬ 
tween  Saul  andthePhilistines, 
(1  Sam  kxix.  1,)  and  another 
between  Gideon  and  the  Midi- 
anites.  (Judg.  vi.  33.) 

This  plain  is  computed  by 
modern  travellers  to  be  at  least 
fifteen  miles  square,  and  con¬ 
tains  five  miserable  villages, 
with  scarcely  a  moving  inha¬ 
bitant.  One  of  them  speaks  of 
it  as  a  chosen  place  for  bat¬ 
tles  and  military  operations  in 
every  age,  from  tne  time  of 
Barak  to  that  of  Bonaparte; 
Jew,  Gentiles,  Egyptians,  Sa¬ 
racens,  Christian  crusaders, 
and  antichristian  Frenchmen, 
Persians,  Druses,  Turks,  and 
Arabd.  Warriors  out  of  every 
nation  which  is  under  heaven 
have  pitched  their  tents  upon 
the  plains  of  Esdraelon,  and 
have  beheld  the  various  ban¬ 
ners  of  their  nation  wet  with 
the  dews  of  Tabor  and  Her- 
mon. 

The  soil  is  extremely  rich ; 
and  in  every  direction  are  the 
most  picturesque  views.  The 
hills  of  Nazareth  to  the  north ; 
those  of  Samaria  to  the  south ; 
to  the  east  the  mountains  of 
Tabor  and  Hermon;  and  Car¬ 
mel  to  the  south-west.  “About 
four  o’clock  in  the  afternoon,” 
says  a  traveller,  “we  arrived  at 
the  village  of  Gennyn,  which 
is  situated  at  the  entrance  of 


JOA 

one  of  the  numerous  vales 
which  lead  out  of  the  plain  of 
Esdraelon  to  the  mountainous 
regions  of  Ephraim.” 

“  From  the  window  of  the 
khan  where  we  are  lodging 
we  have  a  clear  view  of  the 
tract  over  which  the  prophet 
El  ijah  must  have  passed,  when 
he  girded  up  his  loins  and  ran 
before  Ahab  to  th£  entrance  of 
Jezreel.  But,  in  the  present 
day,  no  chariots  of  Ahab  or  ot 
Sisera  are  to  be  seen ;  not  even 
a  single  wheel-carriage  of  any 
description  whatever.” 

The  plain  opens  about  three 
miles  from  Nazareth,  on  the 
way  to  Jerusalem. 

Mr.  Fisk,  an  American  mis¬ 
sionary,  was  there  in  the  au¬ 
tumn  of  1823,  and  confirms  the 
preceding  account  of  the. size, 
position,  &c.  of  Esdraelon.  So 
rich  and  fertile  is  the  soil,  that 
he  thinks  the  plain,  though 
less  than  fifteen  miles  square, 
would  support  thirty  or  forty 
villages,  of  2000  or  3000  souls 
each.  (See  Omar,  p.  118,  by 
Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

JOAB  (2  Sam.  ii.  18)  was  the 
nephew  of  David,  and  the  com- 
mander-in-chief  of  his  army. 
(1  Chron.  ii.  16;  xi.6.)  He  was 
evidently  a  valiant  man,  but 
ambitious  and  revengeful.  To 
revenge  the  death  of  his  bro¬ 
ther  Asahel,  whom  Abner  had 
killed  in  self-defence,  (2  Sam. 
ii.  23,)  he  treacherously  assas¬ 
sinated  this  distinguished  ge¬ 
neral.  (2  Sam.  iii.  27.)  He 
brought  about  a  reconciliation 
between  Absalom  and  his  fa¬ 
ther,  after  the  murder  of  Am- 
non;  but  when  Absalom  re¬ 
belled,  Joab  adhered  to  his 
master;  and  under  his -gene¬ 
ralship,  the  troops  of  David, 
though  much  inferior  in  num¬ 
ber,  obtained  a  complete  vic¬ 
tory  over  the  army  which  had 
been  collected  by  this  aban- 
doned  and  infatuated  young 
man  ;  and,  contrary  to  the  ex 
press  orders  of  David,  he  pul 


JOA 

Kira  to  death  with  his  own 
hand,  as  he  hung  suspended 
from  the  oak  tree.  (2Sam.  xviii. 
14.)  After  this  event,  David 
promoted  Amasa  to  be  his  gene¬ 
ral-in-chief,  by  which  Joab  was 
deeply  offended,  and  secretly 
resolved  on  the  death  of  his 
rival ;  and  took  the  first  oppor¬ 
tunity  of  assassinating  him,  as 
he  had  done  Abner.  (2Sam.xx. 
10.)  David,  after  this,  seems 
to  have  taken  him  again  iuto 
favour.  (2  Sam.  xxiv.2.)  When 
David  the  kin»  had  become 
old,  however,  Joab  combined 
with  Abiathar  the  priest,  and 
others,  to  set  Adonijah  on  the 
throne,  in*iefiance  of  the  will 
of  David,  who  had,  by  divine 
direction,  resolved  to  make 
Solomon  king.  (1  Kings  ii.  28.) 
The  plot  was  seasonably  de¬ 
feated,  and  Solomon  was 
proclaimed  king  the  same 
day.  But  Joab  now  seemed  to 
David  so  evidently  an  object  of 
the  divine  displeasure,  that  he 
solemnly  charged  Solomon  to 
punish  him  for  all  his  enor¬ 
mous  crimes,  and  especially 
for  the  murder  of  two  valiant 
men,  betterthan  himself, Abner 
and  Amasa.  Joab,  conscious 
that  his  life  was  forfeited, 
sought  an  asylum  at  the  horns 
ef  the  altar,  which  position  he 
absolutely  refused  to  relin¬ 
quish;  and  Benaiah,  now  ad¬ 
vanced  to  be  the  captain  of 
the  host,  slew  him  by  the  altar, 
agreeably  to  the  command  of 
the  young  king.  He  was  buried 
in  his  own  house,  in  the  wil¬ 
derness.  (1  Kings  ii.  5—34.) 

JOANNA  (Luke  viii.  3)  is 
mentioned  as  the  wife  of  Chu- 
ea,  Herod’s  steward,  or  head- 
servant.  She  seems  to  have 
been  the  subject  of  some  mira¬ 
culous  cure  by  Christ,  whom 
she  followed,  and  to  whom  she 
ministered.  (Luke  xxiv.  10.) 

JOASH,  1.  (2 Kings  xiii.  1,) 
ar  JEHOASH,  (2  Kings  xii.  1,) 
was  the  son  and  successor  of 
Ahaziah,  king  of  Judah.  Je- 


JOA 

hosheba,  (or  Jchoshabeath,  2 
Chron.  xxii.  11,)  the  wife^ff 
Jehoiada  the  high-priest,  his 
aunt,  preserved  him  from  the 
murderous  designs  of  Athali- 
ah,  his  grand-mother,  when 
he  was  but  a  year  old,  and 
kept  him  hid  six  years  in  a 
chamber  belonging  to  the  tem¬ 
ple.  (See  Athaliah.)  When 
he  was  seven  years  of  age, 
Jehoiada  entered  into  a  solemn 
covenant  with  Azariah  and 
others,  to  set  up  young  Joash 
for  their  sovereign,  and  de¬ 
throne  the  wicked  Athaliah. 
After  preparing  matters  in  the 
kingdom,  and  bringing  the  Le- 
vites,  and  such  others  as  they 
could  trust,  to  Jerusalem,  they 
crowned  him  in  the  court  of 
the  temple  with  great  solemni¬ 
ty.  (2Kingsxi.)  Joash  behaved 
himself  well  while  Jehoiada 
the  high-priest  lived  and  was 
his  guide;  but  no  sooner  was 
this  good  man  removed,  ..ban 
he  began  to  listen  to  the  roun 
sels  of  his  wicked  courtiers. 
The  worship  of  God  fell  iuto 
neglect,  and  idolatry  prevail 
ed.  Zec-hariah  the  priest,  son 
of  Jehoiada,  warned  him  of 
his  sin  and  danger;  but  as 
a  reward  of  his  fidelity,  he 
was,  by  order  of  Joash,  stoned 
to  death,  between  the  porch 
and  the  altar.  When  dying,  he 
assured  them  that  God  would 
avenge  his  death.  (2  Chron. 
xxiv.  20— 22.)  To  which  event 
our  Saviour  is  supposed  by 
some  to  refer,  Matt,  xxiii.  35. 
Hazael  invaded  the  kingdom; 
but  Joash,  with  a  large  sum  of 
money,  including  all  the  treat 
sures  and  furniture  of  the  tem¬ 
ple  and  palace,  redeemed  his 
capital  from  plunder.  (2Kings 
xii.  18.)  After  suffering  other 
injuries  from  the  Syrians;  and 
after  being  loaded  with  igno. 
miny,  he  was  murdered  by  his 
own  servants,  after  a  reign  of 
forty-one  years.  (2  Chron.  xxiv 
24—27.) 

2.  (2  Kings  xiii.  9.)  Son  anq 
359 


JOB 

(ttccessor  of  Jehoahaz  king  of 
Israel,  and  grandson  of  Jehu, 
was  for  two  orthree  years  asso¬ 
ciated  with  his  father  in  the 
government;  and  he  reigned 
alone,  after  his  father’s  death, 
foorteen  years.  j 

He  was  a  wicked  prince, 
though  he  was  successful  in 
three  campaigns  against  the 
Syrians,  and  recovered  the 
cities  which  they  took  from  his 
father,  according  to  the  predic¬ 
tion  of  Elisha.  (2  Kings  xiii. 
Jo — 25.)  He  was  also  signally 
successful  in  a  war  with  Ama 
ziah  king  of  Judah,  (see  Ama 
ziah  ;)  soon  after  the  tormina 
H  in  of  which,  he  died  (2Kings 

iv.  12—16.) 

JOB.  (Job  i.  1.)  A  man  of 
singular  piety  and  more  singu- 
Jar'trials,  who  is  supposed  to 
have  lived  in  Idumea  at  a  very 
parly  period  of  the  world.  Some 
have  supposed  that  he  was  the 
same  with  Jobab,  (1  Chron.  i. 
44,)  great-grandson  of  Esau; 
Dut  others  place  him  before 
Abraham’s  time. 

Book  of.  Considerable  dif¬ 
ference  of  opinion  has  prevail¬ 
ed  as  .to  the  date  and  author  of 
the  book  of  Job.  It  is  evidently 
ef  great  antiquity,  (probably 
earlier  than  the  time  of  Moses,) 
and  its  genuineness  appears 
from  Ezek.  xiv.  14,  and  James 
v.  11.  From  the  whole  current 
of  tradition,  and  from  the  cha¬ 
racter,  style,  and  contents  of 
the  book  itself,  the  prevailing 
opinion  is,  that  the  book  was 
written  by  Job  himself,  or  by 
one  of  his  contemporaries.  It 
presents  some  of  the  most  im¬ 
portant  evangelical  doctrines 
of  the  Christian  religion,  in  a 
very  distinct  and  forcible  man¬ 
ner. 

Perhaps  no  portion  of  the 
Holy  Scriptures  has  suffered 
more  by  the  modern  division 
into  chapters,  than  Job.  The., 
following  arrangement  of  the 
hook  is  prepared  by  a  learned 
uitic,  and  will  be  found  of 


JOE 

great  use  to  the  student  In 
preserving  the. connexion  of 
the  subject. 

I.  Job’s  character  and  trials, 
ch.  i. — iii. 

II.  First  series  of  conversa¬ 
tions,  or  controversies,  viz. 

Eliphaz's  address,  iv.  v. 
Job’s  answer,  vi.  vii. 
Bildad’s  address,  viii. 

Job’s  answer,  ix.  x. 

Zophar’s  addrpss,  xi. 

Job’s  answer,  xii.— xiv. 

III.  Second  series  of  contro¬ 
versy  : — 

Eliphaz’s  address,  xv. 

Job’s  answer,  xvi.  xvii. 
Bildad’s  address,  xviii. 

Job’s  answer,  xix. 

Zophar’s  address,  xx. 

Job's  answer,  xxi. 

IV.  Third  series  cf  contro¬ 
versy  : 

Eliphaz’s  address,  xxil. 
Job’s  answer,  xxiii.  xxiv. 
Bildad’s  address,  xxv. 

Job’s  answer,  xxvi. — xxxi. 

V.  Elihu’s  four  speeches  to 
Job,  xxxii. — xxxvii. 

VI.  Jehovah’s  first  and  second 
address  to  Job,  xxxviii.— xii. 

VII.  Humiliation  of  Job,  and 
his  final  prosperity,  xiii. 

(See  Evening  Recreations, 

by  Am.  S.  S.  Union,  vol.  iii. 

pp.  10—21.) 

JOCHEBED.  (Ex.  vi.  20,) 
the  mother  of  Aaron,  Moses, 
and  Miriam,  was  the  wife  and 
auntofAmram, and  thedaugh- 
ofLevi.  (Num.  xxvi.  59.) 

JOEL,  prophecy  of,  is  the 
twenty-ninth  book  of  the  Old 
Testament,  and  the  fifth  of  the 
prophetic  books  in  chronolo. 
ical  order.  It  is  supposed  to 
ave  been  uttered  in  the  reigu 
of  Ahaz,  and  the  author  to 
have  been  contemporary  with 
Isaiah,  between  b,  c.  810  and 
700.  It  contains  a  remarkable 
prediction  of  the  effusion  of 
the  Holy  Spirit,  which  is  sup- 
posed  to  have  been  fulfilled 
on  the  day  of  Pentecost  The 
burden  of  the  prophecy  of  Joel 
is  the  dreadful  tomporal  judg- 


JOH 

merits  which  were  to  come 
upon  the  Jews,  and  which  he 
figuratively  describes  as  al¬ 
ready  present.  In  view  of 
these,  the  people  are  exhorted 
to  repent  and  humble  them¬ 
selves  before  God,  that  they 
may  obtain  forgiveness  and 
find  grace  in  the  day  of  his 
merciful  visitation. 

JOHN,  the  baptist.  (Matt, 
fii.  1.)  The  prophet  and  fore¬ 
runner  of  our  Saviour,  and 
the  Elias  of  the  New  Testa¬ 
ment.  He  was  the  son  of  Za- 
charias,  the  aged  priest,  and 
Elisabeth,  (Luke  i.  13,)  and 
was  born  about  six  months 
before  Christ.  His  birth  and 
work  were  predicted  by  the 
angel  Gabriel,  (Luke  i.  5—15,) 
and  by  Jsaiah  (Isa.  xl.  3)  and 
Malachi.  (Mai.  iv.  5.)  He 
grew  up  in  solitude ;  and, when 
about  thirty  years  of  age,  began 
to  preach,  in  the  wilderness  of 
Judea,  and  to  call  men  to  re¬ 
pentance  and  reformation.  By 
divine  direction,  he.  baptized 
all  who  came  unto  him  con¬ 
fessing  their  sins,  with  the 
baptism  of  repentance,  (Luke 
iii.  3 ;)  and  many  supposed  he 
might  be  the  Christ.  (John  i. 
19—28.)  His  manner  of  life 
was  solitary,  and  evenaustere; 
for  he  seems  to  have  shunned 
the  habitations  of  men,  and  to 
have  subsisted  on  locusts  and 
wild  honey;  while  his  dress 
■was  made  of  the  coarse  hair 
of  camels,  and  a  leathern  gir¬ 
dle  was  about  his  loins.  John, 
moreover,  announced  to  the 
Jews  the  near  approach  of  the 
Messiah’s  kingdom,  called  the 
kingdom  of  heaven.  (Matt.  iii. 
?.)  Multitudes  flocked  to  hear 
him,  and  to  be  baptized  of  him, 
from  every  part  of  the  land ;  and 
among  the  rest  came  Jesus  of 
Nazareth,  and  applied  for  bap¬ 
tism.  John  at  first  hesitated, 
am  account  of  the  dignity  of  the 
person  and  his  own  unworthi¬ 
ness  :  but  when  Jesus  told  him 
that  it  was  necessary,  John 


JOH 

acquiesced ;  and  while  this 
solemn  ceremony  was  in  the 
course  of  performance,  hea¬ 
ven  was  opened,  and  the  Holy 
Ghost  descended  on  him  in  the- 
likeness  of  a  dove,  and  a  voice- 
was  heard  from  heaven,  say¬ 
ing,  This  is  my  beloved  Son , 
in  whom  I  am  well  pleased. 
(Matt.  iii.  17.)  By  this,  John 
knew  most  certainly  that  Je¬ 
sus  of  Nazareth  was  the  Mes¬ 
siah  ;  and,  indeed,  before  he 
saw  this  sign  from  heaven,  he 
knew  that  the  Lamb  of  God 
who  taketh  away  the  sin  of  the 
world  was  presentrand  pointed 
him  out  to  his  own  disciples, 
and  announced  to  the  people 
that  he  was  in  their  midst. 
(John  i.  26.)  John  was  a  man 
of  profound  humility  ;  and,  al¬ 
though  he  foresaw  that  his 
fame  would  be  eclipsed  by  the 
cominz  of  Christ,  as  the  bright¬ 
ness  of  the  morning  star  is  dim¬ 
med  by  the  rising  of  the  sun ; 
yet  he  rejoiced  sincerely  in 
the  event,  saying,  He  must  in¬ 
crease ,  but  I  must  decrease. 
The  testimony  of  John  to  the 
divine  nature  and  offices  of  the 
Redeemer  is  full  and  distinct. 
(John  i.  29;  iii.  28 — 32.)  The 
message  he  sent  by  his  disci¬ 
ples  while  he  was  in  prison, 
was  for  their  salces,  and  not  for 
his  own.  (Matt.  xi.  1—6.)  The 
preachingof  John  seems  tohave 
been  of  a  very  awakening  and 
alarming  kind,  and  to  have 
produced  a  lively  impression 
on  the  minds  of  his  hearers; 
but  with  most  it  was  but  tem¬ 
porary.  They  rejoiced  in  his 
light  for  a  season.  Among  the 
hearers  of  John  was  Herod, 
the  tetrarch  of  Galilee.  This 
wicked  prince  not  only  heard 
him,  but  heard  him  with  de 
light,  and  reformed  his  con¬ 
duct  in  many  points  in  conse¬ 
quence  of  his  solemn  warn 
ings,  (Mark  vi.  20;)  but  there 
was  one  sin  which  he  would  not 
relinquish.  He  had  put  away 
his  own  wife,  and  had  married 


JOH 

Herodias,  the  wife  of  his  bro¬ 
ther  Philip,  he  being  alive. 
For  this  iniquity,  John  faithful¬ 
ly  reproved  the  tetrarch,  by 
which  he  was  so  much  offended 
that  he  would  have  killed  the 
preacher,  had  he  not  feared 
an  insurrection  of  the  people ; 
for  ail  men  held  John  to  be  a 
prophet.  (Matt.xiv.5.)  He  went 
so  far,  however,  as  to  shut  him 
up  in  prison.  Theresentmentof 
Herod  ias  was  still  stronger  and 
more  implacable  towards  the 
man  who  had  dared  to  reprove 
her  sin.  She  therefore  watched 
for  some  opportunity  to  wreak 
her  vengeance  on  this  excel¬ 
lent  man.  And  it  was  not  long 
before  an  occasion  such  as  she 
desired  offered  itself;  for  on 
Herod’s  birthday,  when  all  the 
principal  men  of  the  country 
were  feasting  with  him,  the 
daughter  of  Herod  ias  came  in, 
and  danced  so  gracefully  be¬ 
fore  the  company,  that  Herod 
was  charmed  beyond  measure, 
and  declared  with  an  oath  that 
he  would  give  her  whatever 
she  asked,  even  to  the  half  of 
his  kingdom.  She  immediately 
went  to  her  mother,  to  get  her 
advice  what  she  should  ask ; 
who  told  her  to  request  the 
head  of  John  the  Baptist,  which 
she  accordingly  did ;  and  He¬ 
rod,  whose  resentment  against 
him  seems  to  have  subsided, 
was  exceedingly  sorry;  but 
out  of  regard  to  his  oath,  as  lie 
said,  and  respect 'for  his  com¬ 
pany,  he  sent  to  the  prison 
and  caused  John  to  be  behead¬ 
ed;  and  his  head  was  brought 
in  a  dish  and  presented  to  the 
young  dancer,  who  immediate¬ 
ly  gave  it  to  her  mother.  Thus 
terminated  the  life  of  one,  con¬ 
cerning  whom  our  Lord  declar¬ 
ed,  that  of  those  born  of  women 
a  greater  had  not  appeared. 
(Matt.xi.  11.)  He  also  declared, 
that  lie  was  the  Elijah  predict¬ 
ed  in  the  Scriptures;  that  is, 
a  prophet  who  greatly  resem¬ 
bled  Elijah,  and  who  catne  in 


JOH 

his  power  and  spirit.  John) 
indeed,  in  answer  to  the  ques¬ 
tions  proposed  by  the  deputa¬ 
tion  from  Jerusalem,  asserted 
that  he  was  not  Elijah:  but 
this  was  spoken  in  relation  to 
the  opinion  entertained  by  the 
Scribes  and  Pharisees,  that 
Elijah  would  come  in  person. 
(For  a  full  account  of  this  indi¬ 
vidual,  with  illustrative  maps, 
see  John  the  Baptist,  by  Am. 
S.  S.  Union.) 

John’s  Baptism,  (Acts  xix. 
3, —  Baptism  of  John,  Matt. 
xxi.25,)  is  in  this  passage  taken 
for  his  whole  ministry,  because 
this  was  a  prominent  branch 
of  it.  What  the  baptism  ot 
John  was  is  a  subject  of  con¬ 
troversy.  The  words  of  our  Sa¬ 
viour,  recorded  in  Matt,  xxviii. 
19,  are  allowed  to  be  the  foun¬ 
dation  of  this  ordinance,  to  be 
administered  in  the  Christian 
church ;  yet  various  opinions 
have  been  entertained  respect¬ 
ing  its  origin.  Whilst  some 
maintain  that  it  was  never 
practised  before  the  mission  of 
John  the  Baptist,  others  affirm 
that  we  ought  to  look  for  its 
origin  among  the  ancient  cere¬ 
monies  of  the  Jews.  We  may 
be  allowed  to  remark,  that  as 
the  baptism  of  Christ  differed 
from  that  of  John,  at  least  in 
the  form  of  expression,  so  both 
differed  perhaps  still  more, 
from  the  washings  which  wera 
called  baptisms  by  the  Jews. 
Some  maintain,  however,  that 
a  ceremony  prevailed  at  the 
initiation  of  proselytes  into  the 
Jewish  church,  which  bore  a 
striking  resemblance  to  bap¬ 
tism,  and  which  might  induce 
our  Saviour  to  adopt  it.  If 
baptism  had  been  altogether 
unknown  to  the  Jews,  say  they, 
would  they  not  have  contem 
plated  John’s  conduct  w:ith  that 
astonishmentwliich  noveltyal 
waysexcites)  Whilethey were 
so  far  from  expressing  any  sur. 
prise,  that  they  spoke  of  bap- 
|  tisrn  as  a  familiar  rite  when 
362 


JOB 


JOH 


they  said  to  him,  Why  bap¬ 
tizes t  thou,  then,  if  thou  art 
neither  Christ  nor  Elias  ? 
(John  i.  25.)  But  it  is  not  diffi¬ 
cult  to  trace  the  source  of  their 
ideas  about  baptism ;  for  not 
only  was  Moses  commanded 
to  wash  Aaron  and  his  sons  at 
thoir  consecration,  but  no  per¬ 
son  who  had  contracted  cere¬ 
monial  impurity  was  admitted 
into  the  sanctuary  till  it  was 
removed  by  washing;  and  so  of 
iurniture,&c.  (Mark  vii.4.)  The 
conduct  of  Christ,  in  the  insti- 


.ulion  of  the  supper,  also  cor¬ 
responds  to  his  conduct  on 
-his  occasion ;  for  as  the  Jews 
concluded  their  passover  by 
giving  to  every  person  a  piece 
of  bread  and  a  cup  of  wine,  so 
Christ,  though  he  set  aside,  as 
the  nature  of  his  office  required, 
the  rites  enjoined  by  Moses  in 
that  ordinance  which  he  had 
been  then  commemorating,  yet 
retained  the  bread  and  cup 
added  by  the  Jews. 

JOHN,  THE  EVANGELIST, 
was  the  son  of  Zebedee  and 
Salome,  and  was  probably 
born  at  Betlisaida,  and  was  a 
companion  of  Peter,  Andrew, 
and  Philip,  who  were  all  of 
Belhsaida.  (Matt.  iv.  18.  21.) 
His  parents  were  probably 
in  comfortable  circumstances. 
(Mark  i.  20.  John  xix.  27.) 

He  was  an  adherent,  and,  as 
some  think,  a  cousin  of  John 
the  Baptist;  and  when  Christ 
came,  he  readily  followed  him. 
When  they  first  met,  he  spent 
several  hours  with  him,  and 
afterwards  obeyed  his  call. 
(Matt.  iv.  21.)  It  is  supposed 
that  John  abode  at  Jerusalem, 
and  took  care  of  the  mother 
af  Jesus  until  her  decease,  as 
that  was  the  last  request  of  his 
Lord  and  Master. 

After  the  death  of  the  apostle 
Paul,  John  preached  in  Asia 
Minor;  and  was  banished  to 
Patmos,  in  the  Egean  Sea, 
where  he  wrote  theRevelation. 
iRev.  i.  9.)  He  returned  from 


his  exile,  laboured  in  the  gos¬ 
pel  at  Ephesus,  and  died  at 
the  age  of  ninety,  in  the  reign 
of  Trajan.  Jerome  tells  us, 
that  when  John  was  loo  in¬ 
firm  to  converse  correctly,  ha 
was  continually,  repealing  the 
words,  Little  children,  love  one 
another;  and  when  asked  why 
he  always  repeated  this  sen¬ 
tence  only,  he  replied,  “Be¬ 
cause  it  is  the  commandment 
of  the  Lord,  and  if  this  is  dona 
it  is  enough.” 

John  was,  in  many  respects, 
the  most  i  nteresti  ng  of  the  apos¬ 
tles  in  his  personal  character. 
Among  the  earliest  disci  pies  of 
the  Lord,  he  was  distinguished 
not  only  by  marks  of  the  pe¬ 
culiar  regard  and  confidence 
of  h  is  Master,  but  by  a  bold 
and  unwavering  attaphment 
to  his  cause.  Antiquity  attri¬ 
butes  to  him  great  loveliness 
of  temper  and  nigh  personal 
attractions ;  traits  of  character 
which,  connected  with  his 
youth  and  relationship  to  the 
Redeemer,  and  his  constancy 
of  affection,  may  well  account 
for  his  being  so  much  beloved. 
It  is  supposed  by  some  that  he 
had  sdme  prominent  defects 
of  natural  character,  and  es¬ 
pecially  that  he  was  inclined 
to  harshness  and  selfishness. 
(Mark  ix.  38;  x.  35.  Luke 
ix.  54.  Comp.  Matt.  xx.  20.) 
We  know  that  those  sub¬ 
lime  qualities  of  love,  meek¬ 
ness,  and  humility,  which 
afterwards  distinguished  him, 
were  the  fruits  of  the  Spi¬ 
rit,  by  which  he  was  rege¬ 
nerated  and  sanctified,  and 
made  peculiarly  dear  to  the 
Redeemer.  (John  xiii.  23 ;  xix. 
2G;  xx.  2;  xxi.  7.)  John  was 
of  an  ardent  temperament,  as 
appears  by  the  frequent  dis - . 
play  of  zeal  and  devotedness 
to  the  cause  he  had  espoused. 
Sometimes,  indeed,  he  was 
impetuous ;  bnt,  on  the  other 
hand,  we  find  him  foremost  iu 
action  and  fearless  in  danger. 

363 


JOH 

His  character  is  finely  con¬ 
trasted  with  that  of  his  bold 
and  forward  associate,  Peter; 
for  while  he  who  was  counted 
a  rock  shrunk  away  from  his 
post  and  denied  his  Master, 
the  amiable  John  was  firm  and 
undaunted ;  nor  did  he  forsake 
his  Lord  even  at  the  cross,  but 
stood  by  him,  and  amid  all  the 
violence  and  dismay  of  that 
dreadful  hour,  received  his  last 
message,  and  bore  witness  to 
the  minutest  events  that  oc¬ 
curred. 

After  the  resurrection,  John 
was  first,  with  Peter,  in  an¬ 
nouncing  the  gospel.  His  bold 
and  zealous  conduct  on  this 
occasion  is  worthy  of  admira¬ 
tion;  and  to  the  end  of  his 
long  life,  he  was  distinguished 
by  "the  ardour  and  affection 
with  Which  he  served  his  be¬ 
loved  Lord.  (For  a  full  history 
of  John  the  Evangelist,  with 
illustrative  maps  and  cuts,  see 
Beloved  Disciple,  by  Am.  S. 
6>.  Union.) 

JOHN,  gospel  op,  is  the 
fourth  book  of  the  New  Testa¬ 
ment.  It  is  supposed  by  many 
to  have  been  written  about  the 
year  69;  but  there  are  some 
powerful  reasons  to  believe 
that  it  was  written  as  late  as 
97.  It  was  published  in  Asia. 
The  particular  design  of  it  is 
expressed  by  the  author  to  be, 
that  those  to  whom  it  was  writ¬ 
ten  might  believe  that  Jesus 
is  the  Christ  the  Son  of  God, 
and  that  believing  they  might 
have  life  through  his  name. 
(John  xx.  31.)  Hence  the  sub¬ 
jects  and  discoursesof  this  book 
have  special  relation  to  our 
Lord’s  character  and  offices, 
and  are  evidently  intended  to 
establish  his  nature,  authority, 
and  doctrines,  as  divine.  He 
robably  had  the  other  gospels 
efore  him,  or  was  familiar 
with  their  general  contents. 
This  fact  affords  substantial 
evidence  of  the  genuineness 
of  these  writings,  and  also 

\ 


JOH 

accounts  for  the  omission  ol 
many  important  occurrences 
which  are  particularly  stated 
by  the  other  evangelists. 

This  gospel  is  divided  into 
twenty  -  one  chapters  ;  and 
among  the  leading  subjects 
are;— A  plain  declaration  of 
the  Redeemer’s  Godhead,  (ch. 
i.  I— 5;  iv.  14;  v.  17,18—23; 
x.  18.  30 ;)  the  nature  and 
necessity  of  regeneration  and 
redemption,  (lii. .  3 — 21 ;)  the 
security  of  the  people  of  God, 
(x. ;)  the  resurrection  of  the 
dead,  (xi. ;)  the  descent  of  the 
Holy  Spirit,  (xvl. ;)  and  the 
blessed  relation  of  Christ  and 
his  true  disciples,  (xvii.) 

This  whole  gospel  abounds 
with  the  most  sublime  and 
mysterious  truths  of  our  holy 
religion,  expressed  with  great 
simplicity,  and  with  the  utmost 
zeal,  affection,  and  veneration 
for  the  Divine  author  and 
finisher  of  our  faith.  (The  first 
and  second  volumes  of  Union 
Questions, by  Am.  S.S.XInion. 
embrace  the  gospel  by  John.) 

Epistbes  of,  are  three  in 
number,  and  make  thetwenty- 
ty-third,  twenty-fourth,  and 
twenty-fifth  books  of  the  New 
Testament.  The  first  has  al¬ 
ways  been  attributed  to  John, 
though  his  name  is  neither 
refixed  nor  subscribed.  It 
as  been  supposed  to  be  intro¬ 
ductory,  or  a  kind  of  dedication 
of  the  gospel.  It  was  written 
not  far  from  A.  n.  70.  Some 
have  assigned  to  all  three  of 
these  epistles  a  date  as  late  as 
a.  d.  96  or  97.  It  is  addressed 
to  Christians  generally,  and 
might  more  properly  be  called 
a  discourse  or  treatise,  though 
some  have  thought  it  was  de¬ 
signed  particularly  for  the 
church  at  Ephesus.  The  lead- 
ing  objects  of  it  are,  to  establish 
Christians  in  the  faith  of  those 
thincs  to  which  the  author  and 
his  lellow-labourers  had  te.sti 
fied  as-  eye-witnesses,  and  tc 
Inawuct  them  in  the  myslenei 
264 


JO« 

ot  redeeming  love,  an (5  in  the 
principles  and  duties  which 
the  relisrion  of  Christ  enjoins, 
and  to  furnish  them  with  cer¬ 
tain  signs,or.cri7en'a,by  which 
to  determine  the  genuineness 
of  their  faith. 

The  second  epistle  is  ad¬ 
dressed  to  the  elect  (excel¬ 
lent,  eminent,  &c.)  lady  and 
her  children.  The  elect  lady 
•is  supposed  to  have  been  some 
honourable  woman,  distin¬ 
guished  for  piety,  and  well 
known  in  the  churches  as  a 
disciple  of  Christ.  Some,  how¬ 
ever,  have  thought  some  parti¬ 
cular  church  and  its  members 
might  be  denoted.  Those  who 
adopt  the  latter  opinion  apply 
the  term  to  the  church  at  Jeru¬ 
salem,  and  the  term  elect  sister 
(v.  131  to  the  church  at  Ephe¬ 
sus.  These  conjectures,  how¬ 
ever,  have  generally  yielded 
to  the  more  natural  conclusion 
that  some  eminently  hospita¬ 
ble  and  pious  woman  ana  her 
sister,  of  like  spirit,  are  de¬ 
noted.  The  title  of  elder,  which 
the  author  assumes,  wis  proba¬ 
bly  one  of  honourable  distinc¬ 
tion  in  the  primitive  church, 
and  indicative  of  the  apostle’s 
office  or  of  his  great  age ;  then 
not  far  from  one  hundred  years, 
as  it  is  supposed.  The  sub¬ 
stance  of  this  letter  is  an  ex¬ 
hortation  to  continual  obedi¬ 
ence,  and  an  admonition 
against  deceivers,  especially 
against  a  new  form  of  error, 
that  Christ  was  a  man  in  ap¬ 
pearance  only,  and  not  in  re¬ 
ality,  and  therefore  his  suffer¬ 
ings  and  death  were  not  real. 

The  third  epistle,  which  is 
addressed  to  Gaius,  or  Caius,  a 
private  individual,  and  is  com¬ 
mendatory  of  his  piety,  was 
written  about  the  same  time 
with  the  others.  There  are  at 
least  five  persons  of  this  name 
mentioned  in  the  Scriptures, 
but  nothing  is  now  known  of 
their  respective  residence,  nor 
of  the  other  persons  to  whom 


JOK 

allusion  is  made  in  the  course 
of  this  short  letter. 

JOHN,  ( surnamed ,  or  called 
also,  MARK,)  (Acts  xii.  .2,) 
was  a  nephew  tr,  some  think, 
a  cousin  of  Barnabas,  (Col.  iv. 

10, )  and  is  often  mentioned  as 
the  companion  of  the  apostles. 
(Acts xii. 25;  xv.39.  2 Tim.  iv. 

11.  Philem.  24.)  His  mother 
was  the  Mary  at  whose  house 
the  apostles  and  first  Christians 
usually  met.  (Acts  xii.  12 — 16.) 

The  same  name  (Marcus) 
is  applied  (IPet.  v.  13)  to  an 
individual  who  is  called  by 
lhat  apostle  his  son,  (in  the 
Lord.)  It  is  doubtful  by  which 
of  these  persons  the  gospel  (by 
Mark)  was  written,  if,  indeed, 
it  was  written  by  either.  Many 
modern  critics  of  deserved  ce¬ 
lebrity  consider  all  these  pas¬ 
sages  as  relating  to  one  and 
the  same  individual,  and  that 
to  be  the  evangelist  Mark. 

JOKNEAM  (Josh.  xii.  22) 
was  a  city  of  Zebulon.  (Josh, 
xxi.  34.)  It  was  situated  south 
of  Ptolemais,  near  the  bay,  and 
is  called  of  Carmel,  because  it 
was  at  the  foot  of  that  moun¬ 
tain. 

JOKTHEEL.  (2  Kings  xiv. 
7.)  The  name  given  by  Ama- 
ziah  to  Selah,  or  the  modern 
Petra.  It  was  the  capital  of 
Idumea,  and  one  of  the  most 
magnificent  of  the  ancient  ci¬ 
ties.  It  was  situated  near  tha 
base  of  mount  Hor,  about  three 
days’ journey  from  Jericho, and 
the  same  distance  from  mount 
Sinai ;  and  must  be  regarded 
as  the  most  singular  spot  in  all 
Arabia,  perhaps  ill  the  whole 
eastern  world.  Its  remarkable 
character  and  history,  which 
have  been  but  recently  dis¬ 
closed,  ar  d  its  close  connexion- 
with  prophecy,  require  a  more 
extended  article  than  would 
otherwise  be  given  to  it. 

“  This  city  appears  to  have 
been  coeval  with  the  birth  of 
commerce;  and  there  is  indu¬ 
bitable  evidence  that  it  was 
365 


JOK 

a  flourishing  emporium  seven¬ 
teen  centuries  before  the  Chris¬ 
tian  era.  It  was  the  point  to 
which  all  the  trade  of  northern 
Arabia  originally  tended;  and 
where  the  first  merchants  of 
the  earth  stored  the  precious 
commodities  of  the  east. 

“With  the  decline  and  fall 
of  the  Koman  power  in  the 
east,  the  name  of  Petra  almost 
vanishes  from  the  page  of  his¬ 
tory.  '  About  the  period  of  the 
crusades,  it  was  held  in  such 
esteem  by  the  sultans  of  Egypt, 
on  account  of  its  great  strength, 
that  they  made  it  the  deposi¬ 
tory  of  their  choicest  treasures ; 
and,  in  the  course  of  these  reli¬ 
gious  wars,  its  possession  was 
strenuously  contested  by  the 
Turks  and  Christians,  who  re¬ 
garded  it  as  the  key  that  open¬ 
ed  the  gates  of  Palestine.  From 
that  time  it  was  known  only  as 
the  seat  of  a  Latin  bishop.  Its 
once  crowded  marts  ceased  to 
be  the  emporium  of  nations. 
The  obscurity  of  nearly  a  thou¬ 
sand  years  covered  its  ruins. 
The  very  place  where  it  stood 
became  a  subject  of  contro¬ 
versy. 

“  The  accounts  of  recent  tra¬ 
vellers,  who  have  discovered 
the  ruins  of  this  great  city,  tell 
us  of  the  utter  desolation  which 
now  reigns  over  those  once 
celebrated  regions,  described 
by  an  inspired  pen  as  the  fat¬ 
ness  of  the  earth.  It  is  scarcely 

Eossible,  they  say,  to  imagine 
ow  a  wilderness  so  dreary 
and  desolate  could  ever  have 
been  adorned  with  walled 
cities,  or  inhabited  for  ages  by 
a  powerful  and  opulent  people. 
The  aspect  of  the  surrounding 
country  is  singularly  wild  and 
'fantastic.  On  one  side  stretches 
an  immense  desert  of  shifting 
sands,  whose  surface  is  covered 
with  black  flints,  and  broken 
by  hillocks  into  innumerable 
undulations ;  on  the  other  are 
ruggea  and  insulated  preci¬ 
pices,  among  which  rises 


JOK 

mount  Hoc,  with  its  dark  sum¬ 
mits,  and  near  it  lies  the  an¬ 
cient  Petra,  in  a  plain  or 
hollow  of  unequal  surface, 
(Wady  Mousa,)  enclosed  on 
all  sides  with  a  vast  amphi¬ 
theatre  of  rocks. 

“  The  entrance  to  this  cele¬ 
brated  metropolis  is  from  the 
east,  through  a  deep  ravine 
called  El  Syk;  and  it  is  not 
easy  to  conceive  any  thing 
more  awful  or  sublime  than 
such  an  approach.  The  width 
in  general  is  not  more  than 
sufficient  for  the  passage  of 
two  horsemen  abreast ;  through 
the  bottom  winds  the  stream 
that  watered  the  city.  As 
this  rivulet  must  have  been 
of  great  importance  to  the 
inhabitants,  they  seem  to 
have  bestowed  much  pains 
in  protecting  and  regulating 
its  course.  The  channel  ap 
pears  to  have  been  covered  by 
a  stone  pavement,  vestiges  of 
which  still  remain ;  and,  in  se¬ 
veral  places,  walls  were  con 
structed  to  give  the  current  a 
proper  direction,  and  prevent 
it  from  running  to  waste.  Se¬ 
veral  grooves  or  beds  branched 
off  as  the  river  descended,  in 
order  to  convey  a  supply  It 
the  gardens  and  higher  parts 
of  the  city.  On  either  hand  ol 
the  ravine  rises  a  wall  of  per¬ 
pendicular  rocks,  varying  from 
four  hundred  to  seven  hundred 
feet  in  height,  which  often 
overhang  to  such  a  degree  that, 
without  their  absolutely  meet¬ 
ing,  the  sky  is  intercepted- 
scarcely  leaving  more  light 
than  in  a  cavern,  for  a  hun¬ 
dred  yards  together.  The  sides 
of  this  romantic  chasm,  from 
which  ■  several  small  stream, 
lets  issue,  are  clothed  with  the 
tamarisk,  the  wild  fig,  the  ole¬ 
ander,  and  the  caper  plant, 
which  sometimes  hang  down 
from  th»  cliffs  and  crevices 
in  beautiful  festoons,  or  grow 
about  the  path  with  a  luxuri¬ 
ance  that  almost  obstructs  the 
366 


JOK 

sassage.  Near  the  entrance 
of  the  pass  a  bold  arch  is 
thrown  across  it  at  a  great 
height.  Whether  this  was  the 
fragment  of  an  aqueduct,  or 
part  of  a  road  formerly  con¬ 
necting  the  opposite  cliff’s,  the 
travellers  haa  no  opportunity 
of  examining ;  but  its  appear¬ 
ance,  as  they  passed  under 
it,  was  terrific  ;  hanging  over 
their  heads  between  two  rug¬ 
ged  masses,  apparently  inac¬ 
cessible.  Without  changing 
much  its  general  direction, 
this  natural  defile  presents  so 
many  windings  in  its  course, 
that  the  eye  sometimes  cannot 
penetrate  beyond  a  few  paces 
forward,  and  is  often  puzzled 
to  distinguish  in  what  direction 
the  passage  will  open.  For 
nearly  two  miles  its  sides  con¬ 
tinue  to  increase  in  height  as 
the  path  descends.  The  soli¬ 
tude  is  disturbed  by  the  in¬ 
cessant  screaming  of  eagles, 
hawks,  owls,  and  ravens,  soar¬ 
ing  above  in  considerable 
numbers ;  apparently  amazeff 
at  strangers  invading  their 
lonely  habitation.  At  every 
step  the  scenery  discovers  new 
and  mo  e remarkable  features; 
a  stronger  light  begins  to  break 
through  the  sombre  perspec¬ 
tive;  until  at  length  the  ruins 
of  the  city  burst  on  the  view 
of  the  astonished  traveller  in 
their  full  grandeur;  shut  in  on 
every  side  by  barren,  craugy 
precipices,  from  which  nume¬ 
rous  recesses  and  narrow 
valleys  branch  out  in  all 
directions. 

“  The  entire  face  of  the 
cliffs  and  sides  of  the_  moun¬ 
tains  are  covered  with  an 
endless  variety  of  excavated 
tombs,  private  dwellings,  and 
public  buildings ;  presenting 
altogether  aspectacle  to  which 
nothing  perhaps  is  analogous 
in  any  other  part  of  the  world. 
‘  It  is  impossible,’  says  a  travel¬ 
ler,  ‘  tc  give  the  reader  an  idea 
of  Lhe  singular  effect  of  rocks 


JOK 

tinted  with  the  most  extraordi 
nary  hues,  whose  summits  pro 
sent  nature  in  her  most  savage 
and  romantic  form  ;  while  then 
bases  are  worked  out  in  all 
the  symmetry  and  regularity 
of  art,  with  colonnades,  and 
pediments,  and  ranges  ofcorri- 
dors,  adhering  to  the  perpen¬ 
dicular  surface.’  The  inner 
and  wider  extremity  of  the 
circuitous  defile  by  which  the 
city  is  approached  is  sculptur¬ 
ed  and  excavated  in  a  singular 
manner;  and  these  become 
more  frequent  on  l>oth  sides, 
until  at  last  it  has  the  appear¬ 
ance  of  a  continued  street  of 
tombs. 

“  About  half-way  through 
there  is  a  single  spot,  abrupt 
and  precipitous,  where  the 
area  of  this  natural  chasm 
spreads  a  little,  and  sweeps 
into  an  irregular  circle.  This 
had  been  chosen  for  the  site 
of  the  most  elaborate,  if  not 
the  most  extensive,  of  all  these 
architectural  monuments.  The 
natives  gave  it  the  name  of 
Kazr  Faraoun,  the  castle  or 
palace  of  Pharaoh,  though  it 
resembled  more  the  sepulchre 
than  the  residence.of  a  prince. 
On  its  summit  was  placed  a 
large  vase,  once  furnished 
apparently  with  handles  of 
metal,  and  supposed  by  the 
Arabs  to  be  filled  with  coins; 
hence  they  denominated  this 
mysterious  urn  the  Treasury 
of  Pharaoh.  Its  height  and 
position  have  most  probably 
baffled  every  approach  of  ava¬ 
rice  or  curiosity;  from  above 
it  is  rendered  as  inaccessible 
by  the  bold  projection  of  the 
rough  rocks,  as  it  is  from  below 
by  the  smoothness  of  the  po¬ 
lished  surface.  The  front  of  the 
mausoleum  itself  rises  in  seve¬ 
ral  stories  to  the  height  of  sixty 
or  seventy  feet;  ornamented 
with  columns, rich  friezes, pedi¬ 
ments,  and  large  figures  of 
horses  and  men.  The  interior 
consists  of  a  chamber  sixteeD 


JOK 

paces  square  and  about  twen¬ 
ty-five  feet  high;  the  walls 
and  roof  are  quite  smooth, 
and  without  the  smallest  deco¬ 
ration.  The  surprising  effect  of 
the  whole  is  heightened  by  the 
situation  and  the  strangeness 
of  the  approach.  Half  seen  at 
first  through  the  dim  and  nar¬ 
row  opening,  columns,  statues, 
and  cornice's  gradually  appear 
as  if  fresh  from  the  chisel, 
without  the  tints  or  weather- 
stains  of  age,  and  executed  in 
stone  of  a  pale  rose  colour. 
This  splendid  architectural 
elevation  has  been  so  con¬ 
trived  that  a  statue,  perhaps 
of  Victory,  with  expanded 
wings,  just  fills  the  centre  of 
the  "aperture  in  front,  which, 
being  closed  below  by  the 
ledges  of  the  rocks  folding  over 
each  other,  gives  to  the  figure 
the  appearance  of  being  sus¬ 
pended  in  the  air  at  a  consi¬ 
derable  height;  the  ruggedness 
of  the  cliffs  beneath  setting  off 
the  sculpture  to  the  greatest 
advantage.  No  part  of  this 
stupendous  temple  is  built,  the 
whole  being  hewn  from  the 
solid  rock;  and  its  minutest 
embellishments,  wherever  the 
hand  of  man  has  not  purposely 
effaced  them,  are  so  perfect, 
that  it  may  be  doubted  whe¬ 
ther  any  work  of  the  ancients, 
except  perhaps  some  on  the 
banks  of  the  Nile,  has  survived 
with  so  little  injury  from  the 
lapse  of  time.  There  is  scarce¬ 
ly  a  building  in  England  of 
forty  years’  standing  so  fresh 
and  well  preserved  in  its 
architectural  decorations  as 
the  Kazr  Faraoun,  which 
Burckhardt  represents  as  one 
of  the  most  elegant  remains 
of  antiquity  he  had  found  in 
Syria. 

“The  rut  ns  of  the  city  itself 
open  on  the  view  with  singu¬ 
lar  effect,  after  winding  two  or 
three  miles  through  the  dark 
ravine.  Tombs  present  them¬ 
selves  not  only  in  every  ave- 


JOK 

nue  within.it,  and  on  every 
precipice  that  surrounds  it,  but 
even  intermixed  almost  pro¬ 
miscuously  with  its  public  and 
domestic  edifices;  so  that  Petra 
has  been  truly  denominated 
one  vast  necropolis,  or  city  of 
the  dead.  It  contains  above 
two  hundred  and  fifty  sepul¬ 
chres,  which  are  occasionally 
excavated  in  tiers,  one  above 
the  other ;  and  in  places  where 
the  side  of  the  cliff  is  so  per¬ 
pendicular  that  it  seems  im¬ 
possible  to  approach  the  upper- 
most.no  access  whatever  being 
visible.  There  are  besides  nu- 
inerous  mausoleums  of  colossal 
dimensions,  and  in  a  state  of 
wonderful  preservation.  Near 
the  west  end  of  the  wady  are 
the  remains  of  a  stately  edifice, 
the  Kazr  Benit  Faraoun,  or 
palace  of  Pharaoh’s  daughter, 
of  which  only  a  part  of  the 
wall  is  left  standing.  Towards 
the  middle  of  the  "valley,  on 
the  south  side,  are  two  large 
truncated  pyramids,  and  a 
theatre,  with  complete  rows 
of  benches,  capable  of  contain¬ 
ing  above  3000  spectators,  all 
cut  out  of  the  solid  rock.  The 
ground  is  covered  with  heaps 
of  hewn  stones,  foundations 
of  buildings,  fragments  of  pil¬ 
lars,  and  vestiges  of  paved 
streets, — the  sad  memorials  of 
departed  greatness.  On  the 
left  bank  of  the  river  is  a 
rising  ground,  extending  west¬ 
ward  for  about  three-quarters 
of  a  mile,  entirely  strewn  with 
similar  relics.  On  the  right 
bank,  where  the  ground  is 
more  elevated,  ruins  of  the 
same  description  are  to  be 
seen.  In  the  eastern  cliff  there 
are  upwards  of  fifty  separate 
sepulchres  close  to  each  other. 
There  are  also  the  remains 
of  a  palace  and  several  tem¬ 
ples  ;  grottoes  in  vast  numbers, 
not  sepulchral;  niches,  some¬ 
times  excavated  to  the  height 
of  thirty  feet,  with  altars  foi 
votive  offerings,  or  with  pyr ar 


JOK 

mids,  columns,  and  obelisks; 
horizontal  grooves,  for  the  con¬ 
veyance  of'  water,  cut  along 
the  face  of  the  rock,  and  even 
across  the  architectural  parts 
of  some  of  the  excavations; 
dwellings  scooped  out,  of  large 
dimensions,  in  one  of  which  is 
a  single  chamber  sixty  feet  in 
length  and  of  a  proportional 
breadth ;  many  other  habita¬ 
tions  of  inferior  note,  particu¬ 
larly  numerous  in  one  recess 
of  the  city,  the  steep  sides  of 
which  contain  a  sort  of  exca¬ 
vated  suburb,  accessible  only 
by  flights  of  steps  chiselled  out 
of  the  rock.  In  short,  the  outer 
surface  of  the  strong  girdle  that 
encircles  the  place  is  hollowed 
out  into  innumerable  artificial 
chambers  of  different  dimen¬ 
sions,  whose  entrances  are  va¬ 
riously,  richly,  and  often  fan¬ 
tastically  decorated  with  every 
order  of  architecture;  showing 
how  the  pride  and  labour  of 
art  has  tried  to  vie  with  the 
sublimity  of  nature.  The  effect 
of  the  whole  is  heightened  by 
the  appearance  of  mount  Hor, 
towering  above  this  city  of 
sepulchres,  and  perforated  al¬ 
most  to  the  top  with  natural 
caverns  and  excavations  for 
the  dead. 

“  The  immense  number  of 
these  stupendous  ruins  corro¬ 
borates  the  accounts  given, 
both  by  sacred  and  profane 
writers,  of  the  kings  of  Petra, 
their  courtly  grandeur,  and 
their  ancient  and  long  con¬ 
tinued  royalty.  Great  must 
have  been  the  opulence  of  a 
capital  that  could  dedicate 
such  monuments  to  the  me¬ 
mory  of  its  rulers.  Its  magni¬ 
ficence  can  cnly  be  explained 
by  a  reference  to  the  immense 
trade  of  which  it  was  the  com¬ 
mon  centre  from  the  dawn  of 
civilization. 

“  These  magnificent  remains 
can  now  be  regarded  only  as 
the  grave  of  Idumea,  in  -which 
its  former  wealth  and  splen- 


JON 

dour  lie  interred.  The  stale 
uf  desolation  iiilu  which  it  has 
long  fallen  is  not  only  the 
work  of  lime  but  the  ful¬ 
filment  of  prophecy,  which 
foretold  that  wisdom  and  un¬ 
derstanding  should  perish  out 
of  mount  Seir;  that  Edym 
should  - be  a  \%ilderuess;  its 
cities  a  perpetual  waste,  the 
abode  of  every  unclean  beast. 
(Isa.  xxxiv.  5.  10.17.)  Nowhere 
is  (here  a  more  striking  and 
visible  demonstration  of  the 
truth  of  these  divine  predic¬ 
tions  than  among  the  fallen 
columns  and  deserted  palaces 
of  Petra.  The  dwellers  in  the 
clefts  of  the  rocks  are  brought 
low  ;  the  princes  of  Edom  are 
as  nothing ;  its  eighteen  cities 
are  swept  away,  or  reduced  to 
empty  chambers  and  naked 
walls ;  and  the  territory  of  the 
descendants  of  Eeau  affords  as 
miraculous  a  proof  of  the  inspi¬ 
ration  of  Scripture  history  as 
the  fate  of  the  children  of 
IsfugI  ^ 

JONADAB.  (See  PvEchab- 
ites) 

JONAH.  (2 Kings  xiv.25,)  or 
JONAS,  (Matt  xii.  39,40,)  was 
the  son  of  Amittai,and  was  born 
at  Gath-hepher.  The  only  his¬ 
tory  we  have  of  him  is  given 
us  in  connexion  with  his  pro¬ 
phecy.  It  seems  he  was  com¬ 
missioned  by  God  to  go  to  the 
great  city  of  Nineveh,  and 
reprove  the  people  for  their 
abuminable  iniquities.  Instead 
of  doing  this,  he  fled  in  the 
opposite  direction  to  Joppa, 
and  thence  sailed  forTarshish. 
On  the  voyage  they  were  over¬ 
taken  by  a  violent  storm, which 
threatened  their  destruction. 
They  lightened  the  ship  by 
throwing  over  part  of  the  cargo, 
and  betook  themselves  to  pray¬ 
er.  Jonah  was  asleep;  but  tha 
captain  awoke  him,  and  be¬ 
sought  him  to  intercede  for 
their  deliverance.  Under  the 
superstitious  (thougli  in  this 
case  correct)  impression  that 
309 


JON 

such  calamities  were  to  be 
regarded  as  the  visitation  of 
God  upon  one  or  more  particu¬ 
lar  individuals,  and  that  the 
lot  would  determine  who  they 
were,  they  cast  lots  to  see  on 
whose  account  the  present 
judgment  was  sent.  The  re¬ 
sult  of  the  lot  showed  that 
Jonah  was  the  ill-fated  man. 
They  earnestly  begged  him  to 
tell  them  all  his  history,  and 
what  he  had  done  to  bring  this 
distress  upon  the  ship.  He 
gave  them  a  history  of  himself, 
and  why  he  had  taken  the 
voyage.  And  upon  their  in¬ 
quiring  what  they  should  do 
with  him  to  rid  the  ship  of  his 
presence,  and  so  save  them¬ 
selves  from  destruction  on  his 
account,,  he  proposed  that  they 
should  throw  him  overboard. 
This  they  were  very  reluctant 
to  do,  and  made  all  possible 
effort  to  bring  the  ship  to  land, 
but  in  vain  And  so,  after 
solemnly  appealing  to  God  for 
their  justification  in  the  act, 
they  cast  the  prophet  over¬ 
board  ;  and  then  the  storm 
ceased,  and  they  were  deliver¬ 
ed  from  their  danger. 

God  had  provided  means, 
however,  for  the  prophet’s  pre¬ 
servation.  He  was  swallowed 
by  a  fish,  within  whose  body 
he  remained  for  three  days 
and  three  nights,  when  he  was 
thrown  forth'itpon  the  shore. 

However  extraordinary  this 
event  may  appear,  it  is  cer¬ 
tainly  not  more  extraordinary 
nor  more  contrary  to  all  hu¬ 
man  experience  and  reason, 
than  the  events  recorded  in 
Matt.  xiv.  25,  and  xvii.  27. 
They  are  all  alike  the  result 
of  Omnipotence.  The  supposi¬ 
tion  that  a  boat  is  intended  by 
the  belly  or  bowels  of  the  fish, 
(Jonah  i.  17,)  is  entirely  gratu¬ 
itous,  and  utterly  inconsistent 
with  the  account  which  Jonah 
gives  us :  The  waters  compass¬ 
ed  me  about ,  even  to  the  soul : 
the  depth  closed  me  round 


JON 

about  the  weeds  were  wrapped 
about  my  head.  I  went  down 
lo  the  bottoms  of  the  moun¬ 
tains  ;  the  earth  with  her  bars 
was  about  me  for  ever',  yet 
hast  thou  brought  up  my  lift 
from  corruption,  O  Lord  my 
God.  (Jonah  ii.  5,  6.)  Of  what 
conveyance  would  these  ex. 
pressions  be  used,  unless  such 
a  one  as  some  monster  of  the 
deep  might  afford  1  The  par¬ 
ticular  species  of  fish  is  not 
stated  in  the  sacred  history; 
and  though  in  a  reference  to 
the  event  recorded,  (Matt.  xii. 
40,)  a  whale  is  mentioned,  the 
original  word  there  translated 
w'rfale  signifies  any  large  fish. 

After  life  fish  had  thrown  him 
out  upon  lheshore,he  was  again 
directed  to  carry  the  message 
of  the  Lord  to  Nineveh;  and 
he  went  and  proclaimed  the 

Sose  of  God  to  destroy  that 
ty  city  in  forty  day?.  His 
prediction  was  believed ;  and 
the  whole  people,  of  every  class 
and  age,  clothed  themselves  in 
sackcloth,  and  devoted  them¬ 
selves  toactsof  penitence.  Man 
and  beast,  herJ  and  flock,  ab¬ 
stained  from  food  and  drink, 
until  God  was  pleased  to  sus¬ 
pend  the  threatened  judgment. 
This  was  very  irritating  to  Jo¬ 
nah,  who  was  afraid  he'should 
be  regarded  and  treated  as  a 
false  prophet ;  and  indeed  this 
was  the  very  reason  of  his 
attempted  flight  to  Tarshish. 
(Jonah  iv.  2.)  He  was  so  much 
disappointed  and  vexed  as  to 
pray  that  God  would  take 
away  his  life;  butGod  reproved 
his  inhumanity  by  a  significant 
miracle,  and  showed  him  the 
unreasonableness  of  his  com¬ 
plaints, though  with  what  effect 
we  are  not  told. 

This  incident  in  the  life  of 
Jonah  was  alluded  to  by  our 
Saviour  in  a  conversation  with 
the  scribes  and  Pharisees,  (Mat 
xii.  39 — 41,)  in  which  he  signi 
fies  to  them  that  he  shoulS  in 
like  manner  be  three  days  and 
370 


JON 

three  nights  in  the  heart  or 
Dowels  of  the  earth.  Of  course 
whatever  credit  was  or  should 
have  been  given  by  the  Nine- 
vites  to  the  preaching  of  Jonas, 
on  the  ground  of  his  having 
been  three  days  and  three 
nights  in  the  bowels  of  a  fish, 
and  having  then  been  thrown 
out  alive  on  the  land,  the  like 
credit  should  the  Jews  give 
him,  as  he  would  in  like  man¬ 
ner  be  three  days  and  three 
nidus  in  the  earth,  and  would 
then  rise  alive.  If  the  Nine- 
vites  repented  at  the  preaching 
of  Jonas,  whose  divine  com¬ 
mission  was  attested  by  this 
sign,  viz.  his  deliverance  from 
the  body  of  the  fish;  how 
great  must  be  the  condemna¬ 
tion  of  the  Jews  if  they  repent¬ 
ed  not  at  the  preaching  of 
Christ,  (so  much  greater  than 
Jonas,)  whose  divine  commis¬ 
sion  was  attested  by  a  much 
great  Sr  sign,  viz.  his  resurrec¬ 
tion  from  the.  dead. 

Jonah,  prophecy  op,  is  the 
thirty-second  book  of  the  Old 
Testament,  and  the  ninth  in 
the  chronological  order  of 
the  prophecies.  The  time  at 
which  it  was  uttered  is  uncer¬ 
tain.  His  prophecy  respecting 
Jeroboam  (2 Kings  xiv.  25)  is 
not  extant,  but  is  supposed  to 
have  been  uttered  in  the  reign 
of  Jehoahaz,  the  grandfather 
of  Jeroboam.  (Comp.  2  Kings 
xiii.  3—7  with  2  Kings  xiv.  26.) 
go  that  though  he  might  be 
contemporary  with  Hosea, 
Arnos,  and  Isaiah,  he  must 
have  prophesied  at  an  earlier 
period  than  that  at  which 
either  of  the  prophecies  now 
extant  was  uttered.  We  are 
safe  perhaps  in  placing  it  be¬ 
tween  b.  c.  856  and  784.  It 
respects  the  destruction  of  the 
city  of  Nineveh,  the  capital  of 
the  Assyrian  empire,  which 
(iod  threatened,  unless  they 
would  repent  and  turn  to  him  ; 
and  it  is  at  once  a  wonderful 
record  of  God’s  long-suffer- 


JOP 

ing  and  forbearance,  anil  an 
abundant  proof  that  he  has  no 
pleasure  in  the  death  of  the 
wicked. 

JONATHAN  (1  Sam.  xiv.  1) 
was  the  son  of  Saul,  and  distin¬ 
guished  for  piety  and  valour.  Ho 
and  his  armour-bearer,  being 
encouraged  by  an  intimation 
from  God,  attacked  a  Philis¬ 
tine  garrison, slew  twenty  men, 
and  put  the  garrison  to  flight. 
Having  ignorantly  violated  a 
decree  of  his  father,  (the  king,) 
that  no  man  should  stop,  on 
pain  of  death,  in  the  pursuit 
of  the  enemy,  to  taste  of  food, 
the  people  interposed  and 
saved  him  from  the  penalty 
which  his  father  was  ready  to 
inflict.  (I  Sam.  xiv.  37 — 45.) 

After  David’s  defeat  of  the 
giant,  Jonathan  became  ac 
quainted  with  him,  and  their 
friendship  for  each  other  was 
so  remarkable  as  to  be  minute¬ 
ly  described  by  the  sacred  his¬ 
torian.  (1  Sam.  xviii.l — 4;  xix. 
2.)  The  opportunity  to  show 
their  friendship  for  each  other 
was  greatly  extended  by  the 
bitter  and  relentless  hostility 
of  Saul  to  David.  (1  Sam.  xix. 
xx.,  &c.)  Jonathan  fell  with 
his  father  and  two  brothers  in 
the  battle  of  Gilboa.  The  la¬ 
mentation  of  David  for  his 
friend  (2 Sam.  i.  17 — 27)  is  just¬ 
ly  regarded  as  inimitably  pa¬ 
thetic  and  beautiful ;  and  his 
treatment  of  Mephibosheth,  Jo¬ 
nathan’s  son,  shows  the  sin¬ 
cerity  and  strength  of  his 
affection  for  the  father.  (2  Sans, 
ix.) 

JOPPA,  ( Greek,  2Chron.  H. 
16,)  or  JAPHO,  (.Hebrew,  Josh, 
xix.  46,)  or  JAFFA  or  YAFFA, 
as  it  is  now  called,  is  one  of 
the  oldest  towns  of  Asia,  situ¬ 
ated  on  a  sandy  promontory, 
jutting  out  from  the  eastern 
coast  of  the  Mediterranean, 
between  Cesarea  and  Gaza, 
and  thirty  or  forty  miles  north 
west  of  Jerusalem.  Three  ot 
its  sides  are  washed  by  the 


JOR 

sea.  It  was,  an1  still  is,  the 
principal  seaport  of  the  land 
of  Judea,  and  of  course  of 
great  commercial  importance, 
(2  Chron.  ii.  16.  Ezra  iii.  7. 
Jonah  i.  3 ;)  but  its  harbour  is 
bad,  and  ships  generally  an¬ 
chor  a  mile  from  the  town. 
Several  interesting  incidents 
in  Peter's  life  occurred  here. 
(Acts  ix.  and  x.)  It  was  also 
a  prominent  place  in  the 
history  of  the  crusaders,  and 
in  the  Egyptian  campaign 
of  Bonaparte.  The  modern 
city  is  surrounded  by  a  wall 
twelve  or  fourteen  feet  high, 
and  contains  from  4000  to  5000 
inhabitants,  chiefly  Turks  and 
Arabs,  and  perhaps  six  hun¬ 
dred  nominal  Christians. 

Messrs.  Fisk  and  King,  Ame¬ 
rican  missionaries, lodged  there 
in  the  spring  of  1823,  and  in 
the  house  occupied  by  the  Bri¬ 
tish  vice-consul,  which  stands 
on  or  near  the  spot  where  tra¬ 
dition  says  Simon  the  tanner 
lived.  (Acts  ix.  43.  See  Selu- 
miel,  pp.  15,  16,  by  Am.  S.  S. 
Union.) 

JORAM.  (2  Kings  viii.  16,)  or 
JEHORADI,  (2 Kings  iii.  1,) 
successor  to  Ahaziah,  king  of 
Israel,  was  the  second  son  of 
Ahab.  Though  he  put  away, 
the  worship  of  Baal,  he  was 
still  a  very  wicked  king. 
(2  Kings  iii.  3.)  After  the  death 
of  Ahab,  the  king  of  Moab  re¬ 
fused  to  pay  the  annual  tribute 
to  the  king  oflsrael,  which  he 
had  been  accustomed  to  pay ; 
and  Joram  determined  for  this 
cause  to  wage  war  with  him.  He 
secured  the"aid  of  Jehoshaphat 
king  of  Judah,  and  they  went 
up  through  Edom,  whose  king 
also  joined  the  expedition. 
After  seven  days’  march,  they 
found  themselves  likely  to  be 
cut  off  by  a  severe  drought. 
In  this  extremity,  they  be¬ 
sought  the  help  of  Elisha  the 
prophet,  who  had  followed  the 
army,  (probably  under  a  divine 
influence.)  Elisha  at  first  re- 


JOR 

ferred  him  to  the  gods  of  Ahab, 
his  father,  and  his  mother,  Je¬ 
zebel,  for  succour;  but  finally, 
for  the  sake  of  Jehoshaphat, 
he  consented  to  interpose  for 
their  relief  and  received  a 
command  from  God  to  make 
the  valley  full  of  ditches. 
This  was  done,  and  then, 
without  wind  or  rain,  at  a 
particular  hour  of  the  next 
morning,  water  came,  not  from 
the  springs,  into  which  they 
dug,  but  from  Edom,  and  su|v 
plied  the  army  and  the  country 
wilh  an  abundance  of  water. 
(2  Kings  iii.  20.  Comp.  Ex.  xvii. 
5,  6.) 

The  Moabites  had  in  the 
meantime  assembled  their 
forces,  and  were  ready  for  bat¬ 
tle  on  the  border  of  their  land, 
when  they  saw  the  streams 
of  water  at  a  distance,  appa¬ 
rently  red  as  blood.  This 
appearance  might  have  been 
occasioned  by  the  reflection 
of  the  sun’s  rays',  or  perhaps 
by  the  soil  through  which  the 
water  flowed.  At  any  rate,  the 
Moabites  flattered  themselves 
that  the  army  of  Israel  and  its 
allies  had  fallen  out  by  the 
way,  and  had  fought  a  despe¬ 
rate  battle  among  themselves. 
Encouraged  by  tins  conjecture, 
they  hastened  to  fall  on  them ; 
but  when  they  came  to  the 
camp  of  Israel,  they  were  met 
by  the  full  strength  of  the  allied 
army,  and  were-  defeated  wilh 
great  slaughter.  The  king  of 
Moab  tried  to  the  utmost  to 
rally  his  forces,  but  did  not 
succeed;  and  his  kingdom  was 
completely  desolate!  by  the 
enemy. 

Joram  was  at  last  wounded 
at  the  siege  of  Ramoth-gilead, 
and  was  lying  ill  at  Jezreel. 
Jehu  being  sent  thither  as  an 
instrument  of  God’s  vengeance 
u  pon  th  e  w  ick  ed  house  of  Ah  ah, 
Joram  went  out  to  meet  him 
and  was  shot  dead  in  his  cha¬ 
riot,  and  his  body  was  thrown 
out  into  the  field  of  Naboth 
372 


JOR 

the  Jezreelite,  according  to  the 
prediction.  (L  Kings  xxi.  18— 
29.  For  an  interesting  sketch 
of  the  life  of  Joram,  see  Life 
of  Elisha,  ch.  iii.,  by  Am.  S.S. 
Union.) 

JORDAN,  1.  River,  (Josh.  i. 
11,)  sometimes  called  simply 
THE  RIVER,  (Gen.  xxxi.  21,) 
was  the  eastern  boundary  of 
Judea.  The  name  Jordan  is 
compounded  of  Jor,  or  Yar,and 
Dan,  (the  river  of  Dan,)  because 
its  rise  was  in  the  vicinity  of 
Dan.  It  rises  at  the  foot  of 
mount  Lebanon,  in  the  little 
lake  Phiala,  and,  having  run 
Southerly,  under  ground,  some 
miles,  to  Cesarea  Philippi,  it 
creaks  out,  and,  receiving  two 
or  three  considerable  streams, 
it  passes  on  fifteen  miles  far¬ 
ther  south,  where  it  expands 
into  the  marshy  lake  Merom, 
now  Houle ,  (see  JVIerom  ;)  a 
short  distance  south  of  which 
is  a  stone  bridge,  called  the 
bridge  of  the  sons  of  Jacob,  in 
allusion toGen.xxxii.  10.  After 
running  about  twelve  miles 
from  lake  Merom,  the  Jordan 
passes  through  the  midst  of  the 
sea  of  Tiberias,  in  a  current  by 
itself,  and  thence  onward  to  the 
Dead  Sea,  into  which  it  emp¬ 
ties.  It  probably  continued  its 
course  to  the  Red  Sea,  through 
the  valleys  of  mount  Seir,  until 
it  was  checked  by  the  convul¬ 
sions  attending  the  overthrow 
of  Sodom  and  Gomorrah,  and 
the  filling  up  of  the  valley 
with  sand,  &c.  The  whole 
course  of  the  river  is  computed 
at  one  hundred  and  fifty  or 
one  hundred  and  sixty  miles, 
but  in  a  direct  line  does  not 
exceed  ninety  or  one  hundred 
miles.  The  ordinary  breadth 
of  the  Jordan,  opposite  Jericho, 
and  near  where  the  Israelites 
are  supposed  to  have  crossed, 
is  said  by  travellers  to  be 
sixty  feet,  about  six  or  seven 
feet  deep,  and  with  a  current 
so  strong  as  to  be  resisted  with 
great  difficulty.  It  has,  how- 


JOR 

ever,  two  banks  on  each  side. 
The  first,  or  inner  one,  is  that 
of  the  river  in  its  natural  state  ; 
and  the  second,  or  outer  one, 
about  the  eighth  of  a  mile  dis¬ 
tant,  is  its  bank  when  it  over¬ 
flows.  This  overflowing  is  oc¬ 
casioned  by  the  melting  of  the 
snow  on  Lebanon  and  Hermon, 
in  March  and  April,  which  was 
the  time  of  the  Jewish  harvest. 
(Josh.  iii.  15.  1  Chrnn.  xii.  15.) 
It  was  at  this  season  when  the 
Jordan  was  at  its  height,  that 
the  passage  of  the  Israelites 
took  place ;  and  hence  the 
miracle,  on  that  occasion,  was 
the  more  stupendous.  At  the 
point  of  their  passage,  the 
pilgrims  now  collect  for  the 
purpose  of  bathing.  The  an¬ 
nual  procession  for  this  purpose 
takes  place  soon  after  Easter. 
Multitudes  of  pilgrims,  under 
the  protection  of  the  governor 
of  Jerusalem  and  his  guards, 
visit  this  spot,  plunge  into  the 
stream,  and,  taking  a  bottle 
of  water  with  them,  return  to 
Jerusalem.  For  this  privilege, 
each  pilgrim  pays  a  tax  to  the 
Turkish  government.  Where 
the  Jordan  leaves  the  sea  of 
Tiberias,  (near  the  ruins  of 
Tarichea,)  it  is  one  hundred 
and  twenty  feet  across,  but 
fordable  by  horses ;  and  its 
course  for  several  miles  is 
through  a  deep,  rich  valley, 
shaded  with  thick  groves, 
which,  from  its  beauty  and 
fertility,  is  called  the  pride  of 
Jordan.  (Zech.  xi.3.)  The  Jor¬ 
dan  is  said  to  be  th«  only  river 
of  Judea  that  continues  to  flow 
the  year  round.  The  space 
between  the  natural  bank  and 
the  freshet  mark  is  marshy, 
and  abounds  with  tall  grass, 
reeds,  willows,  and  shrubs,  af¬ 
fording  hiding  places  for  wild 
beasts;  whence  they  were  dri¬ 
ven  by  the  rising  of  the  waters 
(called  the  swelling  of  Jordan, 
Jer.  xlix.  19;  1.  44,)  to  seek 
food  for  their  famishing  bodies. 
Hence  the  allusion  of  Jeremi- 


JOS 

all,  above  cited.  There  were 
several  fording  places  in  the 
river ;  one  of  which  (the  fords 
of  Jordan)  was  seized  by 
Ehud  to  intercept  the  Moab- 
iies.  (Judg.  iii.  28.) 

The  valley  of  the  Jordan  is 
from  four  to  six  (and  some  say 
ten)  miles  wide,  and  the  ave¬ 
rage  breadth  of  the  current,  as 
given  by  different  travellers, 
varies  from  sixty  to  one  hun¬ 
dred  feet.  It  is,  however,  very 
rapid,  and  rolls  a  vast  body  of 
water  into  the  Dead  Sea. 

The  waters  of  the  Jordan 
are  turbid,  but  when  drawn 
off  become  clear  and  bright, 
pleasant  to  the  taste,  and  re¬ 
markable  for  the  length  of 
time  during  which  they  will 
retain  their  freshness. 

2.  The  plain  op  Jordan, 
(2Chron.  iv.  17,)  or  the  region 
ROUND  ABOUT  JORDAN,  (Matt, 
iii.  5,)  or  the  plain  south  of 
Cinneroth,  (Josh.  xi.  2,)  or 
simply  the  plain,  (2  Kings 
xxv.  4,)  is,  strictly  speaking, 
so  much  of  the  country  as  bor¬ 
ders  on  the  Jordan,  between 
Tiberias  and  the  Dead  Sea. 
The  modern  name  of  the  lower 
portion  of  this  valley  is  El 
Ghor.  Tlie  first  of  the  above 
names  was  sometimes  applied 
to  the  whole  extent  of  country 
watered  by  the  Jordan,  from 
the  foot  of  Lebanon  to  the  wil 
derness  of  Paran. 

For  the  most  part,  this  place 
is  a  barren  waste,  hot  and  un¬ 
wholesome,  inhabited  only  by 
Bedouins,  and  by  them  only  in 
the  cold  season.  (See  Even¬ 
ing  Recreation's,  by  Am.  S. 
S.  Union,  vol,  ii.  pp.  17—23.) 

JOSEPH,  (Gen.  xxx.24,)  son 
of  Jacob,  and  Rachel,  was  born 
in  Mesopotamia,  a.  m.  2256. 
He  and  his  brother  Benjamin 
were  the  children  of  Jacob’s 
old  age;  and  his  fondness  for 
Joseph  particularly  seems  to 
have  been  the  source  of  mixli 
of  his  trouble. 

When  Joseph  was  about  se- 


JOS 

venteen  years  of  age,  he  gave 
offence  to  his  brethren,  and 
was  cruelly  sold  by  them  to 
a  company  of  trading  Ishina- 
elites,  who  carried  him  into 
Egypt,  where  he  became  the 
property  of  Poliphar,  captain 
of  the  royal  guard.  Perceiving 
that  the  young  man  had  extra¬ 
ordinary  wisdom  and  purity 
of  character,  and  that  his  pre¬ 
sence  brought  with  it  a  bless¬ 
ing  upon  the  whole  household, 
Poliphar  at  once  advanced 
Joseph  to  the  highest  trust.  In 
this  situation,  he  was  falsely 
charged  by  Potiphar’s  wile 
•with  the  grossest  offence,  and 
was  for  inis  cause  cast  into 
prison.  Here  again  he  won 
the  confidence  of  all  around 
him  by  his  upright,  and  amia¬ 
ble  conduct,  and  was  entrusted 
with  the  principal  care  of  the 
other  prisoners. 

Among  those  confined  with 
Joseph  were  two  persons  whe 
had  held  the  offices  of  but¬ 
ler  and  baker  in  the  king’* 
household,  and  who  for  some 
offence  against  the  king,  were 
cast  into  prison.  These  two 
men  had  each  a  remarkable 
dream,  which  Joseph  inter¬ 
preted  to  mean  that  the  but¬ 
ler  should  be  restored  to  his 
place  in  the  court,  and  the 
baker  should  be  hung.  And 
the  event  was  according  to 
this  interpretation.  Two  years 
after  this,  Pharaoh  had  a 
significant  dream,  and  after 
trying  in  vain  to  obtain  an 
interpretation  of  it  from  the 
magicians  and  wise  men  of 
Egypt,  the  butler  told  him  of 
Joseph,  and  related  what  had 
taken  place  in  prison  Toseph 
was  immediately  sent  lor ,  and 
after  hearing  the  dream,  in¬ 
terpreted  it  to  signify  the 
approach  of  a  seven  years’ 
famine  immediately  succeed¬ 
ing  the  same  period  of  plenty, 
and,  at  the  same  lime,  he  re 
commended  to  the  king  the 
appointment  of  a  suitable  per- 
374 


JOS 

Ban  to  make  provision  for  the 
season  of  want,  by  laying  by 
ono  fifth  of  the  annual  pro¬ 
duce  of  the  land  during  the 
season  of  plenty.  The  sugges¬ 
tion  was  adopted,  and  Joseph 
was  forthwith  appointed  to 
this  important  and  responsible 
posi,  and  so  became,  at  thirty 
years  of  age,  second  only  to' 
the  king  in  dignity  and  au¬ 
thority.  He  also  married  the 
daughter  of  one  of  the  priests 
or  princes  of  Egypt,  and  had 
two  children,  Manasseh  and 
Ephraim. 

When  the  seven  years  of 
famine  came,  it  spread  dis¬ 
tress  through  all  the  countries 
around  Egypt,  in  which  no 
provision  bad  been  made;  and 
among  them  was  the  land  of 
Canaan,  where  Joseph’s  father 
and  brethren  spll  lived.  It  was 
soon  known  abroad  that  provi¬ 
sions  were  to  be  had  in  Egypt, 
and  ten  of  Jacob’s  sons  went 
down  thither  to  obtain  a  sup¬ 
ply,  leaving  Benjamin  at  home, 
as  his  father  feared  some  mis¬ 
chief  might  befall  him  if  he 
should  go  with  t,hem. 

It  was  necessary  for  appli¬ 
cants  to  appear  personally  be¬ 
fore  the  governor  and  procure 
an  order ;  and  so  the  sons  of  Ja¬ 
cob  went  in  before  Joseph  and 
made  known  their  errand.  In¬ 
stead  of  receiving  the  expected 
order,  they  were  charged  with 
being  spies,  and  with  having 
come  thither  for  an  evil  pur¬ 
pose.  This  they  denied,  de¬ 
claring  briefly  the  history  of 
the  family,  and  the  honesty  of 
their  purpose.  After  a  series 
of  expedients  which  were  de¬ 
signed  to  awaken  their  con¬ 
sciences  and  lead  them  to  re¬ 
pent  of  their  sill,  Jtseph  dis¬ 
closed  himself  to  his  brethren, 
and  immediately  made  the 
most  liberal  arrangements  for 
the  removal  of  his  aged  father 
and  the  whole  family  to  Egypt, 
and  their  comfortable  settle- 


JOS 

ment  in  a  province  by  them¬ 
selves. 

Joseph’s  political  f  recast 
and  integrity  were  displayed 
when,  in  the  sixth  year  of  ths 
famine,  the  Egyptians  were 
obliged  to  sell  their  lands,  and 
even  themselves,  to  pay  for 
the  corn  they  bought.  (Gen. 
xlvii.  1—22.) 

At  the  death  of  Jacob,  seven¬ 
teen  years  after  his  removal 
to  Egypt,  Joseph  was  present 
and  received  the  patriarch’s 
prophetic  blessing.  (Gen.xlix. 
22—26.)  His  treatment  of  his 
brethren  after  their  father  died 
illustrates  his  kindness  and 
generosity.  (Gen.  1. 15—21.) 

Fifty-four  years  passed  away, 
and  he  already  saw  his  poste¬ 
rity  to  the  third  and  fourth 
generation.  When  at  the  age 
of  one  hundred  and  ten  years, 
he  died,  leaving  it  in  charge 
with  his  countrymen  to  take 
his  bones  with  them,  when 
they  should  leave  Egypt ;  an 
event  of  which  he  doubtless 
had  divine  intimation.  (See 
Jacob,  Hebrews.  See  also 
for  maps  and  other  illustra¬ 
tions  in  great  variety,  Life  of 
Jacob  and  his  son  Joseph, 
by  Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

2.  Joseph  of  Akimathea. 
(Matt.xxvii. 57.59.)  A  wealthy 
citizen,  probably  residing  in 
the  vicinity  of  Jerusalem,  and 
a  man  of  eminent  wisdom  and 
piety.  (Mark  xv.  43.  Luke 
xxiii.  51.)  He  was  a  disci¬ 
ple  of  Christ,  though  he  did 
not  appear  openly-  as  such. 
(John  xix.  38.) 

It  is  said  that  the  Jews,  as 
a  mark  of  ignominy,  did  not 
allow  the  bodies  of  those  exe¬ 
cuted  as  malefactors  to  be  de¬ 
posited  in  the  tombs  of  their 
fathers,  except  the  flesh  had 
been  previously  consumed.  It 
was  to  prevent  this  use  of  the 
body  of  Christ,  that  Joseph  so 
early  asked  leave  to  remove 
it  and  place  it  in  his  own  omb. 

375 


JOS 

3.  (Matt.  i.  18.)  The  husband 
of  Mary,  the  mother  of  Christ,' 
was  by  occupation  a  carpen¬ 
ter,  (Matt.  xiii.  55 ;)  at  which 
trade  some  have  supposed 
(though  without  warrant)  our 
Lord  himself  laboured  until  he 
entered  on  his  public  ministry. 
(Mark  vi.  3.) 

Joseph  is  called  a  just  man, 
(Matt.  i.  19 ;)  which,  in  this  con¬ 
nexion,  may  imply  his  kind¬ 
ness  and  tenderness,  as  well 
as  his  integrity,  which  is  its 
usual  import.  He  was  inform¬ 
ed  by  an  angel  that  Mary  was 
to  be  the  mother  of  the  pto- 
mised  Messiah, and  had  accom- 
anied  her  to  Bethlehem  to 
e  registered  in  the  tax-books, 
according  to  the  law  of  the 
country,  when  Christ  was  born. 
When  the  babe  was  forty  days 
old,  Joseph  and  his  wife  went 
with  him  to  Jerusalem,  in  ob¬ 
servance  of  the  law  of  Mo¬ 
ses,  and  when  about  return¬ 
ing  home  to  Bethlehem,  he 
was  divinely  admonished  to  go 
into  Egypt,  for  Herod  the  king 
was  resolved  to  destroy  the 
infant  Redeemer,  if  he  could 
get  him  into  his  power.  After 
the  death  of  Herod,  they  set 
out  again  for  home ;  but  appre¬ 
hensive  that  the  king's  suc¬ 
cessor,  Archelaus,  might  be 
equally  cruel,  they  thought  it 
safer  to  go  into  Galilee ;  and 
they  took  up  their  abode  at 
Nazareth.  When  Jesus  was 
twelve  years  of  age,  Josepfli 
and  Mary  took  him  with  them 
when  they  went  up  to  Jerusa¬ 
lem  to  celebrate  the  feast  of 
the  passover ;  and  after  that  we 
find  nothing  more  of  Joseph 
in  the  sacred  history.  It  is 
enerally  supposed  he  died 
efore  Christ  began  his  public 
ministry,  as  he  is  not  mention¬ 
ed  with  Mary,  anti  as  Christ 
commended  her  to  the  care 
of  one  of  the  disciples.  (John 
xix.  -25—27.) 

JOSES  (Mark  xv.  40)  was 
the  son  of  Alpheus,  or  Cleo- 


JOS 

oas  as  he  is  called,  John  xix. 
25,  and  brother  of  James  the 
less.  (See  James.) 

JOSHUA  (Josh.  i.  1)  was  the 
son  of  Nun,  and  is  called  the 
minister  of  Moses  (Ex.  xxiv.13) 
from  the  tact  that  he  assisted 
him  in  the  execution  of  his 
office.  The  original  name  was 
Oshea,  (Num.  xiii.  8;)  and  he 
is  also  called  Hoshea.  (Deut. 
xxxii.  44.)  Joshua  is  a  con¬ 
traction  of  Jehoshua,  (Num. 
xiii.  16,)  and  Jeshua,  or  Jesus, 
is  the  Greek  mode  of  writing 
Joshua,  as  in  Acts  vii.  45, 
and  Heb.  iv.  8 ;  in  which 
passages,  the  Hebrew  word 
Joshua  ought  to  have  been  re¬ 
tained.  JoBhua  is  introduced 
to  us  at  the  time  the  Israelites 
were  about  to  contend  with 
the  Amalekites  at  Rephidim.  ‘ 
He  was  appointed  by  Moses 
to  command  the  forces  of  Israel 
on  that  occasion.  (Ex.  xvii.9.) 
He  was  then  about  forty-four 
years  of  age,  though  considered 
a  young  man.  (Ex.xxxiii.il.) 
In  prospect  of  the  death  of 
Moses,  Joshua  was  set  apart  to 
succeed  him,  as  the  leader  and 
deliverer  of  God’s  chosen  peo¬ 
ple.  (Num.xxvii.16— 18.  Deut. 
xxxi.  7—14;  xxxiv.  9.)  And 
at  the  age  of  eighty-four,  (a.  m. 
2553,)  he  passed  over  the  Jor¬ 
dan,  at  the  head  of  the  hosts 
of  Israel,  and  entered  the  land 
of  promise.  Then  commenced 
a  series  of  wars  with  the  Ca- 
naanites,  in  which  Joshua  and 
the  people  of  Israel  were  mere¬ 
ly  the  instruments  of  God’s 
righteous  judgments  on  these 
wicked  nations,  the  cup  of 
whose  iniquity  was  now  com¬ 
pletely  full,  and  whose  impi¬ 
ous  and  abominable  deeds 
loudly  cried  to  heaven  for  di 
vine  vengeance.  Jericho,  the 
city  nearest  to  them,  and  the 
one  first  attacked,  was  sub¬ 
dued  without  a  contest.  It  was 
expressly  forbidden  to  the  Is¬ 
raelites  to  touch  the  spoil  of 
this  city ;  for  it  was  utterly 


JOS 

devoted  to  destruction,  with 
all  its  wealth.  But  Achan 
coveted  and  took  part  of  the 
spoil,  and  concealed  itf'in  his 
tent.  In  consequence  of  this 
act,  the  host  of  Israel  were 
unsuccessful  in  their  first  at¬ 
tempt  on  Ai,  and  great  distress 
and  discouragement  seized  the 
whole  multitude;  and  even  Jo¬ 
shua  lay  all  night  upon  the 
ground  in  mourning  and  sup¬ 
plication,  for  now  the  Israel¬ 
ites,  being  once  repulsed  with 
toss,  appeared  no  longer  to  be 
invincible.  (Jush.  vii.  6.)  The 
crime  of  Achan  was  brought 
to  light  by  recourse  to  the  lot, 
ami  he  and  all  his  family  suf¬ 
fered  an  exemplary  punish¬ 
ment.  (See  Achan.) 

The  Gibeonites,  who  lived 
near,  fearing  that  destruction 
was  at  hand,  made  use  of  a 
stratagem  to  preserve  their 
lives  and  their  city.  They  sent 
messengers  to  Joshua, who  were 
to  pretend  that  they  came 
from  a  very  remote  people;  and 
to  ’  confirm  their  story,  they 
showed  that  their  bread  was 
mouldy ;  their  wine  bottles  of 
•kin,  old  and  patched ;  and 
their  shoes  and  garments  very 
much  worn.  On  this  occasion, 
Joshua  neglected  to  apply  to 
the  Lord  for  direction;  and, 
deceived  by  the  false  appear¬ 
ances  above  mentioned,  en¬ 
tered  into  a  solemn  league 
with  the  Gibeonites,  which, 
».lthough  obtained  by  fraud,  he 
did  not  think  it  expedient  to 
break.  The  other  cities  of 
Canaan,  with  their  kings,  now 
entered  into  a  formidable  com¬ 
bination  utterly  to  destroy  the 
Gibeonites,  because  they  had 
made  peace  witty  Joshua;  and 
a  mighty  army,  led  on  by  many 
kings,  were  actually  drawing 
near  to  Giboah,  when  they,  in 
all  haste,  sent  messengers  to 
Joshua  to  come  instantly  to 
their  relief.  He  did  not  delay 
to  comply;  and  marched  all 
ni^ht,  as  well  as  day,  and  im- 
32* 


JOS 

mediately  attacked  and  de¬ 
feated  this  mighty  army ;  and 
the  day  not  being  sufficient  for 
the  pursuit  and  destruction  of 
the  Canaanites,  Joshua  com¬ 
manded  the  sun  and  moon  to 
stand  still,  which  they  did  fnr 
the  period  of  one  whole  day, 
by  which  means  he  was  able 
utterly  to  destroy  those  whom 
God  had  devoted  to  death. 
This  was  indeed  a  stupendous 
miracle,  but  required  only  the 
power  that  creates  the  hea¬ 
venly  bodies,  and  maintains 
them  in  their  orbits.  (Josh, 
ix.  x.) 

Joshua  was  employed  about 
sixteen  years  in  the  conquest 
of  Canaan ;  after  which,  the 
men  of  war  belonging  to  the 
tribes  of  Gad,  lleuben,  and  the 
half-tribe  of  Manasseh,  were 
permitted  to  return  to  their 
families,  and  to  the  inherit¬ 
ance  which  Moses  had  given 
them  on  the  other  side  of  Jor¬ 
dan,  where  the  land  of  the 
Amorites  had  been,  at  their 
own  request,  assigned  to  them. 
(Josh,  xxii.)  OT  those  who 
came  out  of  Egypt  in  adult 
age  not  one  survived  to  enter 
Canaan,  but  Joshua  and  Caleb, 
according  to  the  word  of  the 
Lord. 

When  the  war  was  termi¬ 
nated,  Joshua  lived  in  retire¬ 
ment  and  peace,  in  a  posses¬ 
sion  which  the  children  of 
Israel  assigned  him  in  Tim- 
nath-serah,  of  mount  Ephraim. 
(Josh,  xix.50.)  When  he  found 
that  his  end  was  approaching, 
he  assembled  the  Israelites, 
rehearsed  to  them  the  history 
of  the  providence  of  God  to¬ 
wards  them,  and  finally  put  it 
to  them  to  choose  that  day, 
whether  or  not  they  would 
serve  the  Lord,  professing  his 
full  purpose  to  continue  in  the 
service  of  God  as  long  as  he 
lived.  (Josh,  xxiv  15.)  Joshua 
died  at  the  age  of  one  hun¬ 
dred  and  ten  years,  (Josh.  xxiv. 
23;)  having  been  a  witness  of 
377 


JOS 

more  of  the  wonderful  works 
of  God  than  any  man  who  ever 
lived,  except  perhaps  Ilia  com¬ 
panion  Caleb.  jX 

2.  (Zech.  vi.  11.)  Was  the 
high-priest  of  the  Jews  when 
they  returned  from  Babylon. 
Ke  assisted  Zerubbabel  in  re¬ 
building  the  temple.  (Ezra  v. 
I,  2.  Hag.  i.  1 ;  ii.  4.)  Zecha- 
riah  saw  him  represented  as 
standing  before  the  Lord  in 
filthy  garments,  and  Satan 
standing  at  his  right  hand  to 
accuse  and  resist  him  ;  but  an 
angel  rebuked  the  devil,  and 
arrayed  Joshua  in  other  rai¬ 
ment.  (Zech.  iii.  1 — 4.)  Not 
long  after,  Zechariah  was  di¬ 
rected  to  make  a  golden  crown 
for  him.  (Zech  vi.  10— 14.)^C 

Book  op,  is  the  sixth  in  the 
arrangement  of  the  books  of 
the  Old  Testament.  It  em¬ 
braces  the  period  between  b.  c. 
1451  and  1425,  and  is  a  histo¬ 
ry  of  the  Israelites,  under  the 
government  of  Joshua,  the  suc¬ 
cessor  of  Moses.  It  is  supposed 
to  have  been  written  by  Joshua, 
(except  the  last  five  verses, )and 
it  records  the  accomplishment 
of  God’s  promises  to  his  people, 
and  his  judgments  upon  the 
idolatrous  nations  of  Canaan. 
The  conquest  of  the  promised 
land  is  related,  ch.  i.— xi. ;  the' 
division  of  it  among  the  tribes, 
ch.  xii.-^xxii. ;  and  the  coun 
sels  and  death  of  Joshua,  ch. 
xxiii.  xxiv. 

It  has  been  remarked,  that 
the  book  of  Joshua  bears  the 
same  relation  to  the  Penta¬ 
teuch,  or  five  books  of  Moses,  as 
the  Acts  of  the  Aposl  les  bears  to 
the  four  gospels.  The  Penta¬ 
teuch  contains  a  history  of  the 
acts  of  the  great  Jewish  legis¬ 
lation  under  the  immediate 
authority  and  direction  of  God, 
and  the  laws  on  which  his 
ancient  church  should  be  esta¬ 
blished  ;  and  the  book  of  Jo¬ 
shua  shows  us  the  end  of  these 
laws,  and  how  the  church  was 
established  in  Canaan.  The 


JOS 


analogy  between  this  and  the 
relation  of  Acts  to  the  Gospels, 
is  sufficiently  obvious.  (For 
an  analysis  of  this  book,  see 
Union  Questions,  vol.  iv.  less, 
xxv.— xl.,  with  Teacher’s  As¬ 
sistant  in  the  use  of  the 
same,  both  by  Am.  S.S.  Union.) 

JOSIAH,  (2  Kings  xxi.  24,) 
the  son  and  successor  of  Anton 
king  of  Judah,  began  to  reign 
when  he  was  but  eight  years 
of  age,  and  was  remarkable 
for  liis  integrity  and  piety.  He 
gradually  abolished  the  idola¬ 
trous  customs  of  his  predeces¬ 
sors,  (2  Chron.  xxxiv.  3 ;)  and, 
in  the  eighteenth  year  of  his 
reign,  began  a  thorough  repair 
of  the  temple.  In  the  progress 
of  this  work,  Hilkiah  tne  high- 
priest,  found  a  complete  copy 
of  the  law  of  Moses ;  a  rare 
treasure  in  those  days  of  dege¬ 
neracy  and  corruption,  when 
God  and  his  institutions  were 
forsaken  and  contemned  on 
every  side.  Josiah  himself 
was  but  imperfectly  acquaint¬ 
ed  with  its  contents  until  they 
were  read  to  him  by  one  of 
his  officers;  and  then  he  was 
overw  helmed  with  grief  to  find 
how  far  they  and  their  fathers 
had  departed  from  the  rigid 
way.  He,  however,  humbled 
himself  before  God,  and  re¬ 
ceived  the  most  precious  pro¬ 
mises  of  the  divine  favour. 
(2Chrhn.  xxxiv.  26—28.)  He 
then  assembled  the  people 
and  published  the  law  m  their 
hearing ;  and  they  all  united 
with  the  king  in  a  solemn  vow 
of  obedience.  After  this,  he 
utterly  destroyed  every  vestige 
of  idolatry,  both  images  and 
temples,  and  then,  by  divine 
command,  caused  the  feast  of 
the  passover  to  be  celebrated 
with  unusual  solemnity.  (2(Jhr. 
xxxv.  3 — 18.) 

This  pious  king  seems  to 
have  been  accessary  to  Ids 
own  premature  death  ;  lor  llie 


klliinof  Egypt,  who  was  march 
ing  with  a  great  arm^  against 


JOS 

tlie  king  of  Assyria,  assured 
him  that  he  entertained  no 
hostile  design  against  him  or 
his  kingdom,  and  entreated 
him  not  to  interfere  with  him 
in  his  contest  with  the  king  of 
Assyria ;  and,  to  influence  Jo- 
siah,  Necho  pretended  to  have 
received  a  communication 
from  heaven,  by  which  the 
king  of  Judah  was  expressly 
forbidden  to  meddle  with  him 
in  his  expedition.  But  Josiah, 
thinking  it  a  dangerous  prece¬ 
dent  to  permit  a  large  army  to 
march  through  his  territories, 
or,  more  probably,  being  in 
league  with  the  king  of  Assy¬ 
ria, ""he  could  not  consistently 
comply  with  the  demand  of 
the  king  of  Egypt;  and  even 
if  he  wished  to  remain  entirely 
neutral  in  the  war,  he  could  not 
allow  one  of  the  contending 
'parties  a  free  passage  through 
his  territory,  without  forfeiting 
his  neutrality.  Whatever  might 
have  been  the  motive,  Josiah 
attempted  to  oppose  the  Egyp¬ 
tian  army,  and  a  battle  was 
fought  at  Megiddo,  in  which 
he  was  mortally  wounded,  and 
was  carried  out  of  the  field  in 
his  carriage,  and  brought  to 
Jerusalem,  where  he  died,  and 
was  buried  in  one  of  the  sepul¬ 
chres  of  his  fathers.  No  king, 
perhaps,  was  ever  more  de¬ 
servedly  beloved ;  and  cer¬ 
tainly  we  knowref  none  who 
was  more  sincerely  and  ten¬ 
derly  bewailed  by  his  people. 
Indeed,  his  death  was  the  end 
of  prosperity  to  the  kingdom 
of  Judah.  Jeremiah  the  pro¬ 
phet  was  greatly  affected  by 
it,  and  composed  an  elegy  on 
the  occasion,  (2Chron.  xxxv. 
25 ;)  and  all  those  accustomed 
to  celebrate  in  song  the  worth 
and  achievements  of  men  of 
great  eminence,  both  men  and 
women,  mourned  for  Josiah  for 
ages  after  his  death.  Indeed, 
the  mourning  was  such  as  to 
become  proverbial.  (Zech.  xii. 
]1.)  He  was  only  thirty-nine 


JOTJ 

yearsofage  whenhedied.  (See 
Necho.  See  also  Elis  am  a,  pp. 
36—41,  by  Am.  S.  S-  Union.) 

JOT,  (Matt.  v.  18,)  or  Yod, 
(in  Greek  Iota )  This  is  the 
name  of  the  letter  i  in  the  ori¬ 
ginal  language  in  which  it  is 
used,  and  this  letter  in  that 
language  is  the  least  of  all  the 
letters  of  the  alphabet,  being 
shaped  not  unlike  our  comma, 
(y).  It  was  proverbially  used 
by  the  Hebrews  to  signify  the 
least  thing  imaginable ;  and 
hence  the  text  expresses  the 
idea  that  not  the  least  require¬ 
ment  of  the  commandments 
of  God  shall  in  any  wise  be 
dispensed  with ;  they  shall  all 
stand  to  the  very  letter. 

JOTHAM.  1.  (Judg.  ix.5.) 
The  youngest  son  of  Jerubbaal, 
or  Gideon,  the  only  one  who 
escaped  from  the  massacre  at 
Ophrah;  and  this  he  did  by 
concealing  himself.  (See  Abi- 
melech.) 

2.  (2 Kings  xv.  32.)  The  son 
and  successor  of  Uzziah,  or 
Azariah,  kingof  Judah.  Heac- 
tually  reigned  forty-ono  years, 
being  associated  with  his  fa¬ 
ther  for  twenty-five  years  be¬ 
fore  his  death.  His  sole  admi¬ 
nistration  of  the  government 
was  only  for  sixteen  years. 
(Comp.  2  Kings  xv.  30.  32,  33.) 
His  example  was  holy;  his 
reign  was  peaceful  and  pros¬ 
perous,  anu  of  course  benefi¬ 
cial  to  the  kingdom.  (2  Chron. 
xxvii.  2—6.) 

JOURNEYINGS  of  Israel. 
(Num.  ix.  20.)  The  habitation 
of  the  Hebrews,  in  Egypt,  was 
in  Goshen,  which  is  supposed 
to  have  extended  from  a  point 
above  Cairo  to  the  Mediterra¬ 
nean,  including  the  land  on 
both  sides  of  the  eastern 
branch,  by  which  the  Nile 
discharged  its  waters ;  and 
bounded  on  the  east  by  the 
wilderness,  and  on  the  south- 
by  the  mountains  which  sepa¬ 
rate  the  waters  of  the  Red  Sea 
I  from  those  of  the  Nile.  Their 


JOU 

journeyings  commenced  on 
the  fifteenth  day  of  the  first 
month,  (about  the  middle  of 
our  April.)  Their  first  journey 
tvas  from  Rameses,  ten  miles 
north-west  of  Suez,  to  Succoth ; 
which  last,  (as  the  name  sig¬ 
nifies  booths,)  was  probably 
nothing  more  than  a  conve¬ 
nient  encampment.  The  dis¬ 
tance  between  these  two  places 
s  estimated  at  thirty  miles. 
Their  course  must  have  been 
a  little  north  of  east,  to  pass 
ound  the  end  of  a  mountain 
which  stood  in  their  way.  From 
Succoth  to  Etham,  in  the  edge 
of  the  wilderness,  was  a  long 
march,  the  stages  being  at 
least  sixty  miles  apart;  but 
they  were  flying  from  an  ene¬ 
my,  and  there  was  not  one 
sick  or  feeble  among  them, 
and  their  God  bore  them  as 
on  eagles’  wings,  so  that  it  is 
not  impossible 'that  they  pass¬ 
ed  over  this  distance  in  twen¬ 
ty-four  hours.  The  distance 
to  the  Arabian  Gulf  may,  how¬ 
ever,  have  been  twelve  or  fif¬ 
teen  miles  less,  anciently, than 
at  present,  as  there  are  clear 
indications  that  the  water  has 
receded  about  that  distance. 
Now  they  received  an  order 
from  God  to  change  their 
course,  and,  instead  of  going 
eastward  in  the  wilderness,  in 
a  direct  line,  to  turn  southward 
and  pass  along  the  coast  of  the 
Red  Sea,  keeping  it  on  their 
left,  and  the  mountains  alrea¬ 
dy  mentioned  on  their  right. 
Pursuing  this  route  for  about 
thirty-two  miles  from  Etham, 
which  was  formerly  on  the 
northern  point  of  the  Arabian 
Gulf,  or  twenty  miles  south  of 
Suez,  now  occupying  the  land 
at  the  end  of  one  arm  of  the 
Red  Sea,  they  arrived  at  a 
ilace  where  there  seems  to 
lave  been  a  gap  or  opening  in 
the  mountains  towards  Egypt, 
and  a  creek  or  estuary  which 
obstructed  their  further  pro¬ 
gress  to  the  south.  Here  at 


JOU 

Migdol,  over  against  Baal  Ze 
phon,  and  near  Pihahiroth, 
when  enclosed  on  every  side 
but  one,  they  were  overtaken 
by  the  chariots  and  horsemen 
of  Pharaoh,  and  must  have 
been  utterly  destroyed,  had  not 
God  miraculously  interposed, 
and  opened  for  them  a  passage 
through  the  sea ;  and  still  the 
Egyptian  host  would  soon  have 
overtaken  them,  but  they  were 
overwhelmed  by  the  sudden 
reflux  of  the  waters  to  their 
former  channel.  Niebuhr  and 
some  other  learned  men  have 
declared  in  favour  of  Suez  as 
the  place  of  their  passage ;  but 
to  this  there  are  two  weighty 
objections.  In  the  first  place, 
there  was  nothing  here  to  shut 
up  or  entangle  them,  so  as  to 
need  a  miraculous  dividing  of 
the  waters;  they  might  have 
marched  around  as  easily  as 
through  this  extreme  end  of 
the  gulf;  but,  in  the  next  place, 
the  channel  here  is  not  wide 
enough  to  admit  of  the  suppo¬ 
sition  that  the  whole  Egyptian 
army,  marching  in  file  could 
have  been  drowned  by  the  re¬ 
turn  of  the  waters. .  Bryant, 
Bruce,  and  Burckhardt  have 
nearly  agreed,  that  the  place 
called  Clysma,  twenty  miles 
south  of  Suez,  and  by  the  Ara¬ 
bians,  Ras  Musa,  the  Cape  of 
Moses,  must  have  been  the 
place  where  this  great  event 
occurred. 

Having  crossed  the  gull; 
they  went  forward  into  the 
wilderness,  a  journey  of  three 
days,  and  came  to  Marati, 
whose  bitter  waters  were  mi¬ 
raculously  rendered  sweet,  for 
their  use.  Marah  corresponds 
with  the  well  now  called 
Hawara,  whose  waters  are 
bitter.  The  next  journey  was 
to  Elim,  tf  where  were  twelve 
wells  of  water,  and  vhreescote 
and  ten  palm  trees.”  This 
place,  as  Niebuhr  and  Burk- 
nardt  agree,  is  now  called 
Wady  Ghartndel.  about  ten 


JOU 

miles  from  Hawara.  There  is 
at  this  place  now  a  copious 
spring,  and  water  may  be  ob¬ 
tained  any  where  around  by 
digging  for  it ;  so  that  we  need 
not  expect  to  find  the  precise 
number  of  wells  which  existed 
in  the  lime  of  Moses.  Hitherto 
their  march  was  parallel  to 
the  sea,  and  at  no  great  dis¬ 
tance  from  it ;  but  now  the 
coast  changes  from  south-east 
to  south,  and  the  straight 
course  to  Sinai  leaves  it  more 
m  the  right.  From  Elim,  they 
journeyed  through  Dophkah 
and  Alush  to  Rephidim,  where 
water  was  first  obtained  by 
smiting  a  rock  with  the  rod  of 
Moses ;  and  here  the  Israelites 
were  first  attacked  by  their 
implacable  enemies,  the  Atna- 
lekites.  (Ex-  xvii.  3—8.  1  Sam. 
xv.2.)  Their  next  encampment 
was  in  the  desert  of  Sinai, 
where  they  remained  eleven 
months,  having  spent  between 
two  and  three  months  in  com¬ 
ing  from  Egypt  to  this  place. 
Here  they  received  the  laws 
and  institutions  of  Jehovah ; 
and  here  the  tabernacle  was 
erected  and  consecrated,  and 
the  whole  ceremonial  service 
enacted.  On  the  twentieth  day 
of  the  second  month  of  the 
second  year,  the  pillar  of  cloud 
and  fire  arose  from  the  taber¬ 
nacle,  where  it  had  rested  for 
some  time,  and  by  its  course 
led  them  into  the  wilderness 
of  Paran,  called  the  great  and 
terrible  wilderness.  (Num.  x. 
12.)  When  they  came  to  Kib- 
roth  Haltaavah,  they  provoked 
God  to  destroy  many  of  them 
for  their  inordinate  lusting, 
and  for  their  ungrateful  re¬ 
bellion.  (Num.  xi.  34.)  This 
lace  is  also  called  Taberah  j 
oth  names  being  derived  from 
the  fearful  destruction  of  the 
eople  which  occurred  here, 
rom  this  place,  where  they 
remained  long,  they  march¬ 
ed  northward  through  Haze- 
roth,  Rithma,  Rimmon-parez, 


jroir 

Libnah,  and  Kadesh-barnea, 
whence  the  spies  were  sent  to 
explore  the  land.  On  the  re- 
-bellion  of  the  people,  occa¬ 
sioned  by  the  report  of  the 
spies,  they  were  ordered  to  get 
them  into  the  wilderness  of 
the  Red  Sea.  (Num.  xiv.  2q.) 
Now  their  march  was  retro¬ 
grade,  and  they  came  into 
the  same  wilderness  of  Paran  & 
which  they  had  passed  some  V 
time  before,  but  by  a  different 
route.  How  much  time  they 
spent  in  the  wilderness,  before 
they  reached  Ezion-geber,  a 
port  on  the  eastern  arm  of  tho 
Red  Sea,  is  unknown ;  but  fif 
teen  stations  are  distinctly 
named.  Probably  they  were 
sometimes  stationary  for  a 
long  period;  but  in  all  their 
marches  and  reslings,  they 
were  under  the  direction  of 
the  pillar  of  cloud  and  fire 
which  went  before  them. (Num. 
ix.  22.)  For  many  days  they 
encompassed  mount  Seir,  and 
then  turned  northward  to  the 
desert  of  Zin,  and  journeyed  to 
mount  Hor,  where  Aaron  died 
and  was  buried.  (Num.  xx.  20 
—28.)  Being  disappointed  in 
obtaining  a  passage  through 
the  country  of  Edom,  they  re¬ 
turned  to  Ezion-geber,  and 
passed  round  the  south  side  of 
mount  Seir.  At  length  they 
arrived  at  the  brook  Zamd,  or 
Benthammed,  in  the  thirty- 
eighth  year  after  the  time  of 
their  leaving  Kadesh-barnea, 
and  the  fortieth  from  their  de- 
arture  from  the  laud  of  Egypt, 
rom  Zared  they  made  one 
march  across  the  Arnon.  now 
Muiljeb,  to  Dibon,  the  ruins  of 
which  place  are  still  visible 
about  four  mile3  fromtheArnon. 
Thence  they  proceeded  by  se¬ 
veral  stages  to  the  mountains 
of  Abarim,  on  the  east  of  Jor¬ 
dan,  which  chain  of  mountains 
they  crossed  at  Pisgah,  from 
the  summit  of  which  Moses 
was  indulged  with  a  view  of 
the  lapd  of  Canaan,  which  lie 


JOU 

was  not  permitted  to  enter; 
and  here  also  terminated  his 
useful  and  laborious  life.  De¬ 
scending  from  these  moun¬ 
tains,  they  came  to  Beth-jesi- 
moth  and  Abel-shittim,  where 
they  encamped  on  the  banks 
of-the  Jordan,  which  river  they 
crossed  as  they  had  done  the 
Red  Sea,  on  dry  ground.  When 
the  Israelites  departed  from 
Egypt,  the  number  of  males 
above  twenty  years  of  age  was 
6113,550 ;  when  they  arrived  in 
sight  of  Canaan,  it  was  601,730 ; 
So  that  the  decrease  of  their 
number,  during  the  forty  years’ 
wandering  in  the  wilderness, 
was  1820 :  but  it  is  remarkable, 
that  while  some  of  the  tribes 
greatly  increased  in  popula¬ 
tion,  others  lost  half  their  ori¬ 
ginal  number,  which  is  not 
very  easily  accounted  for  by 
the  facts  recorded  in  the  sacred 
history.  As  all  who  were  above 
twenty  years  of  age  when  they 
left  Egypt  perished  in  the  wil¬ 
derness,  it  is  evident, that  when 
they  entered  Canaan, there  was 
not  a  man  in  all  the  host  above 
threescore,  except  Caleb  and 
Joshua;  so  that  all  the  men 
were  effective ,  and  fit  for  mili¬ 
tary  service.  In  respect  to  the 
tact  recorded  Deut.  viii.  4; 
xxix.  5,  concerning  the  clothes 
of  the  Hebrews  during  their 
journeyings,  it  may  be  proper 
to  say  that  the  history  does 
not  necessarily  imply  that  the 
clothes  which  they  had  on  at 
the  outset  were  miraculously 
preserved,  or  that  they  grew 
with  the  growth  of  their  child¬ 
ren  and  youth.  They  had 
sheep,  and  goats,  and  cattle, 
on  their  march ;  and  they  un¬ 
derstood  the  arts  by  which 
these  animals  were  made  sub¬ 
servient  to  their  necessity  and 
comfort.  Thus  they  were  en¬ 
abled  always  to  procure  sea¬ 
sonably  good,  and  sufficient 
clothing,  and  were  saved  from 
allsufferingand  inconvenience 
on  this  score.  (See  Hebrews, 


JUD 

Moses,  Joshua.  See  also  Mas 
of  the  Journeyings  of  Isra¬ 
el, on  cloth, Union  Questions, 
vol.  iv.jwith  map,  and  Teach¬ 
er’s  Assistant  in  the  use  of 
thesame,all  byAm.S.S.Union. 
See  Map  to  article  Red  Sea.) 

JOY  (1  Sam.  xviii.  6)  is  an 
agreeable  affection  of  the  soul, 
arising  from  the  possession  or 
prospect  of  good.  (Ezra  vi.  16. 
Esth.  viii,  16.)  It  is  reckoned 
among  the  fruits  of  the  Spirit, 
(Oal.  v.  22,)  and  is  chiefly 
used  by  the  sacred  writers, 
Specially  of  the  New  Testa¬ 
ment,  to  signify  a  religious 
emotion.  That  which  springs 
from  a  sense  of  pardoned  sin 
and  a  union  of  the  soul  to 
Christ  is  pure,  (Luke  xv.  10,) 
certain,  (John  xvi.  22,)  un¬ 
speakable,  (1  Pet.  i.  8,)  and 
eternal.  (Isa.  lxi.  7.) 

JUBILEE.  (See  Feasts.) 

JUDAH,  (Gen.  xxix.  35,)  the 
fourth  son  of  Jacob  and  Leah, 
was  born  inMesopotamia  about 
a.  m.  2249.  The  tribe,  of  which 
he  was  the  head  and  represen. 
tative,  was  the  most  powerful 
of  the  twelve,  (Num.  i.  27,)  and 
had  the  first  lot  in  the  division 
of  the  promised  land. 

The  prophetic  blessing  which 
his  father  pronounced  on  him 
(Gen.  xlix.  8—12)  is  very  re¬ 
markable.  It  describes  the  war¬ 
like  character  and  gradually 
increasing  strength  ofthe  tribe, 
(comp.  Num.  ii. 3;  Josh.xiv.il; 
xv.  1.  Judg.  i.  1,  2.  1  Chron. 
xiv.17.  Ps.  xviii.40.  Isa.xxix.l, 
where  Judah  is  called  Ariel — 
lion  of  God.  Rev.  v.  5,)  the 
duration  of  its  power,-  viz.  until 
the  coming  of  Christ,  when 
Judea  became  a  province  of 
Rome,  (comp.  Luke  ii.  1—7. 
John  xviii.  31.  Acts  v.  37,)  and 
thedestructionoftheircity,  a.d. 
70,  when  the  Christian  dispen¬ 
sation  had  become  establish¬ 
ed,  (comp.  Matt.  xxiv.  14.  Acts 
ii.  8.  Rom.  x.  18,)  in  the  glory 
and  triumph  of  the  Messiah. 

Tribe  of,  took  the  southern 
382 


JUD 

section  of  Canaan,  extending 
across  from  the  Jordan  to  the 
Mediterranean  Sea,  and  north¬ 
wardly  to  the  territory  of  Ben¬ 
jamin  and  Dan.  (Josh.  xv. 
1—63) 

In  the  catalogue  of  the  cities 
of  this  tribe,  we  have  the  utter¬ 
most  cities,  or  those  nearest 
Edom,  on  the  south ;  cities  in 
the  valley ,  that  is,  on  the  low¬ 
lands,  near  the  coast ;  cities 
in  the  mountains,  that  is,  up 
n  the  interior  j  and  cities  in 
the  wilderness,  or  along  the 
shore  of  the  Dead  Sea.  (Josh, 
xv.  21. 33.  48. 61.) 

Of  the  cities  of  Judah,  seve¬ 
ral  continued  in  the  possession 
of  the  natives, (as  Ashdod,Gaza, 
Askelon,  and  Ekron,)  or,  if  con¬ 
quered,  were  afterwards  reco¬ 
vered. 

.  JUDAH,  land  of.  (See  Ca¬ 
naan.) 

JUDAH,  or  JUDEA,  moun¬ 
tains  of,  (Josh.  xx. 7,)  included 
so  much  of  the  mountainous 
chain  as  extended  from  the 
borders  of  Benjamin  south  to 
Edom  and  east  to  the  valley  of 
the  Jordan.  This  was  formerly 
called  the  mountain  of  the 
Amorites.  (Deut.  i.  20.) 

Wilderness  of,  (Matt.  iii. 
I,)  was  a  wild,  uneven  region 
unboth  sides  of  the  Jordan,  ex¬ 
tending  on  the  west  from  Jeri¬ 
cho  to  the  Dead  Sea.  It  is  also 
called  the  country  about  Jor¬ 
dan.  (Luke  iii.  3.)  It  is  describ¬ 
ed  by  travellers  as  abounding 
with  caverns  and  cells,  or 
grottoes  of  the  most  forbidding 
character.  Even  now  they  are 
the  abode,  to  some  extent,  of 
hermits ;  and  amidst  the  rocks 
and  mountains,  neither  shade, 
nor  tree,  nor  herbage,  nor  even 
moss,  is  found.  It  was  called 
the  wilderness  pre-eminently. 
^Matt.  iv.  1.) 

JUDAS  ISCARIOT  (Matt, 
x.  4)  was  one  of  the  twelve 
chosen  disciples  of  our  Lord. 
Nothing  !s  certainly  known 
of  his  birthplace  or  parentage. 


JUD 

It  is  supposed  by  some  that 
the  word  Iscariot  signifies  of 
Cariolh,  a  small  town  on  the 
east  of  Jordan.  He  is  called 
the  son  of  Simon,  John  vi.  71; 
whence  some  have  supposed 
he  was  the  son  of  Simon  the 
Canaanite,  another  of  tha 
twelve.  He  is  almost  uniform¬ 
ly  mentioned  with  the  infa- 
mous  distinction  of  the  man 
who  betrayed  Christ.  The 
principal  fact  related  of  him 
by  the  evangelists,  previously 
to  the  commission  oflhe  dread 
ful  crime  into  which  he  fell, 
was  a  marked  displeasure  al 
Mary  for  expending  upon  out 
Lord  so  much  precious  oint 
ment,  which  might  have  been 
sold  for  much  and  given  to  the 
poor.  The  truth,  however,  was, 
that  he  cared  not  for  the  poor, 
but  he  held  the  purse  of  the 
company;  and  if  this  money 
had  been  deposited  with  him 
for  the  poor,  he  would  have 
had  it  in  his  power  to  apply  it 
to  his  own  use.  The  reproof 
which  he  received  from  his 
Master  on  this  occasion  was 
probably  the  immediate  cause 
of  his  determination  to  betray 
him.  The  sacred  history  re¬ 
presents  him  as  going  immedi¬ 
ately,  and  agreeing  with  the 
chief  priests  and  elders  to  de¬ 
liver  him  into  their  hands. 
After  this,  however,  he  had 
the  impudence  to  return  again, 
and  was  present  at  the  lasl 
interview  between  Christ  and 
the  other  disciples.  Here  our 
Lord  announced  in  the  hearing 
of  all,  lhat  one  of  his  disciples 
would  betray  him,  and  pointed 
out  Judas  as  the  person;  on 
which  he  seems  to  have  left 
the  table  in  displeasure,  and 
abruptly;  perhaps  before  the 
Lord’s  supper  was  instituted. 
Being  now  fully  under  the 
power  of  the  devil,  he  be 
came  the  leader  of  a  bana 
of  soldiers,  sent  to  apprehend 
Jesus.  The  impious  man  knew 
where  his  Master  would  be 
3S3 


JTJD 

that  evening;  and  he  had  the 
effrontery  to  intrude  upon  him 
In  his  hours  of  devotion;  and 
had  agreed  to  make  known 
the  proper  person  to  the  sol¬ 
diers  by  the  usual  sign  of  friend¬ 
ship  and  love:  therefore, when 
he  led  the  band  into  the  se¬ 
questered  garden  of  Gethse- 
mane,  he  went  up  to  Jesus 
and  kissed  him,  saying,  Hail, 
Master;  and  received  from  the 
meek  Saviour  no  other  reproof 
titan,  Judas,  betray  est  thou  the 
Son  of  man  with  a  kiss  ?  His 
service  was  now  done,  and  he 
had  the  stipulated  price  of 
his  iniquity  in  his  possession. 
It  is  probable,  therefore,  that 
he  did  not  accompany  the  sol¬ 
diers  back  to  the  chief  priests 
and  elders.  But  as  soon  as  his 
mind  had  opportunity  for  re¬ 
flection,  remorse  seized  upon 
him  ;  and,  covetous  as  he  was, 
he  could  no  longer  bear  about 
with  him  the  price  of  innocent 
blood.  Having  learned  that 
his  Master  was  condemned, 
he  returned  to  the  temple,  and 
finding  the  persons  from  whom 
he  had  received  the  money,  he 
cast  it  down,  and,  unable  to 
bear  the  burden  of  his  misery, 
he  went  and  hanged  himself 
We  are  told  in  Acts  i.  18, 
that, falling  headlong,  he  burst 
asunder  in  the  midst ,  and  all 
his  bowels  gushed  out.  The 
assages  are  not  irreconcila- 
le  with  each  other ;  for  it  is 
evident  that  a  man  might  be 
hung,  and  that  he  might  fall, 
and  that  the  parts  of  his  body 
might  be  torn  asunder  in  the 
fall ;  but  how  the  effect  was 
produced  which  is  ({escribed 
in  the  above-cited  passage  can 
be  only  matter  of  conjecture. 
It  may  have  been  that  he  hung 
himself  over  a  precipice,  or 
from  some  very  elevated  posi¬ 
tion,  and  that  his  body  was 
mutilated  in  that  manner  by 
the  fall;  or  his  body  might 
possibly  have  remained  un¬ 
discovered  until,  being  par- 


JUD 

tially  decayed,  it  had,  i>y 
its  own  weight,  fallen,  and 
presented  this  horrible  spec¬ 
tacle.  To  support  the  first 
of  these  positions,  it  may  be 
enough  to  say,  that  the  spot 
which  tradition  designates  as 
the  potter’s  field  was  visited  by 
Messrs.  Fisk  and  Kina,  Ameri¬ 
can  missionaries,  in  1823;  and 
they  tell  us,  that  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  field  are  trees  near  the 
brink  of  huge  cliffs,  on  which, 
if  he  hung  himself  and  fell, 
he  must  have  been  dashed  in 
pieces. 

The  fact  that  Judas  was  with 
our  Saviour  in  public  and  pri¬ 
vate,  and  had  the  confidence 
of  the  band  of  disciples,  con¬ 
nected  with  his  strong  test! 
mony  to  his  innocence,  under 
such  extraordinary  circum¬ 
stances,  is  altogether  inexpli. 
cable  upon  any  other  supposi¬ 
tion  than  that  the  Messiah  was 
what  he  claimed  to  be, — the 
Son  of  God  and  the  only  Sa¬ 
viour  of  sinners. 

JUDAS  of  Galilee.  (Acts  v. 
37.)  An  insurgent  against  tl,e 
Reman  government,  who  ex¬ 
cited  the  Jews  to  resist  the  en¬ 
rolment  and  taxation  of  their 
people,  as  a  province  of  Rome. 

JUDE  (Jude  i.  1)  was  one  of 
the  apostles,  and  the  brother 
of  James  the  less.  He  is  called 
Judas,  Matt.  xiii.  55.  John  xiv. 
22.  Acts  i.  13;  and  elsewhere 
Lebbeus,  (Matt.  x.  3,)  and 
Thaddeus.  (Mark  iii.  18.) 

Epistle  of,  occupies  the 
last  place  but  one  in  the  ar. 
rangement  of  the  books  of  the 
New  Testament.  It  was  writ¬ 
ten,  as  many  have  supposed, 
about  a.  d.  65,  but  it  is  by  no 
means  certain.  It  seems  to 
have  been  intended  to  guard 
believers  against  prevalent  er¬ 
rors,  and  to  urge  them  to  con¬ 
stancy  in  the  faith.  This  is 
done  by  a  vivid  exhibition  of 
the  terrors  of  God’s  judgments 
upon  the  wicked,  and  by  a 
'  recurrence  to  that  great  prin- 


JUD 

clple  of  our  religion,  depend¬ 
ence  on  Christ  alone  to  keep 
us  from  falling. 

JUDEA.  (See  Canaan.) 

JUDGES.  (Acts  xiii.  20.) 
This  was  the  title  of  a  class  of 
magistrates  among  the  Israel¬ 
ites.  They  were  appointed 
originally  by  Moses,  at  the  sug¬ 
gestion  of  his  father-in-law,  to 
relieve  him  of  a  part  of  the 
duties  of  the  chief  magistracy. 
The  judges  spoken  of  in  the 
above-cited  passage,  and  whose 
history  is  given  in  the  book  of 
Judges,  were  a  class  of  men 
raised  up  in  extraordinary 
emergencies,  and  Invested  with 
extraordinary  powers;  such  as 
the  archons  of  Athens,  and  the 
dictators  of  Rome.  (See  He¬ 
brews.)  We  are  told  that  they 
were  given  to  the  Israelites 
about  the  space  of  four  hundred 
and  fifty  years,  until  Samuel 
the  prophet.  A  chronological 
difficulty  has  occurred  to  some 
in  the  reading  of  this  passage 
in  Acts ;  but  it  is  sufficient  for 
us  that,  if  there  is  a  difficulty, 
Paul’s  statement  is  in  accord¬ 
ance  with  the  received  chro¬ 
nological  tables  of  his  day,  as 
Josephus  conclusively  shows. 


List  of  judges  and  probable 
term  of  service. 

Years. 


Othniel,  about  B.  C.  1400  • 

40 

Under  Eglon 

18 

Ehud,  kc.  - 

80 

Under  the  Philistines 

unk. 

8b  am  ear  - 

Under  Jabin 

uuk. 

.  20 

Deborah  and  Barak 

40 

Under  Midtan 

7 

Gideon  • 

40 

Abimelech  •  •  • 

3 

Tola . 

Jair  ..... 

Under  the  Ammonites 

18 

Jephthah  .... 

6 

Ibzan  .... 

7 

Elon  -  ■ 

-  10 

Abdon  •  • 

8 

Under  the  Philistines  - 

-  40 

SamsOn  > 

20 

Eli  S  *  -  -  - 

.  40 

Under  the  Philistines  - 

-  20 

Samuel,  about  -  - 

-  12 

Saul,  the  first  king,  B.  C.  1091. 

Book  of  The  seventh  in 
33 


JUD 

the  arrangement  of  the  boobs 
of  the  Old  Testament,  and  the 
seventh  also  in  chronological 
order,  derives  its  title  from  the 
fact  that  it  gives  us  the  history 
of  the  Israelites,  under  the  ad¬ 
ministration  of  fifteen  judges, 
viz.  from  eighteen  or  twenty 
years  after  the  death  of  Joshua, 
or  about  B.  c.  1564,  to  the  time 
of  Saul,  or  about  b.  c.  1110;  a 
eriod  of  more  than  four  hun- 
red  and  fifty  years.  (Acts  xiii. 
20.  See  preceding  article .)  It 
was  one  of  the  provisions  of 
the  Jewish  constitution,  that 
judges  or  chief  magistrates 
should  be  appointed  in  every 
city,  whose  qualifications  and 
jurisdiction  are  sufficiently  de¬ 
fined  in  Deut.  xvi.  18.  and  xvii. 
8—10.  (See  also  Biblical  An- 
TiaumEs,  by  Am.  S.  S.  Union, 
vol.  i.  ch.  ix.  §  2.)  At  an  early 
period  after  they  left  Egypt,  a 
rank  of  judges  was  established, 
the  lowest  of  which  were  ap- 
ointed  over  ten  men,  and  pro- 
ably  amounted  to60,000 ;  then 
those  of  fifty,  one  hundred,  and 
one  thousand  men ;  the  final 
jurisdiction,  in  all  cases  of  dif¬ 
ficulty,  being  reserved  to  Mo¬ 
ses  himself.  (Ex.  xviii.  21—26.) 
After  they  became  settled  in 
their  respective  districts  of  the 
promised  land,  this  judiciary 
system  underwent  considera¬ 
ble  modification.  Judges  were 
then  appointed  for  the  cities 
or  chief  towns ;  but  it  does 
not  appear  how  they  were  ap¬ 
pointed,  nor  that  there  was  a 
regular  succession  of  them. 
The  law  to  be  administered 
being  most  familiar  to  the 
Levites,  and  they  being,  by 
force  of  circumstances,  nfore 
conversant  with  such  subjects, 
it  came  to  pass  that  the  judicial 
office  generally  devolved  on 
them.  The  book  of  Judges  is  • 
supposed  to  have  been  written 
by  Samuel  after  the  establish¬ 
ment  of  the  royal  government, 
and  it  forms  a  connecting  link 
between  Joshua  and  Samuel. 

385 


JUD 

JUDGMENT,  JUDG-  ' 
M  E  N  T  S.  (Ex.  vi.  6 ;  xii. 
12.)  These  are  words  of  fre¬ 
quent  occurrence  in  the  sa¬ 
cred  Scriptures,  and  the  sense 
of  them  is  generally  determin¬ 
ed  by  the  connexion.  When 
God’s  judgments  are  spoken  of, 
the  term  may  denote  either 
the  secret  decisions  of  the  di¬ 
vine  will,  (Ps.  x.  5 ;  xxxvi.  6,) 
or  the  declarations  of  God’s 
will  revealed  in  the  Scriptures, 
(Ex.  xxi.  1.  Deut.  vii.  12.  Neh. 
ix.  13,)  or  the  inflictions  of 
punishment  on  the  wicked. 
(Prov.  xix.  29.  Ezek.xxv.il.) 

JUDGMENT  HALL.  (John 
xviii.  28.)  A  room  or  office 
in  the  palace  of  the  Roman 
governor,  where  causes  were 
tried  and  justice  administer¬ 
ed.  The  Jews  declined  to 
enter  it  when  they  were  pro¬ 
secuting  their  murderous  pur¬ 
pose  against  the  Redeemer, 
lest  they  should  be  defiled  by 
an  approximation  to  the  person 
of  a  heathen. 

The  JUDGMENT-SEAT  (Matt, 
xxvii.  19)  was  an  elevated 
place  in  the  hall  of  judgment, 
from  which  sentence  was  pro¬ 
nounced. 

Breastplate  of  judgment. 
(See  Breastplate.) 

Judgment  of  Urim.  (See 
Urim.) 

Day  of  judgment.  (Matt.x. 
15.)  That  important  day  which 
is  to  terminate  the  present  dis¬ 
pensation  of  grace ;  when  time 
shall  be  no  more,  and  the  eter¬ 
nal  state  of  all  men  be  un¬ 
changeably  fixed.  That  such 
an  event  is  necessary  to  vin¬ 
dicate  the  justiceof  God,  (Luke 
xvi.25,)  and  that  such  a  day  is 
appointed,  is  abundantly  evi¬ 
dent.  (Eccl.  xi.  9.  Matt.  xii. 36. 
Acts  xvii.31.  2The9t).  i.7 — 10. 
.Heb.  ix.  27.  2  Pet.  ii.  9;  iii.  7. 
lJohniv.17.)  That JesusChrist 
will  officiate  as  Judge  is  also 
evident.  (Matt.  x'xv.  31,  32  ; 
xxvi.  64.  Johnv.22.  Actsxvii. 
31.  Kom.  ii.  16.  2  Cor.  v.  10.) 


JUP 

That  the  judgment  will  he 
universal,  appears  from  Eccl. 
xii.  14.  John  v.  28,  29.  Rom. 
xiv.  10,  11.  2  Cor.  v.  10.  Rev. 
xx.  12,  13.  That  its  decisions 
will  be  final  and  irreversible, 
admitting  the  righteous  to  the 
joys  of  Christ’s  kingdom,  and 
dooming  the  wicked  to  outer 
darkness  and  eternal  despair, 
appears  from  the  foregoing 
Scriptures,  and  also  from  Matt, 
xxv.  14 — 46.  1  Cor.  xv.  52 — 57. 

1  Thess.  iv.  14—17.  Heb.  vi.  2. 

2  Pet.  iii.  7. 

JULIUS.  (Acts  xxvii.  1.) 
The  captain  of  the  Roman 
guard,  to  whom  Festus, govern¬ 
or  of  Judea,  committed  Paul, 
to  be  conveyed  to  Rome.  Julius 
appears  to  have  had  great  re¬ 
gard  for  Paul.  He  suffered  him 
to  land  at  Sidon,  and  to  visit 
his  friends  there ;  and  in  a 
subsequent  part  of  the  voyage, 
he  opposed  the  violence  of  th*. 
soldiers,  directed  against  the 
prisoners  generally,  in  order  to 
save  the  apostle.  (Acts  xxvii, 
43.) 

JUNIPER.  (Job  xxx.  4.)  A 
well  known  tree,  of  the  cedar 
family.  Probably  by  the  word 
rendered  juniper,  in  the  pas¬ 
sage  from  Job,  is  intended  the 
broom  tree,  which  is  still  com- 
mon  in  the  deserts  of  Arabia. 
That  such  substances  were 
sometimes  used  lor  food  is  very 
evident.  (2  Kings  iv.  38,  39. 
Amos  vii.  14.  Luke  xv.  16.) 

Coals  of  juniper.  (See 
Armour.) 

JUPITER.  (Acts  xiv.  12.) 
The  chief  of  the  heathen  gods, 
having  power  over  all  the  rest. 
The  people  of  Lycaonia,  when 
they  saw  the  impotent  man  at 
Lystra  instantly  healed,  were 
disposed  to  regard  the  apostles 
as  gods  in  the  likeness  of  men, 
and  as  there  was  a  tradition 
among  them  that  their  pro¬ 
vince  was  once  visited  by  Ju¬ 
piter  and ,  Mercury,  they  were 
inclined  to  regard  this  as  a 
I  repetition  of  tne  favour.  Sv 


JUS 


JUS 


they  called  Barnabas  Jupiter, 
and  Paul  (who  was  the  chief 
speaker,  and  probably  quite 
eloquent)  Mercury.  To  carry 
the  superstition  out,  the  priest 
who  was  accustomed  to  sacri¬ 
fice  to  Jupiter,  the  tutelar  deity 
of  the  city,  whose  image  or 
temple  was  before  the  gates, 
brought  the  usual  sacrifices, 
decked  out  for  the  altar,  and 
Would  have  joined  the  people 
in  the  religious  worship  of  the 
apostles,  had  they  not  been 
persuaded  to  desist  by  their 
solemn  warnings. 

The  image  of  Diana  at  Ephe¬ 
sus  was  said  by  the  town  clerk 
to  have  fallen  from  Jupiter. 
Probably  this  expression  refers 
to  some  prevailing  supersti¬ 
tious  notion,  that  this  image 
itself,  or  the  worship  paid  to  it, 
had  some  peculiar  sanctity  or 
virtue  imparted  to  it  directly 
from  Jupiter. 

JUSTICE.  (Ps.  lxxxix.  14.) 
One  of  the  glorious  and  incom¬ 
prehensible  attributes  of  the 
Supreme  Being,  denoting  the 
infinite  righteousness  of  his 
nature,  of  his  law,  of  his  go¬ 
vernment,  and  of  all  his  deal¬ 
ings  and  proceedings  with  his 
creatures. 

JUSTIFY,  JUSTIFICA¬ 
TION.  (Job  ix.  20.  Kom.  iv. 


25.)  These  terms  involve  one 
of  the  fundamental  principles 
of  the  Christian  faith.  They 
stand  opposite  to  condemn  and 
condemnation.  In  their  evan¬ 
gelical  use,  they  denote  that 
act  of  God’s  sovereign  grace, 
by  which  he  accepts  and  re¬ 
ceives  those  who  believe  in 
Christ  as  just  and  righteous. 
When  Goa  has  pardoned  a 
sinner,  he  treats  him  as  right¬ 
eous,  or  as  if  he  had  never 
sinned.  This  is  called  justi¬ 
fication.  And  because  ther 
is  no  way  of  being  pardoned 
except  by  believing  and  trust¬ 
ing  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
it  is  called  justification  by 
faith.  For  His  sake,  such 
persons  are  accounted  just  or 
righteous,  and  will  not  be  pu¬ 
nished  for  their  sins.  (The 
epistle  to  the  Galatians  is 
chiefly  on  this  subject*  and 
is  analyzed  in  Union  Ques¬ 
tions,  vol.  viii.,  by  Am.  S.  S. 
Union.) 

The  expression,  Wisdom  is 
justified  of  her  children,  (Matt, 
xi.  19,)  is  supposed  to  mean, 
either  that  the  fruits  or  off¬ 
spring  of  wisdom  justify  all  her 
claims,  or  that  the  children  of 
God  are  taught  and  inclined 
by  divine  grace  to  justify  all 
his  ways.  • 


KAD 

AB,  or  CAB.  (See  Mea¬ 
sures.) 

KABZEEL,  (Josh.  xv.  21,) 
or  JEKABZEEL,  (Neh.  xi.  25,) 
was  a  city  in  the  northern  sec¬ 
tion  of  the  inheritance  of  Judah, 
just  west  of  the  southern  extre¬ 
mity  of  the  Dead  Sea.  It  was 
the  birthplace  of  Benaiah. 
(2  Sam.  xxiii.  20.) 

KADESH,  (Num.  xiii.  2G,) 
probably  the  same  with  Ka- 
desh-burnea,  (Num.  xxxiv.  4,) 
originally  called  Enmiishpat, 
(Gen.  xiv.  7,)  was  a  city  in  the 
desert  of  Paran,  near  the  south- 


KAD 

ern  bounds  of  the  tribe  of  Ju¬ 
dah,  and  between  twenty  and 
thirty  miles  south  of  Hebron, 
It  was  a  royal  city  of  the  Ca 
naanites ;  and  the  spies  were 
sent  there  to  explore  the  pro¬ 
mised  land. 

2.  (Num.  xx.  1.)  A  place 
east  of  the  above,  in  the  desert 
of  Zin,  from  whence  messen¬ 
gers  were  sent  to  ask  of  the 
Edomites  permission  to  pass 
through  their  territory,  and 
from  whence,  too,  the  Israelites 
went  up  on  mount  Hor  to  bury 
Aaron. 

387 


KEN 

KANAH.  (Josh.  xvi.  8.)  A 
river  or  brook,  which  formed 
the  boundary  line  between 
Ephraim  and  Manasseh,  4nd 
falls  into  the  Mediterranean  a 
few  miles  south  of  Cesarea.  It 
is  now  called  Nahr  el  Kasab. 
There  was  also  a  town  of  this 
name  in  the  tribe  of  Asher. 
(See  Cana.) 

KEDAR.  (Gen.  xxv.  13.)  A 
son  of  Ishmael,  whose  descend¬ 
ants  settled  in  the  southern 
part  of  Arabia.  Probably  Ke- 
dar’s  posterity  were  the  most 
numerous  and  powerful  of  the 
family  of  Ishmael;  whence 
the  whole  of  that  country  is 
sometimes  called  Kedar,  (Isa. 
xxi.  16, 17 ;  lx.  7.  Jer.  xlix.  28;) 
and  the  Ishmaelites  generally 
are  called  the  men  of  Kedar. 

KEDESH,(Josh.  xx.7,)called 
Kadcsa  by  Jewish  historians, 
was  situated  in  upper  Galilee, 
in  the  tribe  of  Napntali,  twen¬ 
ty  or  thirty  miles  south-east 
of  Tyre.  It  was  the  residence 
of  Barak,  and  one  of  the  cities 
of  refuge,  and  is  called  Kedesh 
Naphtali,  (Judg.  iv.  6,)  to  dis¬ 
tinguish  it  from  another  place 
of  the  same  name  in  the  tribe 
of  Judah.  (Josh.  xv.  23.) 

KEDRON.  (See  Kidron.) 

KENATH.  (Num.  xxxii.  42.) 
A  city  of  Manasseh,  east  of 
Jordan,  the  supposed  ruins  of 
which  are  called  Kahuat.  It 
is  situated  on  a  brook  of  the 
same  name,  and  there  are  in¬ 
dications  of  its  having  been 
once  a  splendid  city.' 

KENITES.  (Gen.  xv.  19.) 
One  of  the  tribes  or  nations 
who  had  possession  of  Canaan 
in  the  time  of  Abraham.  It 
appears  that  they  were  driven 
from  Canaan;  and  are  after¬ 
wards  spoken  of  as  dwelling 
in  the  highlands,  near  the  Am¬ 
monites  and  Moabites.  (Num. 
xxiv.  21,  22.)  In  the  time  of 
Saul,  they  were  found  dwelling 
among  or  near  the  Amalekhes. 
Jethro,  the.  father-in-law  of 
Moses,  was  of  this  nation. 


KID 

tJudg.  i.  IS;)  and  for  his  sake, 
the  Kenites  were  saved  from 
the  destruction  which  came 
upon  the  Amalekites.  (1  Sam. 
xv.  6.  See  Rechabites.) 

KEY.  (Judg.  iii.  25.)  The 
keys  of  ancient  days  were  of 
very  inconvenient  size,  and 
shaped  not  unlike  a  reaping 
hook.  As  they  were  generally 
of  wood,  they  must  be  some¬ 
what  bulky,  or  their  strength 
would  be  insufficient.  The 
gates  of  Grand  Cairo  are  fast¬ 
ened  with  ponderous  wooden 
locks  and  keys,  even  at  this 
day.  In  modern  times,  in 
transferring  the  government 
of  a  city,  the  keys  of  the  gates 
are  delivered  as  an  emblem 
of  authority.  (Rev.  iii.  7.) 

A  late  traveller  among  the 
Moors  says  it  is  common  to  see 
a  man  of  authority  marching 
along  with  a  large  brass  key 
on  his  shoulder.  One  cornel 
of  a  kerchief  is  tied  to  the  cir 
cular  part,  and  hangs  down  in 
front;  and  by  this  the  key  is 
balanced  as  it  rests  on  the 
shoulder.  This  fact  forcibly 
illustrates  Isa.  xxii.  22. 

KID,  (Judg.  xiv.  6,)  or  the 
young  of  the  goat,  was  among 
the  luxuries  of  the  ancients, 
(Gen.  xxvii.  9;  xxxviii.  17. 
Judg.  vi.  19.  1  Sam.  xvi.  20,) 
and  is  now  esteemed  a  great 
delicacy  by  eastern  nations  as 
food.  Kids  were  among  the 
sacrificial  offerings.  (Num.  vii 
11-87.) 

KIDRON,  (1  Kings  ii.  37,)  or 
CEDRON.  (John  xviii.  1.)  A 
brook  running  through  the  val¬ 
ley  which  separates  Jerusalem 
from  the  mount  of  Olives,  and 
forming  the  eastern  boundary 
oftheancientand  moderncity. 
About  nine  months  in  the  year 
the  channel  of  the  brook  is  dry. 
It  is  on  an  average  nine  feet  in 
width.  When  swollen  by  the 
rains,  the  current  is  deep  and 
rapid.  It  empties  into  the 
Dead  Sea.  (See  Selumiel,  pp. 
by  Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 


KIN 

KINE  (Gen.  xii.  2)  is 
used  by  the  sacred  writers  as 
the  plural  of  cow.  The  word 
is  used  figuratively  by  the  pro¬ 
phet, concerning  the  Israelites, 
to  describe  the  feebleness,  idle¬ 
ness,  and  luxury  which  cha¬ 
racterized  them.  They  were 
like  the  fatlings  of  Bashan, 
feeding  carelessly  and  secure¬ 
ly  in  rich  pastures,  only  to 
prepare  them  for  the  slaughter. 
(Ezek.  xxxix.  18.) 

KING.  (Gen.  xiv.  18.)  The 
title  of  a  ruler.  It  is  applied 
in  Scripture  to  the  chief  of  a 
tribe  or  to  the  ruler  of  a  single 
town  or  city;  and,  of  course, 
we  need  not  be  surprised  at 
the  number  who  were  often 
defeated  in  a  single  campaign. 
(Josh.  xii.  24.  Judg.  i.7.  IKings 
xx.  1.  16.)  This  fact  also  ex- 

Blains  Gen.  xxxvi.  31,  and 
eut.  xxxiii.  5.  The  title  is 
applied  to  Jehovah  and  to  our 
blessed  Saviour.  (1  Tim.  i.  17 ; 
vi.  15.)  The  ceremony  of  coro¬ 
nation  is  described  2  Kings  xi. 
12.  (See  Anoint,  Hebrews.) 

KINGDOM.  (Luke  xii.  32.) 
The  precise  import  of  this  term 
can  usually  be  determined  by 
its  connexion.  In  the  New 
Testament,  it  generally  de¬ 
notes  either  the  spiritual  reign 
of  Christ  over  the  hearts  of 
individuals  or  over  his  church 
collectively.  (John  xviii.  36.) 

Kingdom  op  God,  (1  Cor. 
xv.  50,)  Kingdom  op  Heaven. 
(Matt.  iii.  2.)  These  terms 
sometimes  denote  the  state  of 
glory  beyond  the  grave.  (2  Pet. 
i.  11.)  More  generally,  they 
denote  tne  gospel  dispensation 
under  the  government  of  the 
Messiah,  in  distinction  from 
the  typical  kingdom  of  the 
Jews.  (Matt.  iii.  2;  xxi.  43; 
xxv.  1.  Luke  x.  9.  11.)  And 
sometimes  they  signify  the  gos¬ 
pel  exerting  a  reigning  power 
over  the  hearts  and  minds  of 
men.  (Luke  xvii.  21.  John  iii. 
3. 5.  Rom.  xiv.  17.) 

KINGS,  books  of.  (1  Chron. 
33* 


KIN 

ix.l.)  Theeleventhandtwelfth 
books  of  the  Bible  are  call¬ 
ed  the  first  and  second  books 
of  Kings,  Jn  old  versions, 
the  books  of  Samuel  and 
Kings  are  called  the  four 
books  of  Kings ;  and  hence  the 
titles  of  these  books  in  our 
Bibles  is,  the  first  book  of  Sa¬ 
muel,  otherwise  called  the  first 
book  of  Kings,  and  the  first 
book  of  Kings,  otherwise  called 
the  third  book  of  Kings.  The 
four  books  contain  the  history 
of  the  Jewish  nation  under  the 
kings  oflsrael  and  Judah.  The 
first  two  are  called  Samuel, 
because  that  prophet  com¬ 
menced  them,  and  wrote  the 
first  twenty-four  chapters.  Na¬ 
than  and  Gad  finished  them. 
(1  Chron.  xxix.  29.)  These 
embrace  a  period  of  about  one 
hundred  and  twenty  years, viz. 
from  the  birth  of  Samuel  to 
the  close  of  the  reign  of  David. 
The  first  book  contains  an  ac¬ 
count  of  Eli  and  his  sons ;  of 
Samuel,  as  prophet  and  judge ; 
and  of  Saul,  the  first  king  of 
Israel.  The  second  book  re¬ 
cords  the  prosperity  of  David’s 
kingdom,  his  sin,  and  suffer¬ 
ings,  and  his  restoration  to  the 
throne  and  to  the  favour  of 
God.  The  third  and  fourth 
books,  supposed  to  have  been 
compiled  by  Ezra  from  the 
public  records,  embrace  a  pe¬ 
riod  of  about  four  hundred  and 
twenty-five  years,  viz.  from  the 
commencement  of  Solomon’s 
reign  to  the  destruction  of  Je¬ 
rusalem  by  Nebuchadnezzar. 

Of  these,  the  former  gives  us 
an  account  of  the  building  and- 
dedication  of  the  temple,  the 
reign  of  Solomon,  the  division 
of  the  nation,  the  fall  of  the 
glory  of  Israel,  and  the  extra¬ 
ordinary  ministry  of  the  pro¬ 
phet  Elijah. 

The  latter  continues  the  his¬ 
tory  of  the  kingdoms  of  Israel 
and  Judah,  interming'ed,  till 
they  were  both  destroyed,  and 
the  people  carried  into  capti- 


KIN 

•vity.  It  informs  us  of  the  trans¬ 
lation  of  Elijah,  the  ministry 
of  Elisha,  and  the  destruction 
of  Jerusalem. 

The  following  catalogue  of 
the  successive  kings  may  he 
regarded  as  approximating  to 
a  correct  chronology : 

Of  the  whole  nation. 


Began  to  reign.  Reigned. 


Saul 

B.  C. 

1091 

. 

40  years. 

David 

1051 

. 

40  A  “ 

Solomon  • 

1010 

. 

40 

tt 

Rehoboam 

971 

• 

1 

u 

Of  Judah  alone. 

Rehoboam 

972 

. 

16 

tt 

Abijam 

954 

• 

3 

tt 

Asa  - 

951 

. 

41 

tt 

Jehoshaphat 

910 

. 

25 

« 

Jeboram  • 

885 

. 

4 

u 

Ahaziah 

881 

. 

1 

tt 

Interval 

880 

. 

6 

it 

Joash  « 

874 

. 

40 

« 

Amaziah 

835 

. 

29 

tt 

Uzziah,  or  > 
Aziriah  ) 

806 

62 

tt 

Jo!  ham 

754 

. 

16 

tt 

Ahaz 

738 

. 

16 

« 

Hezekiah  * 

722 

. 

29 

ft 

Manasseh  * 

694 

. 

65 

Amon 

639 

. 

2 

ft 

Jcsiah  • 

637 

• 

31 

ft 

Jehoahaz 

606 

j 

* 

or  3 
m’ths. 

Jehoiakim 

606 

11 

years. 

Jehoiachin 

694 

[* 

or  3 
m’ths. 

Zudekiah 

694 

. 

11 

years. 

Captivity 

683 

Of  Israel  alone. 


Jeroboam 

. 

971 

22  « 

Nadab 

. 

950 

. 

2  “ 

Baas  ha 

. 

949 

. 

24  “ 

Elah 

• 

926 

. 

2  « 

Zirari 

. 

925 

. 

7  days. 

Omri 

- 

925 

. 

12  years. 

Aliab 

m 

914 

m 

22  “ 

Ahaziah 

. 

893 

. 

2  “ 

Jehoram 

• 

892 

. 

12  « 

Jehu 

. 

880 

. 

28  « 

Jehoahaz 

. 

852 

. 

17  “ 

Joash,  or  ] 
Jehoash 

- 

%35 

- 

16  “ 

Jeroboam  IL 

- 

819 

41  “ 

Zachariah 

. 

778 

6  m.  or 
10  years. 

1  mouth. 

Shallum 

• 

• 

768 

. 

Menahem 

* 

767 

. 

10  years. 

Pekaiah 

• 

• 

757 

. 

2  “ 

Pekah 

. 

755 

. 

?0  « 

Interval 

. 

• 

734 

. 

9  “ 

Hoshea 

. 

• 

725 

. 

9  “ 

Captivity 

* 

716 

(For  an  analysis  of  these 
books,  and  a  map  of  the  coun- 


KIR 

tries  mentioned  in  them,  sea 
Union  Questions,  by  Am.  S. 
S.  Union,  vol.  vii.) 

KIK.  (Isa.  xxii.6.  Amos  ix. 
7.)  A  country  north  of  Media 
and  Assyria,  lying  along  the 
ri  ver  Cyrus ,  now  hur, between 
the  Black  and  Caspian  seas. 
Anciently  it  was  called  Alba¬ 
nia  and  Iberia,  at  present  Geor¬ 
gia.  Thither  the  Damascenes, 
conquered  by  Tiglalh-pileser, 
were  sent  into  exile.  (2Kings 
xvi.  9.  Amos  i.  5.) 

Kir  op  Moab.  (Isa  xv.  1.) 
The  bulwark  or  principal  for¬ 
tress  of  Moab,  called  Kirhare- 
sheth ,  (Isa.  xvi.  7,)  and  Kirha- 
resh,  (Isa.  xvi.  11,)  and  Kirhe- 
res.  (Jer.  xlviii.  31.)  Kerek,  or 
Karak ,  (the  modern  name  of 
the  same  place,)  is  found  south 
of  the  Dead  Sea.  Many  of  the 
ruins  of  the  ancient  fortress 
are  discernible;  and  a  travel¬ 
ler,  who  was  there  in  1822,  tells 
us  that  the  population  consist¬ 
ed  of  four  hundred  Turks  and 
one  hundred  and  fifty  nominal 
Christians. 

KIRJATH,  (Josh,  xviii.  28,) 
called  also  Kirjath-jearim,  Kir- 
jath-baal,  and  Baalah,  (Josh, 
xv.  9.  60.  1  Chron.  xiii.  6,)  was 
on  or  near  the  boundary  line 
between  Judah  and  Benjamin, 
and  is  therefore  mentioned  in 
the  above  passages  as  a  city  of 
both  tribes;  though  in  Judg. 
xviii.  12,  and  2  Sam.  vi.  2,  it  is 
called  a  city  of  Judah.  This 
was  the  native  place  ofUrijah 
the  prophet,  (Jer.  xxvi.  SiO;) 
and  it  was  here  that  the  ark 
remained  many  years.  (1  Sam. 
vii.  1,  2.  2  Sam.  vi.  2.) 

KIRJATIIAIM,  (Josh.  xiii. 
19.)  One  of  the  oldest  towns 
eastward  of  Jordan.  It  was 
once  the  possession  of  the 
Emims,  ard  was  then  called 
Shaveh  (or,  the  plain  of)  Kiri- 
athaim,  (Gen.  xiv.  5;)  and  is 
afterwards  spoken  of  as  a  city 
of  Moab.  (Jer.  xlviii. 23.)  There 
was  tt  town  of  this  name  in 
Naphiali.  (1  C'hron.  vi.  76.) 


KIT 

KIRJATH-ARBA.  (See  He¬ 
bron.) 

K1RJATH  -  SEPHER,  KIR- 
JATH-SANNAH.  (See  Debir.) 

KISHON.  (Judg.  iv.  7.  13.) 
An  ancient  river,  (Judg.  v.  21,) 
rising  at  the  foot,  of  mount 
Tabor,  and  winding  southerly 
of  that  mountain,  through  the 
plain  of  Jezreel,  about  thirty 
miles,  to  Ptolemais,  where  it 
falls  into  the  Mediterranean. 
It  is  called  the  waters  of  Me- 
giddo ,  (Judg.  v.  19,)  because 
Megiddo  was  built  upon  its 
margin.  It  is  famous  for  the 
battle  between  Barak  and  Si- 
sera,  and  for  the  destruction 
of  Baal’s  prophets.  (1  Kings 
xviii.40.)  It  is  called  the  river 
before  Jokneaw. ,  (Josh,  xix.l  1,) 
and  formed  the  boundary  be¬ 
tween  Zebulon  and  Issachar. 

Mr.  Fisk,  an  American  mis¬ 
sionary,  was  there  in  the  au¬ 
tumn  of  1823,  and  tells  us  that 
it  is  a  considerable  stream, 
even  in  summer. 

KISS.  (Gen.  xxvii.  26.)  A 
kiss  was  a  mode  of  salutation 
signifying  reverence,  (Ps.  ii. 
12.  Prov.  xxiv.  26,)  natural 
affection,  (Gen.  xxxi.  55.  Luke 
xv.  20,)  and  religious  affection. 
(Rom.  xvi.  16.  1  Thess.,v.  26.) 
The  eastern  mode  of  honouring 
a  writing  from  a  sovereign  is 
by  kissing  it,  and  then  putting 
it  to  the  forehead.  Kissing  the 
idol  was  a  part  of  heathen 
worship,  (1  Kings  xix.  18;)  and 
when  the  objects  of  their  idola¬ 
trous  regard  were  out  of  reach, 
they  were  accustomed  to  kiss 
the  hand  in  token  of  adoration. 
(Job  xxxi.  27.) 

The  expression  in  Ps.  ii.  12, 
refers  to  a  custom  at  the  coro¬ 
nation  of  kings.  After  the 
crown  had  been  imposed,  and 
the  king  had  taken  his  cove¬ 
nants,  the  nobles  pledged  their 
allegiance  with  the  kiss  of  ho- 
mage,  or,  as  the  Jews  call  it, 
the  kiss  of  majesty.  (1  Sam. 
x.  1.) 

KITE.  (Lev.  xi.14.)  A  rapa- 


KOR 

cious  bird,  of  the  hawk  species, 
unclean  by  the  ceremonial  law. 
The  term  rendered  wild  beasts 
of  the  islands,  in  Isa.  xiii.  22; 
xxxiv.  14;  and  Jer.  1.  39,  is 
supposed  by  some  to  denote 
this  bird;  but  the  prevalent 
opinion  is,  that  it  refers  to 
jackals. 

KNEADING  TROUGHS. 
(See  Bread.) 

KNOP.  (Ex.  xxv.  31.)  A 
tufted  top  or  projection,  used 
in  architecture  for  ornament. 

KORAH  (Num.  xvi.  1)  was 
the  great-grandson  of  Levi. 
Being  jealous  of  the  authority 
of  Moses  and  Aaron,  he  entered 
into  a  conspiracy  with  Dathan, 
Abiratn,  and  On,  to  put  them 
down;  and  associating  with 
themselves  two  hundred  and 
fifty  princes  or  leading  men  of 
the  Levites,  they  went  to  Mo¬ 
ses,  and  made  known  their 
grievance.  Moses  reasoned 
with  them  upon  the  folly  and 
presumption  of  their  com¬ 
plaint.  Dathan  and  Abiram 
made  other  charges,  and  re¬ 
fused  to  respect  the  authority 
of  Moses.  Moses  proposed  to 
test  the  reasonableness  of  their 
complaint  by  reference  to  God 
himself;  and,  after  separating 
all  the  rest  of  the  people  from 
them,  he  said  that  if  Korah 
and  his  party  should  die  a  na¬ 
tural  death,  then  he  would 
agree  that  he  was  not  a  true 
messenger  from  God ;  but  if 
they  should  be  destroyed  in  an 
extraordinary  manner,  which 
he  particularly  described,  then 
it  should  be  admitted  that  they 
had  provoked  God.  The  dread¬ 
ful  event  showed  that  Korah 
and  his  companions  were  in 
the  wrong ;  for  they,  and  all 
that  appertained  to  them,  were 
swallowed  up  alive,  in  a  mo¬ 
ment,  by  the  earth, which  open¬ 
ed  to  receive  them,  and  at  the 
same  time  a  fire  was  sent  and 
consumed  the  two  hundred 
and  fifty  princes.  (Num.  xvi 
2.  35.) 


39L 


LAG 


LAM 


LABAN.  (Gen.xxviii.2.)  The 
brother  of  Rebekah,  and 
the  father  of  Jacob’s  wives, 
Rachel  and  Leah.  His  con¬ 
duct  towards  his  kinsman  Ja¬ 
cob  evinced  an  avaricious  and 
overbearing  disposition.  It  is 
supposed  that  the  valuable 
ornaments  which  had  been 
given  to  Rebekah  by  the  stran¬ 
ger,  and  which  Laban  saw 
upon  her  hands,  excited  his 
cupidity,  and  made  him  so 
anxious  to  have  the  stranger 
entertained.  Afterwards,  he 
grossly  deceived  Jacob,  and 
obtained  from  him,  fraudulent¬ 
ly,  seven  years’  service,  in  ad¬ 
dition  to  seven  which  he  had 
agreed  to  serve,  that  he  misht 
obtain  Laban’s  daughter,  Ra¬ 
chel.  In  other  ways  he  oppress¬ 
ed  and  abused  his  nephew, 
notwithstanding  his  faithful 
and  unremitted  service,  until 
he  was  compelled  to  flee.  La¬ 
ban  pursued  him,  doubtless 
with.hostile  intentions ;  but  he 
received  an  intimation  from 
God  which  changed  his  course, 
and  their  differences  were  ami¬ 
cably  adjusted.  The  interview 
between  them  look  place  on 
what  was  afterwards  known  as 
mount  Gilead,  (or  Galeed,  the 
heap  of  tmtness ;)  a  name  de¬ 
rived  from  the  circumstance 
that  a  heap  of  stones  was  col¬ 
lected  as  a  monument  or  wit¬ 
ness  of  their  treaty.  (SeejAcoB. 
For  a  full  history  of  these  trans¬ 
actions,  with  illustrative  maps 
and  cuts,  see  Jacob  and  his 
Son  Joseph,  ch.  iii.  and  iv.,  by 
Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

LACHISH.  (Josh.  x.  3.)  A 
city  of  Judah,  lying  south  of 
Jerusalem,  and  towards  the 
border  of  Simeon.  It  was  one 
of  the  Canaanitish  cities, which 
was  subdued  by  Joshua,  but  it 
was  afterwards  rebuilt  by  Je¬ 
roboam,  (2Chron.  xi.  9,)  and 
sustained  a  severe  and  fruitless 
siege  by  the  Assyrians.  (2Kings 


xviii.  17;  xix.  8.  2  Chron  xxxil 
9.  Jer.  xxxiv.  7.) 

LA-HAIROI.  (See  Beer-la- 

HAIROI.) 

LAISH,  or  LESHEM.  (See 
Dan.) 

LAKE.  (Luke  v.  1.)  The 
principal  lakes  mentioned  in 
the  Bible  are  Tiberias  or  Gen- 
nesaret,  the  Salt  or  Dead  Sea, 
and  Merom.  (See  these  arti¬ 
cles.')  The  place  of  final  pun¬ 
ishment  is  called  the  lake  of 
Jire,  (Rev.  xix.  20,)  the  lake 
which  burneth,  & c.  (Rev.  xxi. 
8.  See  Hell.) 

LAMB.  (Ex.  xii.  3.)  The 
young  of  the  sheep,  though  the 
original  word  means  also  the 
kid  or  young  of  the  goat ;.  and 
by  the  Jewish  law  it  is  ex¬ 
pressly  provided  that  the  sacri¬ 
fice  at  the  passover  might  be  a 
lamb,  either  of  the  sheep  or 
goat.  (Ex.  xii.  5.)  Sundry  pe¬ 
culiar  enactments  are  contain¬ 
ed  in  the  same  law,  respecting 
the  qualities  of  the  animal. 
(Ex.  xxii.  30;  xxiii.  19.  Lev. 
xxii.  27.) 

The  prophet  represents 
Christ  as  a  lamb  led  to  the 
slaughter,  (Isa.  liii.  7;)  and  the 
same  figure  is  employed  by 
John  when  he  announced  the 
approach  of  Jesus  to  his  com¬ 
panions.  (John  i.  29.  36.)  It 
may  denote  the  meekness  and 
gentleness  of  the  Messiah’s 
character,  but  still  more  ex¬ 
pressively  designates  him  as 
the  great  sacrifice  for  sin. 
Hence  the  frequent  allusions 
to  the  Lamb,  the  Lamb  thal 
teas  slain,  the  blood  of  the 
Lamb,  &c.  (Rev.  v.  6 ;  vii.  9. 
14.  17 ;  xii.  11 ;  xiv.  1.  4;  xvti. 
14;  xxi.  23-27.) 

LAMECH.  1.  (Gen.  v.  25 — 
31.)  The  son  of  Methuselah, 
and  the  father  of  Noah.  He 
died  about  five  years  before 
the  flood. 

2.  (Gen.  iv.  18.)  A  descend¬ 
ant  of  Cain,  and  notorious  as 
392 


LAM 


LAM 


the  person  who  introduced 
into  the  world  the  sin  of  poly¬ 
gamy.  The  speech  he  made 
to  his  wives  (Gen.  iv.  23,  24)  is 
supposed  to  have  been  design¬ 
ed  to  relieve  any  apprehension 
they  might  have  as  to  his  per¬ 
sonal  safety,  as  a  descendant 
of  the  first  murderer,  who  had 
been  accursed. 

The  words  of  Lantech  are 
thus  rendered  by  some  critics : 

<  And  Lamech  said  unto  his  wives, 

Adah  and  Zillah,  hear  ye  my  voice  ; 
Wives  of  Lamech, hearken  to  my  speech: 
Have  I  slain  a  man,  that  I  should  be 

wounded  ? 

Or  a  young  man,  that  I  should  be 

bruised  ? 

If  Cain  should  be  avenged  seven-fold, 
Also  Lamech  seventy  and  seven.’ 

That  is,  if  God  hath  guarded 
Cain, the  murderer,  by  a  threat 
of  dreadful  punishmenton  such 
es  slay  him,  how  much  more 
will  he  guard  me,  who  am  in¬ 
nocent  of  the  blood  of  all  men. 

Others  render  the  fourth  and 
fifth  lines  thus: 

4  have  slain  a  man  who  wounded  me ; 
yea,  a  young  man  who  smote  me 

and  suppose  that  Lamech  had 
slain  a  man  in  self-defence; 
that  his  wives  were  alarmed 
lest  the  kindred  of  the  de¬ 
ceased  should  seek  his  life ; 
and,  to  quiet  their  fears,  he 
tells  them,  that  if  he  who  took 
the  life  of  Cain,  a  wilful  mur¬ 
derer,  should  suffer  a  seven¬ 
fold  (or  great)  punishment, 
surely  he  who  should  kill  La¬ 
ntech,  who  had  slain  a  man 
in  self-defence,  should  suffer 
seventy  -  seven  -  fold  (or  still 
greater)  punishment. 

These  are  two  of  many  con¬ 
structions  which  have  been 
put  upon  the  passage,  and  all 
of  them  may  be  erroneous. 

LAMENTATIONS  OF  JE¬ 
REMIAH,  THE  BOOK  OP.  The 
Hebrews  were  accustomed  to 
compose  lamentations,  or 
mournful  songs,  on  the  occur¬ 
rence  of  private  and  public 
calamities.  Such  was  David’s 
lament  on  the  death  of  Absa¬ 


lom  and  Jonathan.  The  pro 
phet  Jeremiah  thus  laments 
over  the  ruin  of  the  holy  city 
and  the  tern  pie,  the  destruction 
of  the  state,  and  the  calamitous 
condition  and  prospect  of  his 
countrymen.  In  tne  original 
language,  the  first  four  chap¬ 
ters  of  this  book  are  written  so 
that  every  verse  or  couplet  be¬ 
gins  with  a  letter  of  the  Hebrew 
alphabet,  in  regular  order.  The 
first  and  second  chapters  con¬ 
tain  twenty-two  verses  each, 
according  to  the  letters  of  the 
alphabet.  In  these,  and  in  the 
fourth  chapter,  the  city  and 
church  of  God  are  presented 
to  us  in  personified  form,  and 
their  calamities  are  described 
in  the  most  pathetic  and  touch¬ 
ing  language.  The  third  chap¬ 
ter  has  sixty-six  verses,  and 
therefore  every  triplet  begins 
with  a  Hebrew  letter  in  order. 
In  this  chapter,  a  single  Jew 
speaks  in  the  manner  of  a 
chorus  of  his  countrymen,  as 
in  ancient  dramatic  writings, 
and  describes  their  state  and 
prospects.  The  fifth  chapter 
contains  the  united  pleadings 
and  supplications  of  the  whole 
people.  The  peculiar  mode  of 
versification  above_  mentioned 
was  designed,  as  it  is  supposed, 
to  assist  the  memory. 

It  seems  to  be  the  prevailing 
opinion,  that  this  book  refers 
to  events  past,  and  has  not  a 
prophetic  character. 

LAMP.  (1  Sam.  iii.  3.)  The 
lights  of  the  east  are  of  various 
kinds;  not  only  but  pitch, 
naphtha,  and  war  are  used  to 
maintain  the  flame.  Some¬ 
times  strips  of  cotton  cloth, 
soaked  in  these  combustible 
substances,  supply  the  place 
of  lamps;  and  in  the  Indies 
particularly,  it  is  customary  to 
carry  a  pot  of  oil  in  one  hand, 
and  a  lamp  full  of  oily  rags  in 
the  other.  The  form  of  oriental 
lamps  was  fanciful  and  often 
elegant,  as  appears  from  the 
following  cuts 

393 


LAN 


LAN 


The  lamps  of  the  Hebrews,  it 
is  probable, like  those  ofAleppo 
and  Egypt  at  the  present  day, 
were  suffered  to  burn  all  night; 
and  this  occasioned  no  great 
expense  in  a  country  so  rich 
in  oil.  We  are  told  that  this 
was  considered  so  indispensa¬ 
ble  to  the  comfort  of  a  family, 
that  the  poorest  people  would 
rather  deny  themselves  food 
than  neglect  it.  Th o  putting 
out  of  the  light  denoted  the 
ruin  and  extinction  of  the  fa¬ 
mily,  and  the  desertion  of  the 
house.  This  gives  force  to  the 
words  in  Job  xviii.  5,  6 ;  xxi. 
17;  xxix.3:  The  light  of  the 
wicked  shall  be  put  out ;  the 
light  shall  be  dark  in  his  ta¬ 
bernacle,  and  his  candle  shall 
be  put  out  with  him.  How  oft 
is  the  candle  qf  the  wicked  put 
out.  (Jer.  xxv.  10,11.  Prov.  xx. 
20.)  Also  in  Prov.  xiii.  9,  The 
light  of  the  righteous  rejoiceth, 
but  the  lamp  of  the  wicked 
shall  be  put  out ;  and  of  the 
prudent  wife,  Her  candle  goeth 
not  out  by  night.  (Prov.  xxxi. 
18.) 

LANCE.%(See  Armour.) 

LANDMARK.  (Prov.  xxii. 
28.)  It  was  the  manifest  inten¬ 
tion  of  Jehovah,  in  bringing 
his  people  into  Canaan,  to 
make  them  a  nation  of  agri¬ 
culturists.  For  this  purpose, 
every  citizen  had  allotted  to 
him  a  piece  of  ground,  which 
he  was  to  cultivate  and  leave 
to  his  descendants.  This  he 
could  not  entirely  alienate; 
fcr  even  if  sold,  it  returned  to 


him  or  his  natural  heirs  at  the 
next  jubilee.  (See  Jubilee.) 
He  also  had  a  right  to  reclaim 
or  redeem  land  thus  sold  when 
he  was  in  straitened  circum¬ 
stances,  even  before  the  jubilee. 

The  importance  of  preserv¬ 
ing  accurately  the  boundaries 
of  individual  or  family  posses¬ 
sions  is  very  obvious ;  and 
hence  the  severe  penalty 
threatened  for  their  removal. 
(Deut.  xix.  14;  xxvii.  17.  Prov. 
xxiii.  11.) 

Subsequently  to  the  ordi¬ 
nances  given  by  Moses,  the 
land  was  divided  by  lot  and 
measurement  among  the  tribes, 
families,  and  individuals  of 
the  nation,  under  Joshua.  For 
this  purpose,  a  cord  or  measur¬ 
ing  line  was  used.  (Ps.  lxxviii- 
55.)  This  measuring  line  is 
often  used  in  figurative  lan¬ 
guage,  when  the  providential 
assignment  of  man’s  lot  or  con¬ 
dition  is  mentioned.  (Ps.  xvi.  &. 
See  Lines.) 

LANGUAGE.  (Gen.  xi.  1.) 
It  is  generally  supposed  that 
Adam  was  endued  with  the 
power  of  speech,  and  furnish¬ 
ed  with  a  language,  at  his 
creation,  and  that  it  was  suffi¬ 
ciently  perfect  and  compre¬ 
hensive  for  all  the  purposes 
of  his  being.  This  was  the 
language  of  the  whole  earth 
for  nearly  2000  years,  or  until 
about  a  century  after  the  flood. 
It  was  then  that  the  tower  of 
Babel  was  erected ;  and,  forth? 
purpose  of  confounding  that 
presumptuous  enterprise,  God 
394 


lat 

caused  a  confusion  of  lan¬ 
guage^  so  that  the  various 
cornoanies  or  tribes  should  be 
incapable  of  understanding 
each  other,  and  of  course  in¬ 
capable  of  prosecuting  their 
plans.  This  caused  a  division 
and  dispersion  of  mankind 
over  the  face  of  the  earth. 
Many  learned  men  suppose 
that  the  Hebrew  was  the  origi¬ 
nal  language  given  by  God  to 
Adam,  and  that  all  the  other 
languages  are  derived  from 
that  as  the  root. 

LANTERNS.  (Johnxvin.3.) 
Probably  some  kind  of  covered 
torch.  „  .  „  , 

LAODICEA.  (Rev.  l.ll.)  A 
city  of  Phrygia,  upon  the  river 
I, yeas,  nearColosse,  and  about 
forty  miles  east  of  Ephesus. 
Eski-hissar  is  the  name  of  the 
town  upon  or  near  the  curious 
and  magnificent  ruins  of  this 
once  proud  and  flourishing 

There  was  a  church  here,  to 
which  Paul  sent  affectionate 
messages,  and  wished  the  Co- 
lossians  would  let  them  see  his 
letter,  which  was  addressed  to 
them,  when  they  had  done 
with  it.  (Col.  iv.  13—16.)  And 
H  was  this  church  that  was  so 
severely  reproved  by  Christ. 
(Rev.  iii.  14—22.)  Of  its  rejec- 
tion  and  abandonment,  accord- 
in®  to  the  inspired  declaration 
in=  these  passages,  travellers 
furnish  abundant  evidence. 

“It  is  even  more  solitary 
than  Ephesus,”  says  one,  “sit¬ 
ting  in  widowed  loneliness,  its 
walls  grass-grown,  its  temples 
desolate,  its  very  name  perish¬ 
ed!  Us  crime  was  pride,  its 
punishment  desolation.  The 
threatening  is  accomplished  ; 
it  now  stands  rejected  of  God, 
and  deserted  of  man ;  its  glory 
a  ruin,  its  name  a  reproach  !” 

LAPPETH.  (Judg.  vii.  5.) 
We  are  told  that  the  eastern 
people  are  accustomed  to  take 
up  water  in  the  hollow  of  the 
band,  and  that  they  do  it  with 


LAT 

surprising  agility.  It  is  infer¬ 
red  that  when  Gideon’s  army 
came  to  the  water  side,  they 
drank  of  it  with  the  hand  as 
fast  as  they  could,  to  be  ready 
without  delay  to  follow  Gide¬ 
on  ;  while  the  thousands  of 
faint-hearted,  that  were  sent 
away,  either  stooped  down  to 
drink,  or,  at  all  events,  drank 
with  so  much  tardiness  and 
ceremony, as  to  show  that  their 
hearts  were  not  with  Gideon 
i  n  h  is  contem  plated  enterprise. 
The  three  hundred  showed 
themselves  men  of  alacrity 
and  promptness,  and  therefore 
fit  for  the  work. 

LAPWING.  (Lev.  xi.19.)  A 
very  beautiful  but  filthy  bird, 
unclean  by  the  Levitical  law. 
The  lapwing  of  the  Bible  is 
supposed,  however,  to  be  the 
hoopoe  of  mffdern  days.  It  is 
about  the  size  of  a  pigeon. 

LASEA.  (See  Crete.) 

LATCHET.  (See  Clothes.) 

LATTICE.  (See  Dwell- 

“laugh,  laughter. 

(Gen.  xviii.  13.  Ps.  lix.  8; 
exxvi.  2.)  These  terms  are 
employed  by  the  sacred  wri¬ 
ters  to  denote  joy,  insult,  mock¬ 
ery,  assurance,  admiration, &e- 
The  meaning  can  usually  be 
determined  by  the  connexion. 
When  they  are  used  concern¬ 
ing  God,  as  in  Prov.  i.  26,  they 
signify  that  he  despises  or  pays 
no  regard  to  the  person  or  sub¬ 
ject. 

LATER.  (Ex.  xxx.  IS.)  A 
circular  vessel,  used  in  the 
tabernacle  service,  and  formed 
of  the  polished  brass  which 
served  for  looking-glasses,  (Ex. 
xxxviii.  8,)  and  which  was 
presented  for  the  purpose  by 
the  devout  women  who  attend  ■ 
ed  at  the  doorof  the  tabernacle. 
The  laver  stood  between  the 
altar  and  the  tabernacle,  a 
little  to  the  south  ;  and  the 
priests  washed  their  hands  In 
it  before  they  officiated.  (See 
i  Temple.) 


393 


LAW 

LAW.  (Pa.  xix.7.)  This  word 
has  various  significations.  The 
psalmist  used  it  generally  to 
denote  the  whole  will  of  God. 
It  is  applied  to  the  Mosaical 
institutions,  in  distinction  from 
the  gospel,  (Heb.  x.  1—18,)  and 
sometimes  to  the  ritual,  strictly 
speaking.  (Eph.  ii.  15.)  It  de¬ 
notes  the  ten  commandments 
given,  to  the  Israelites,  (Ex. 
xx.,)  and  confirmed  by  Christ, 
(Matt.  v.  17,)  and  opened  and 
explained  intheir  infinite  com¬ 
prehension  and  spirituality,  by 
Him  and  his  apostles,  through¬ 
out  the  New  Testament.  (Luke 
x.27.  Rom.  iii.  20.  Gal.  iii.  10. 
13.  19-25.) 

The  term  is  also  used  to  sig¬ 
nify  the  five  books  of  Moses. 
(Luke  xxiv.  27.  44.  Acts  xiii. 
15.)  This  was  what  was  read 
in  the  synagogue*  and  a  copy 
of  it  was  deposited  in  the  side 
of  the  ark  to  preserve  it  from 
injury.  (Deul.  xxxi.  2G.  See 
Ark  of  the  Covenant.) 

When  it  is  said  of  believers 
that  they  are  not  under  the 
law,  but  under  grace,  (Rom. 
vi.  14,)  the  meaning  is,  that 
they  do  not  depend  on  obedi¬ 
ence  to  the  law  for  justification 
before  God,  but  on  the  grace  of 
God  as  revealed  in  the  gospel. 

The  ceremonial  or  ritual 
law,  which  stood  in  meats  and 
drinks  and  carnal  ordinances, 
(Heb.  ix.  10,)  was  abolished  by 
the  introduction  of  the  gospel ; 
but  the  law,  properly  speak¬ 
ing,  is  eternal  and  unchange¬ 
able  in  its  obligations  and 
sanctions.  It  was  fulfilled  ra¬ 
ther  than  abrogated  by  the 
gospel ;  and  obedience  to  it  is 
made  by  the  gospel  the  only 
evidence  of  justifying  faith. 
(Matt.  v.  17,  18.  Rom.  iii.  28; 
vi.  15,  16.  James  ii.  18.  26. 

LAWYERS,  (Luke  vii.  30,) 
or  DOCTORS  OF  THE  LAW, 
(Luke  v.  17,)  were  a  class  of 
men  who  devoted  themselves 
to  the  study  and  interpretation 
of  the  Jewish  jaw.  They  are 


LAZ 

supposed  to  have  been  charged 
with  transcribing  the  law,  an<f, 
in  many  instances,  with  the 
decision  of  questions  arising 
under  it;  whence  they  are 
called  scribes.  (Ezra  vii.  6.1 1.) 
Many  of  them  were  members 
of  the  sanhedrim.  Their  influ¬ 
ence  was  great,  and  they  are 
often  mentioned,  under  the 
name  of  scribes,  in  connexion 
with  the  chief  priests  and 
eiders. 

LAZARUS.  1.  (John  xi.  I.) 
A  citizen  of  Bethany,  residing 
with  his  two  sisters,  in  whose 
familjr  Christ  was  a  frequent 
guest.  He  was  raised  from  the 
grave  by  the  power  of  Christ, 
in  sight  of  the  city  of  Jerusa¬ 
lem,  in  the  presence  of  the 
family  and  a  number  of  Jews, 
after  he  had  been  dead  four 
days.  This  is  one  of  the  most 
stupendous  and  interesting  mi¬ 
racles  which  our  divine  Sa¬ 
viour  wrought,  as  it  proved  his 
complete  power  over  death  and 
the  grave,  which  was  after¬ 
wards  so  fully  corroborated  in 
his  own  person.  So  incensed 
were  the  Jews  at  this  indispu¬ 
table  exhibition  of  Christ’s 
power,  that  they  sought  not 
only  to  kill  him,  but  Laza¬ 
rus  himself,  because  in  conse¬ 
quence  of  the  miracle  so 
many  believed. 

The  history  of  this  transac¬ 
tion,  as  given  us  by  the  sacrec 
historian,  is  intensely  interest¬ 
ing  On  no  occasion,  perhaps, 
were  the  sympathy,  dignity, 
and  power  of  Christ,  in  his  hu¬ 
miliation,  more  conspicuous; 
and  the  domestic  scenes  which 
are  connected  with  the  storvare 
related  with  beautiful  simpli¬ 
city.  (See  Susan  Ellmaker, 
pp.  72—74,  by  Am  .S.  S.  U nion.) 

2.  (Luke  xvi.  20.)  In  the 
parable  by  which  our  Saviour 
illustrates  the  retributions  of 
eternity,  one  of  the  parties  is 
named  Lazarus. 

|  The  word  Lazarus,  in  the 
'  original,  signifies  a  poor,  needy 


LEA 

man;  and  the  probability  ia, 
that  the  story  is  designed  to 
illustrate  a  general  truth  by  a 
natural  arrangement  and  issue 
of  circumstances  constantly  oc¬ 
curring  on  all  sides  of  us. 

It  is  worthy  of  observation, 
in  this  parable,  (1.)  That  no 
positive  sin  is  charged  upon 
the  rich  man;  nor  does  it  ap¬ 
pear  that  he  was  guilty  of  any 
particular  neglect  of  the  poor 
man  ;  for  he  was  not  a  beggar, 
(as  our  translation  has  it,)  but 
simply  in  need,  and  he  was 
laid  at  the  rich  man’s ^ate  to 
excite  the  sympathy  of  those 
who  should  pass  in  and  out. 

(2.)  That  while  the  rich  man 
was  buried  probably  with  much 
pomp, the  poor  man  suffers  that 
utmost  disgrace  (as  the  Jews 
esteem  it)  of  being  without  bu¬ 
rial.  (See  Burial.) 

(3.)  To  be 'with  Abraham 
was,  to  the  Jew,  to  be  blessed 
indeed,  (Matt.  iii.  9;)  and  to 
be  in  his  bosom  imported  the 
greatest  intimacy;  (See  Bo¬ 
som.) 

(4.)  The  word  hell  denotes 
a  place  where  the  wicked  suf¬ 
fer  intolerable  anguish,  with¬ 
out  the  least  mitigation,  for 
ever  and  ever.  ' 

(5.)  The  amazing  contrast 
between  the  respective  condi¬ 
tions  of  the  righteous  and  the 
wicked  in  this"world  and  their 
respective  conditions  in  the 
world  to  come.  A  comparison 
of  the  various  circumstances 
in  the  history  of  each,  as  they 
are  set  down  in  the  parable, 
puts  this  feature  of  the  story  in 
a  most  striking  light. 

LEAD.  (Job  xix.  24.)  A  verj, 
heavy  metal,  known  to  the  ait 
cients  from  a  very  early  pe¬ 
riod,  (Ex.  xv.  10.  Num.  xxxi. 
22.  Zech.  v.  6 — 8,)  and  abound¬ 
ing  in  the  western  parts  of 
the  United  Slates.  Lead  was 
formerly  used  in  the  process 
of  refining  gold  and  silver. 
Hence  the  figurative  allusions, 


LEA 

Jer.  vi.  29,  30.  Ezek.  xxii.  17 
—22. 

LEAF.  (Isa.  Ixiv.  G.)  The 
bright  fresh  colour  of  the  leaf 
of  a  tree  or  plant  shows  that  it 
is  richly  nourished  by  a  good 
soil.  Hence  it  is  eipblematical 
of  prosperity.  (Ps.  i.  3.  Jer. 
xvii.  8.  Ezek.  xlvii.  12.)  A 
faded  leaf,  on  the  contrary, 
shows  the  lack  of  moisture 
and  nourishment, and  becomes 
a  fit  emblem  of  adversity  and 
decay.  (Job  xiii.  25) 

LEAH.  (Gen.  xxix.  16.)  The 
wifeof  Jacob, and  eldest  daugh¬ 
ter  of  Laban.  Jacobdesired’to 
marry  Rachel,  i .call's  sister, 
and  served  her  father  seven 
years  that  he  might  obtain  her 
as  his  wife.  When  the  period 
was  accomplished,  Leah  was 
imposed  upon  him  instead  of 
Rachel,  and  he  was  compelled 
to  serve  seven  years  longer  for 
her.  (See  Jacob  and  Joseph, 
chap,  iii., and  History  of  this 
Patriarchs,  §  xvii.,  both  by 
Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

LEASING.  (Ps.  iv.  2)  Lies 
or  falsehoods. 

LEAVEN.  (Ex.  xii.  15.)  Fee- 
ment  mixed  with-  dough  to 
make  it  light;  or  a  piece  of 
dough  or  bread  thus  mixed  and 
used  to  lighten  a  larger  mass. 
It  makes  a  thorough  changa 
in  the  whole  ;  and  hence  tfi® 
force  of  the  parable,  (Matt.  xiii. 
33,)  by  which  the  silent  influ¬ 
ence  of  the  gospel  on  the  heart 
ofman  is  beautifully  illustrated. 
And  so  also  it  figuratively  de>- 
notes  the  influence  of  false  and 
corrupt  doctrines,  (Matt.  xvir. 
6,)  as  well  as  the  evil  passions 
of  the  depraved  and  unregeno- 
rate  heart.  (1  Cor.  v.  7,  8-) 
The  disuse  of  it  on  certain  oc¬ 
casions  was  an  important  part 
of  the  Jewish  ritual.  (Ex.  xii. 
15.  19.) 

Dough  kept  until  it  is  grown 
sour  is  used  in  eastern  coun 
tries  as  a  ferment  for  fresh 
dough;  and  it  is  said  that  La 
397 


LEB 

the  wine  countries  the  lees 
of  wine  are  used  as  we  use 
yeast. 

LEBANON.  (Isa.  xxxiii.  9.) 
A  celebrated  range  of  moun¬ 
tains  in  Syria,  north  of  Pales¬ 
tine,  running  north-east  and 
south-west,  in  two  parallel 
chains,  in  crescent  form,  and 
pursuing  nearly  the  course  of 
the  shore  of  the  Mediterranean. 
The  south-eastern  chain  is 
called  Anti-Libanus,  opposite 
to  Libatius, or  Lebanon  proper. 
Between  these  ranges  is  Ccele- 
Sj/ria,  or  the  valley  of  Lebanon. 
(Josh.  xi.  17.)  Some  of  its  east¬ 
ern  and  north-eastern  branch¬ 
es  were  called  Hermon,  (Deut. 
iii.  9,)  Sion,  (Deut.  iv.  48,)  and 
Amana.  (Sol.  Song  iv.  8.)  Its 
summits  (which  some  travel¬ 
lers  have  stated  to  be  higher 
than  the  Alps  or  Pyrenees)  and 
ravines  are  covered  with  snow 
during  the  year,  and  its  rock 
is  a  white  limestone,  from 
which  issue  pure,  limpid 
streams.  (Jer.  xviii.  14.)  It  is 
described  by  travellers  as  a 
multitude  of  mountains,  sepa¬ 
rated  by  deep  ravines,  and  co¬ 
vered  pretty  thickly  with  pine 
and  fruit  trees,  although  not  so 
densely  as  the  forests  of  Ame¬ 
rica.  Its  ascent  is  steep  and 
rocky.  Its  cedars  are  now 
found  principally  at  the  foot  of 
one  mountain,  covering  a  space 
»hree-fourths  of  a  mile  in  cir¬ 
cumference,  and  amount  to 
nearly  four  hundred  ;  some  of 
them  forty  feet  round,  and 
nearly  one  hundred  in  height. 
The  balsamic  odour  of  these 
cedars  is  alluded  to,  Hos.  xiv. 
6.  Sol.  Song  iv.  11;  and  so 
many  of  them  were  used  in 
building  Solomon’s  palace,  as 
tp  give  it  the  name  mentioned 
1  Kings  vii.  2,  and  x.  17.  The 
same  timber  was  used  for  ship¬ 
building.  (Ezek.  xxvii.  5.  See' 
Cedar.) 

Mr.  Fisk,  an  American  mis¬ 
sionary,  who  ascended  mount 
Lebanon  in  the  autumn  of  1823, 


I  EB 

informs  us  that  even  the  few 
cedars  that  remain  may  ^ry 
called  the  glory  of  Lebanon. 
Their  fine  shade,  conical  form, 
beautiful  symmetry,  and  lofty 
height  fully  justify  the  figura¬ 
tive  language  of  the  Bible. 
(Ps.  lxxx.  10.  Amos  ii.  9.)  He 
found  snow  upwards  of  two  feet 
deep,  that  had  lain  through  the 
hot  months. 

Another  traveller  thus  de¬ 
scribes  the  mountain  and  its 
scenery :  The  highest  eleva¬ 
tion  of  the  mountains  of  Leba¬ 
non  is  to  the  south-east  of  Tri¬ 
poli, and  their  summits,  capped 
with  clouds  and  covered  with 
snow,  are  discerned  at  the  dis¬ 
tance  of  thirty  leagues.  The 
Orontes,  which  flows  from  the 
mountains  of  Damascus,  and 
loses  itself  below  Antioch ;  the 
Kasrnia,  which  from  the  north 
of  Balbeck  takes  its  course 
towards  Tyre;  the  Jordan, 
which  sends  its  waters  towardu 
the  south,  all  prove  the  altitude 
of  the  region  from  which  they 
derive  their  source.  Lebanon, 
which  gives  its  name  to -the 
extensive  range  of  the  Kes- 
ruan,  and  the  country  of  the 
Druses,  presents  to  the  travel¬ 
ler  the  spectacle  of  its  majestic 
mountains ;  at  every  step  he 
meets  with  scenes  in  which 
nature  displays  beauty  or  gran¬ 
deur,  sometimes  romantic  wild¬ 
ness, but  alwaysvariety.  When 
he  lands  on  the  coast  of  Syria, 
the  loftiness  and  steep  ascent 
of  this  magnificent  rampart, 
which  seems  to  enclose  the 
country,  the  gigantic  masses 
which  shoot  into  the  clouds, 
inspire  astonishment  and  reve¬ 
rence.  Should  he  climb  these 
summits  which  bounded  his 
view,  and  ascend  the  highest 
point  of  Lebanon,  the  Sannin, 
the  immensity  of  space  which 
he  discovers  becomes  a  freslt 
subject  of  admiration.  On 
every  side  he  beholds  an  hori¬ 
zon  without  bounds  ;  while  in 
clear  weather  the  sight  is  lost 
398 


tEB 

ever  the  desert  which  extends 
to  the  Persian  Gulf,  and  over 
the  sea  which  washes  the 
coasts  of  Europe;  the  mind 
seems  to  embrace  the  world. 
A  different  temperature  pre¬ 
vails  in  different  parts  of  the 
mountain.  Hence  the  expres¬ 
sion  of  the  Arabian  poets,  that 
“  the  Sannin  bears  winter  on 
his  head,  spring  upon  his 
shoulders,  and  autumn  in  his 
Dosom,  while  summer  lies 
sleeping  at  his  feet.” 

This  description  of  the  mou  n- 
tains  of  Lebanon  enables  us 
to  perceive  the  reason  why 
mention  is  so  often  made  of 
them  in  the  writings  of  the 
prophets.  Lebanon  and  Car¬ 
mel,  being  the  most  remarka¬ 
ble  among  the  mountains  of 
Palestine,  are  frequently  cele¬ 
brated  in  the  sacred  poetry. 
The  one  remarkable  as  well 
for  its  height  as  for  its  mag¬ 
nitude,  and  the  abundance 
of  the  cedars  which  adorned 
its  summit,  exhibiting  a  strik¬ 
ing  and  substantial  appear¬ 
ance  of  strength  and  majesty: 
the  other,  rich  and  fruitful, 
abounding  with  vines,  olives, 
and  delicious  fruits,  in  a  most 
flourishing  state  both  by  nature 
and  cultivation,  and  display¬ 
ing  a  delightful  appearance  of 
fertility,  Destroy,  and  grace. 
The  different  form  and  aspect 
of  these  two  mountains  are 
most  accurately  defined  by 
Solomon,  when  he  compares 
manly  dignity  with  Lebanon, 
and  the  beauty  and  delicacy 
of  the  female  with  Carmel. 
(Sol.  Song  v.  15;  vii.  5.)  Each 
of  them  suggests  a  different 
general  image,  which  the  He¬ 
brew  poets  adopt  for  different 
purposes,  expressing  that  by 
a  metaphor  whi^n  more  timid 
writers  would  delineate  by 
a  direct  comparison.  Thus' 
Lebanon  is  used,  by  a  very 
bold  figure,  for  the  whole  peo¬ 
ple  of  the  Jews,  or  for  the 
state  of  the  church,  (Isa.  xxxv. 


LEG 

SHos.xiv.  5;)  for  Jerusalem, 
(Isa.  xxxvii.24.  Jer.  xxii.6.23;) 
for  the  temple,  (Zech.  xi.  1 ;) 
for  tlie  king  of  Assyria, (Isa.x. 
34;)  for  whatever  in  a  word  is 
remarkable,  august,  and  sub¬ 
lime,  (Isa.  lx.  13.  Ekek.  xxxu 
3 — 8.  15,  16.)  Hence  what¬ 
ever  possesses  much  fertility, 
wealth,  or  beauty,  is  called 
Carmel.  (Isa.  xxxv.  2.  Jer, 
xlvi.  18.  Mic.  vii.  14.) 

Its  population  is  from  100  009 
to  150,Gi)0,consistingofSynan 
and  Armenian  Catholics, 
Greeks,  and  Greek  Catholics, 
Druses,  and  Maronites.  The 
wine  ofLebanon  (Hos.  xiv. 7) 
is  still  celebrated,  and  its  air 
pure,  and  its  prospects  en¬ 
chanting.  Some  of  Isaiah’s 
most  elegant  imagery  is  de¬ 
rived  from  this  mountain  and 
its  appurtenances.  Moses 
mentions,  (Deut.  iii.  25 — 27,) 
as  a  reason  for  wishing  to  go 
over  Jordan,  his  desire  to  see 
this  delightful  region.  (See 
Ev.  Recreations,  by  Am.  S. 
S.  Union,  vol.  i.  pp.  8 — 11.) 

LEBBEUS.  (See  Jude.) 

LEEK.  (Num.  xi.5.)  A  bul¬ 
bous  vegetable  like  the  onion, 
a  particular  species  of  which 
has  been  cultivated  in  Egypt 
from  a  very  early  period.  In 
the  passage  cited,  it  is  sup¬ 
posed  that  lettuce,  salads,  or 
savoury  herbs  generally,  may 
be  intended,  as  the  original 
word  in  the  Old  Testament  ia 
twelve  times  rendered  grass, 
and  once  herb. 

LEES.  (Isa.  xxv.  6.)  The 
dregs  of  wine  settled  to  the 
bottom.  Hence  the  expres¬ 
sion  wine  on  the  lees  denotes 
old  and  pure  wine.  It  is  used 
figuratively  for  indolence  and 
sin.  (Zeph.  i.  12.) 

LEGION.  (Matt.  xxvi.  53.) 
A  band  of  soldiers  in  the  Ro¬ 
man  army,  consisting  of  from 
6000  to  7000  men :  the  origi- 
nal  number  was  6200  foot  and 
730  horse.  In  this  passage,  and 


LEP 

also  in  Mark  v.  9. 15,  it  means 
a  large  but  indefinite  number. 

LEHABIM.  (SeeLvBiA.) 

LENTILES.  (2  Sam.  xxiii. 
11.)  A  species  of  pulse  not 
unlike  the  pea  in  its  general 
appearance.  It  is  still  a  com¬ 
mon  article  of  food  in  Egypt, 
being  dressed  like  beans,  or 
stewed  with  oil  and  garlic, 
and  forming  what  is  called 
red  pottage.  (Gen.  xxv.  29,30.) 
Probably  they  grew  wild,  and 
were  found  in  fields  of  grain. 
(Comp.  2  Sam.  xxiii.  11,  with 
1  Chron.  xi.  13.) 

LEOPARD.  (Isa.  xi.  6)  An 
animal  of  the  cat  tribe,  which 
it  is  supposed  abounded  in  the 
countries  of  the  Bible,  from  the 
fact  that  it  is  so  often  men¬ 
tioned  by  the  sacred  writers. 
The  Hebrew  name  is  nimrah. 
(Num.  xxxii.  3.)  Beth-nim- 
rah  (Num.  xxxii.  36)  mteans 
the  house  of  the  leopards ;  and 
in  Sol.  Song  iv.  8,  are  men¬ 
tioned  the  mountains  of  the 
leopards.  Allusions  to  the  leo¬ 
pard’s  character  and  habits 
are  often  made  in  the  Bible, 
especially  by  the  prophets ;  its 
manner  of  watching  for  its 
prey,  (Jer.  v.  6.  Hos.  xiii.  7 ;) 
its  fleetness.  (Hab.  i.  8;)  its 
fierceness  and  cruelty,  (Isa. 
xi.  6 ;)  and  in  Dan.  vii.  6,  it  is 
made  the  emblem  of  power. 

LEPER,  LEPROSY.  (Lev. 
xiii.  42.  45.)  The  leprosy  is  a 
loathsome  and  infectious  dis¬ 
ease,  still  prevalent  throughout ' 
all  Syria,  and  corresponding  in 
its  general  characteristics  with 
that  of  former  ages.  It  is  call¬ 
ed  distinctively  the  stroke  or 
wound  of  the  Lord.  It  com¬ 
mences  internally,  and  often 
lies  concealed  for  years,  or  is 
secretly  spreading  before  there 
is  any  outward  indication  of  it; 
and  after  it  breaks  out,  the 
sufferer  often  lingers  for  years 
before  it  reaches  a  crisis,  and 
then  years  sometimes  elapse 
before  the  leper  is  released  by 
death.  .  The  bones  and  the 


LEP 

marrow  are  pervaded  with  the 
disease,  so  that  the  joints  of 
the  hands  and  feet  lose  their 
power,  the  limbs  of  th^  body 
fall  together,  and  the  whole  sys¬ 
tem  assumes  a  most  deforn  ed 
and  loathsome  appearance. 
The  progress  and  effects  of  the 
disease  are  supposed  to  be  de¬ 
scribed  in  Job  li.  7,  8.  12,  and 
vi.  2,  and  vii.  3—5,  and  xlx. 
14-21. 

There  were  various  kinds 
of  leprosy;  but  in  whatever 
form  it  appeared,  it  was  re. 
garded  as  a  judgment  from 
the  hand  of  God.  We  know 
it  was  frequently  employed  for 
this  purpose,  as  in  the  cases 
of  Miriam,  (Num.  xii.  10,)  Ge- 
hazi,  (2  Kings  v.  27,)  and  Ua- 
ziah,  (2  Chron.  xxvi.  16—23;) 
but  whether  it  ordinarily  dif¬ 
fered  from  other  diseases  and 
calamities  in  this  respect  we 
have  reason  to  doubt. 

Althouah  the  laws  respect¬ 
ing  this  disease  which  we  find 
in  the  Mosaic  code  are  exceed, 
ingly  rigid,  it  is  by  no  means 
clear  that  the  leprosy  was 
contagious.  The  horror  and 
disgust  which  was  felt  towards 
a  disease  so  foul  and  loath¬ 
some  might  be  a  sufficieni 
cause  for  such  severe  enact¬ 
ments.  (For  a  particular  ac¬ 
count  of  the  leprosy,  its  symp- 
toms,  treatment,  &c.  see  Bib¬ 
lical  ANTiauixiEs,  by  Am.  S. 
S.  Union,  vol.  i.  chap.  vii. }  1.) 

With  respect  to  the  leprosy 
qf  houses  and  clothes,  (Lev. 
xiv.  55,)  some  have  supposed 
that  the  expression  was  only 
analogical— the  spots  and  dis¬ 
figurations  which  appeared 
upon  the  walls  and  articles 
of  clothing  resembling  the 
leprous  spots.  Others  suppose 
it  was  a  species  of  mould  or 
mildew,  indicating  a  great  de¬ 
gree  of_  dampness,  corrupting 
the  air,  injurious  to  health,  ana 
often  the  occasion  and  pre¬ 
cursor  of  fatal  diseases.  The 
expressions  of  the  sacred  his- 


LET 

tory  are  hardly  borne  out, 
however,  by  such  an  inter¬ 
pretation  as  the  last. 

LESBOS.  (See  Mitylene.) 

LESHEM.  (See  Dan.) 

LETTER.  (2  Sara.  xi.  14.) 
The  letters  mentioned  by  the 
sacred  writerawere  in  the  form 
of  rolls,  not  unlike  those  of 
the  present  day.  Niebuhr  tells 
us  that  the  Arabs  roll  up  their 
letters,  and  then  flatten  them 
to  the  breadth  of  an  inch,  and 
paste  up  the  end  of  them,  in¬ 
stead  of  sealing  them;  and 
the  Persians,  we  know,  make 
up  their  letters  in  the  form  of 
rolls,  about  six  inches  long, 
and  paste  a  bit  of  paper  arou  nd 
it  with  gum,  and  seal  it  with 
an  impression  of  ink.  When 
sent  to  inferiors,  they  were 
often  sent  open,  (Neh.  vi.  5 ;) 
but  when  sent  to  equals  or 
superiors,  they  were  enclosed 
in  a  purse  or  bag,  as  in  the 
cut.  (See  Seal.) 


A  modern  traveller  mentions 
having  seen  a  letter  from  the 
king  of  Persia  to  the  governor- 
general  of  India.  The  letter 
was  in  the  form  of  a  roll,  en- 
34* 


LET 

closed  in  a  bag  woven  with 
gold  thread  and  crimson  silk. 

It  was  tied  at  the  neck  with 
gold  lace,  which,  after  being 
knotted,  passed  through  an 
immense  red  seal,  four  inches 
in  diameter,  and  about  an  inch 
thick  of  red  wax.  The  seai 
was  entirely  covered  with  Per¬ 
sian  characters,  supposed  to  be 
titles  of  the  king.  To  preserve 
the  seal  the  bag  was  opened 
at  the  bottom;  but  the  usual 
way  is  to  melt  the  wax,  or  cut 
the  lace  between  the  wax  and 
the  bag. 

LeVt.  (Gen.  xxix.  34.)  Third 
son  of  Jacob  and  Leah.  He  was 
concerned  in  a  bloody  affair 
with  the  Shechemites,  which 
occasioned  the  denunciatory 
and  prophetic  language  of  his 
father  respecting  him,  (Gen. 
xl  ix.  5—7,)  and  which  w as  fully 
verified  in  the  history  of  his 
posterity.  The  opposition  of 
his  descendants  to  the  idol-wor¬ 
ship,  which  was  practised  by 
others,  was  the  occasion  of  the 
mitigation  of  their  curse.  (Ex. 
xxxii.  26—29.  Deut.  xxxiii.  9.) 
His  descendants  are  called 
Levites.  (See  Levites,  anu 
Matthew.) 

LEVIATHAN.  (Job  xli.  1A 
The  Hebrew  name  of  an  ani¬ 
mal  minutely  described  in 
this  chapter,  but  not  known 
to  modern  naturalists.  The 
description  answers  most  near¬ 
ly  to  the  crocodile.  Probably 
he  was  thb  monster  of  the  sea, 
as  behemoth,  described  in  the 
preceding  chapter,  was  the- 
monsleroftheland.  Theobject 
of  the  sacred  writer  evidently 
is,  to  represent  to  us  an  ex¬ 
ceedingly  strong  and  intracta¬ 
ble  animal,  utterly  beyond  the 
reach  and  control  of  man,  and 
yet  created,  preserved,  and 
destroyed  at  God’s  pleasure; 
thence  he  infers  the  weakness 
and  insignificancy  of  man,  and 
the  folly  of  his  calling  in  ques¬ 
tion  the  righteous  judgments 
I  of  God.  What  is  man,  (even 
401 


\ 


LEV 


LEV 


in  comparison  with  some  of 
the  inferior  works  of  creation,) 
that  God  should  be  mindful  of 
him  ? 

The  leviathan  is  figuratively 
mentioned  as  an  emblem  of 
strength  and  destructiveness. 
(Ps.  lxxiv.  14.  Isa.  xxvii.  1.  For 
a  fuller  description  of  this  ani¬ 
mal,  and  an  account  of  the 
various  opinions  respecting 
him,  and  illustrative  cuts,  see 


Youth’s  Friend  for  Nov.  and 
Dec.  1826,  by  Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

LEVITES.  (Ex.  iv.  14.)  All 
the  descendants  of  Levi  may 
be  comprised  underthis  name ; 
but  chiefly  those  who  were 
employed  in  the  lower  ser¬ 
vices  ir.  the  tentple,  by  which 
they  were  distinguished  from 
the  priests,  who  were  of  the 
race  of  Levi  by  Aaron,  and 
were  employed  in  h'gher  of, 


LEY 

fees.  The  Levites  were  the 
descendants  of  Levi  by  Ger- 
shom,  Kohath,  and  Merari, 
excepting  only  the  family  of 
Aaron;  for  the  children  of  Mo¬ 
ses  had  no  part  in  the  priest¬ 
hood,  and  were  only  common 
Levites.  God  chose  the  Le¬ 
vites  instead  of  the  first-born 
of  all  Israel  for  the  service  of 
his  tabernacle  and  temple. 
(Num.iii.6,  &c.)  They  assisted 
the  priests  in  the  ministrations 
of  the  temple,  and  sung  and 
played  on  instruments  in  the 
daily  services,  &c.  They  stu¬ 
died  the  law,  and  were  the  or¬ 
dinary  judges  of  the  country; 
hut  subordinate  to  the  priests. 
God  provided  for  the  subsist¬ 
ence  of  the  Levites,  by  giving 
to  them  the  tenth  of  corn,  fruit, 
and  cattle ;  but  they  paid  to 
the  priests  the  tenth  of  all  they 
received ;  and  as  the  Levites 
possessed  no  estates  in  land, 
the  tithes  which  the  priests 
thus  received  from  them  were 
considered  as  the  first-fruits 
which  they  were  to  offer  to  the 
Lord.  (Num  xviii.21— 24.)  The 
preceding  cut  shows  the  dress, 
&c.  ot  a  Levite. 

God  assigned  for  the  habita¬ 
tion  of  the  Levites  forty-eight 
cities, with  fields, pastures,  and 
gardens.  (Num.  xxxv.)  Of 
these,  thirteen  were  given  to 
the  priests,  six  of  which  were 
cities  of  refuge.  (Josh,  xx.7— 9; 
xxi.  19,  &c.)  While  the  Le¬ 
vites  were  actually  employed 
in  the  temple,  they  were  sup¬ 
ported  out  of  the  provisions 
kept  in  store  there,  and  out 
of  the  daily  offerings.  (See 
Deut.  xii.  18,  19;  xviii.  6—8.) 

The  Levites  were  divided 
into  different  classes ;  the  Ger- 
shomites,  Kohaihites,  Merar- 
ites,  and  the  Aaronites,  or 
priests;  to  each  of  which 
were  assigned  specified  du¬ 
ties.  (Num.  iii.  14,  &c.)  They 
were  not  to  enter  upon  their 
service  at  the  tabernacle  till 
they  were  twenty-five  years 


LIB 

of  age.  ‘‘(Num.  viii.  24.)  But 
David  fixed  the  time  of  service 
at  twenty  years.  The  priests 
and  Levites  waited,  by  turns 
weekly  in  the  temple.  (IChron. 
xxiii.  24.  2Chron.  xxiii.  4— 8 
xxxi.  17.  Ezra  iii.  8.) 

There  is  much  of  deep  inte¬ 
rest  in  the  history,  office,  &c. 
of  this  order  of  Jewish  eccle¬ 
siastics;  for  a  particular  ac¬ 
count  of  which  see  Biblical 
Antiquities,  by  Am.  S.  S. 
Union,  vol.  ii.  ch.  iv.  §  1  and  2. 

LEVITICUS,  book  of,  the 
third  book  of  the  Bible,  wa^ 
written  by  Mdses,  and  con¬ 
tains  twenty-seven  chapters, 
divided  into  four  principal  sec¬ 
tions,— (1.)  The  laws  concern¬ 
ing  sactifices;  (2.)  The  conse¬ 
cration  of  the  high-priests;  (3.) 
Purification,  &c.  (4.)  Sacred 

festivals.  It  is  called  Levili 
cus,  because  the  Levites  were 
the  divinely  appointed  minis¬ 
ters  by  whom  these  sacred 
services  were  dn  part  con¬ 
ducted. 

It  contains,  also,  many  of  the 
laws  by  which  the  civil  depart- 
nientfpf  the  government  was 
to  be  administered,  besides 
many  remarkable  prophecies. 
(See  Union  Questions,  vol. 
iv.  less,  xii.,  and  Teacher’s 
Assistant  in  the  use  of  this 
volume,  pp.  119—131,  both  by 
Am.  S.  S.  Uniun.) 

LEWDNESS.  (Acts  xviii. 
14.)  This  word  is  not  used 
here  in  its  present  common 
acceptation,  but  rather  denotes 
the  daring,  flagrant  offence  ol 
one  who  is  skilled  in  deeds  ol 
iniquity,  or  an  old  offender. 

LIBERTINES.  (Acts  vi.  9.) 
A  Jewish  sect,  said  to  be  com¬ 
posed  of  such  as  were  prose¬ 
lytes  or  free  citizens  of  Rome; 
but  whether  called  libertines, 
from  some  circumstance  in 
their  history  and  -civil  rela. 
lions,  or  from  the  town  or  pro¬ 
vince  which  they  inhabited, 
is  uncertain.  They  had  a  place 
of  worship  at  Jerusalem  for 


LIC 


LIG 


the  accommodation  of  those  of 
their  sect  who  might  be  dwell¬ 
ing  in  the  city.  (See  Alexan¬ 
drians.) 

.  LIBNAH.  (Josh.  xxi.  13.)  A 
city  in  the  western  part  of  Ju¬ 
dah,  (Josh.  xv.  42,)  assigned  to 
the  priests,  and  a  city  of  refuge. 
(1  Chron.  vi.  57.)  Its  inhabit¬ 
ants  revolted  from  Joram, 
(2  Kings  viii.  22,)  and  were 
defeated  by  the  Assyrians. 
(2  Kings  xix.  8.)  Another  Lib- 
nah  was  situated  near  mount 
Sinai,  (Num.  xxxiii.  20;)  and 
a  third  in  the  country  of  Asher, 
(Josh.  xix.  26,)  called  there 
Shihor-Libnath. 

LIBYA.  (See  Lvbia.) 

LICE.  (Ex.  viii.  16  )  The 
third  plague  of  the  Egyptians 
was  the  turning  of  the  dust 
of  the  land  into  lice ;  and 
when  it  is  considered  how 
universally  the  Egyptians  ab¬ 
horred  vermin,  and  especially 
now  strongly  their  contact 
was  deprecated  by  the  priests, 
the  affliction  will  appear  the 
more  severe. 

The  Jewish  commentators, 
and  most  of  the  Christian,  ren¬ 
der  the  original  word  by  this 
term ;  and  learned  biblical 
critics  have  exhausted  their 
ingenuity  to  prove  that  this  is 
the  correct  interpretation.  The 
Septuagint  translators,  how¬ 
ever,  were  in  favour  of  gnats, 
as  the  animal  designated  by 
Moses  among  the  plagues  of 
Egypt;  and  Jerome  follows 
them  in  both  passages  where 
the  word  is  used ;  and,  in 
thingsof  this  kind,  the  ancients 
are  much  more  worthy  of  con¬ 
fidence  than  the  moderns.  The 
learned  men  above  named 
offer  several  weighty,  if  not 
conclusive,  objections  to  this 
rendering;  as,  (1.)  These  in¬ 
sects  originated,  not  from  the 
water,'  as  do  gnats  or  mos¬ 
quitoes,  but  from  the  dust. 
(2.)  They  were  on  both  men 
and  cattle,  but  gnats  do  not 
take  up  their  residence  on 


any  animal.  (3.)  The  He. 
brew  word  signifies  to  be  fixed 
or  firm,  which  does  not  agree 
to  gnats,  which  are  ever  on  the 
wing.  (4.)  And,  finally,  the 
plague  of  flies  came  afterwards, 
in  which  gnats  would  be  in¬ 
cluded.  Others,  however,  dis¬ 
sent  from  both  these  opinions, 
and  are  disposed  to  think  the 
tick  is  the  animal  here  signi¬ 
fied,  which  sticks  its  claws 
into  man  and  beast,  so  fast, 
that  it  never  lets  go  its  grasp 
but  by  leaving  them  in  the 
flesh.  In  some  parts  of  the 
United  States,  there  is  a  spe¬ 
cies  of  tick  so  small  as  to  be 
almost  invisible,  and  so  nu¬ 
merous  that  millions  are  often 
grouped  on  a  single  spire  of 
grass. 

LIEUTENANTS.  (Ezra  viii. 
36.)  A  general  name  for  depu¬ 
ties. 

LIGHT.  (Gen.  1.2-4.)  The 
element  by  means  of  which 
objects  and  their  shape,  size, 
and  colour  are  discerned.  Its 
motion  is  extremely  qui ck,  and 
is  estimated  to  be  about  ten 
millions  of  miles  in  a  minute. 

Whether  light  really  ema¬ 
nates  from  the  sun,  or  whether 
it  is  a  fluid  universally  diffused 
through  the  universe,  which 
the  sun  causes  to  radiate,  or  to 
exercise  a  vibratory  motion,  is 
not  agreed.  Light  was  created 
on  the  first  day,  although  the 
celestial  luminaries  did  not 
appear  until  the  fourth.  There 
is  every  reason  to  suppose  that 
the  sun  was  created  as  early 
as  any  part  of  the  planetary 
system.  Light  is  an  emblem 
much  used  in  the  language 
of  Scripture.  Christ  is  ofien 
called  a  light,  and  God  is  said 
to  dwell  in  light,  which  no 
man  can  approach ;  yea,  God 
is  light,  and  in  him  is  no  dai-k- 
ness  at  all.  (1  John  i.  5.)  It  is 
constantly  used  as  the  emblem 
of  knowledge  and  of  joy.  The 
holy  lives  of  Christians  are 
also  represented  by  light-  The 


LIM 

following  references  show  a  ' 
variety  of  figurative  uses  of  the 
word  : — Ps.  iv.  6,  and  xxvii.  1. 
Prov.  iv.  18.  Eccl.  xi.  7.  Isa. 
ii.  5,  and  x.  17.  Hos.  vi.  5.  Matt, 
iv.  16;  v.  16.  Eph.  v.  8.  Col. 
i.  12. 

LIGHTNING.  (2  Sam.  xxii. 
15.)  The  terrors  of  the  divine 
wrath  are  often  represented 
by  thunder  and  lightning ;  and 
thunder,  on  account  of  its  awful 
impression  on  the  minds  of 
mortals,  is  often  spoken  of  in 
*  Scripture  as  the  voice  of  the 
Lord.  (Job  xxviii.  26 ;  xxxvii. 
4,  5 ;  xxxviii.  25  ;  xl.  9 ) 

LIGN-ALOES.  (See  Aloes.) 

LIGURE.  (Ex.  xxviii.  19.) 
This  was  one  of  the  precious 
stones  in  thebreastplate.of  the 
Jewish  priests.  It  is  said  to 
have  resembled  the  carbuncle, 
but  it  is  not  among  any  class 
of  gems  known  in  modern 

or  ipnpp 

LILY.  (Matt.  vi.  28.)  A  beau- 
tiful  flower,  of  a  great  variety 
of  species,  the  most  beautiful 
of  which  are  found  in  eastern 
countries,  and  are  often  men¬ 
tioned  by  travellers.  Their 
gorgeous  appearance  is  alluded 
to  in  the  passage  above  cited, 
as  is  also  the  fact  that  the  dry 
stalks  were  used  as  luel. 

In  Sol.  Song  ii.  1,  reference 
is  probably  made  to  some  spe¬ 
cies  of  the  lily  that  erew  spon¬ 
taneously  in  the  fields,  and 
was  seldom  admired  because 
seldom  noticed ;  and  in  Sol. 
Song  v.  13,  reference  is  sup¬ 
posed  to  be  had  to  the  Persian 
lily,  within  whose  flower-cup 
is  found  a  collection  of  fluid 
not  unlike  myrrh.  The  lily 
afforded  a  pattern  for  much 
of  the  ornamental  work  of  the 
temple.  (1  I#ngs  vii.  2  Chron. 
iv.) 

LIME.  (Isa.  xxxiii.  12.)  A 
well  known  substance, obtain¬ 
ed  by  burninglimestone, bones, 
shells,  &c.,  and  used  for  plas¬ 
ter  or  the  cement  of  brick¬ 
work,  & c.  It  is  inferred  from 


LIO 

the  above  passage,  and  from 
Amos  ii.  1,  that  the  modern 
mode  of  manufacturing  this 
article  was  known  to  the  an¬ 
cients.  Untempered  mortar  is 
that  which  .is  so  imperfectly 
or  unskilfully  mixed  that  it 
cannot  be  worked.  (Ezelt. 
xiii.  10,  11.)  It  is  by  no  means 
certain  that  lime  was  a  com¬ 
ponent  part  of  the  plaster  men¬ 
tioned  Deut.  xxvii.  2. 

LINEAGE.  (Luke  ii.  4.)  Fa¬ 
mily  or  race. 

LINEN.  (Lev.  xiii.  47.)  A 
cloth  made  of  flax.  It  was 
much  valued  and  used  in 
ancient  as  it  is  in  modern 
times.  Fine  white  linen  is, 
in  Scripture,  the  emblem  of 
innocence,  or  moral  purity. 
(Rev.  xv.  6.) 

The  best  linen  was  ancient¬ 
ly  made  in  Egypt,  as  their 
country  afforded  the  finest 
flax,  (Prov.  vii.  16;)  but,  it  is 
said,  the  most  of  their  linen 
was  coarse ;  and  Solomon,  it 
seems,  bought  linen-yarn  in 
Egypt.  (1  Kings  x.  28.)  It  is 
supposed  that  linen  was  an¬ 
ciently  used  for  writing  on, 
and  the  letters  formed  with  a 
pencil. 

This  cloth,  so  celebrated  in 
ancient  limes,  is  still  found 
wrapped  around  mummies, 
and  appears  to  be  of  the  qua¬ 
lity  of  the  common  cotton 
sheeting.  (See  Flax.) 

LINES.  (Ps.xVi.6.)  This  ex¬ 
pression  refers  to  the  mode  o-f 
measuring  land  with  a  cord  or 
line,  and  is  the  same  as  if  it  was 
said,  1  My  portion  is  in  a  plea¬ 
sant  place.’  (See  Measures.) 

LION.  (Gen.  xlix.  9.)  A  wild 
and  ferocious  animal,  too  well 
known  to  require  particular 
description.  Lions  formerly 
inhabited  the  marshy  banks 
of  the  Jordan,  and  when  driven 
'hence  by  the  annual  freshet, 
were  much  enraged.  (Jer. 
xl ix.  19;  1-  44.)  Figurative 
allusions  to  the  qualities  and 
habits  of  this  animal  abound 
4Uo 


LOC 

In  the  Bible,  but  are  so  obvious 
in  their  application  that  they 
need  not  be  explained,  in 
the  Hebrew  there  are  several 
different  names  for  the  lion, 
expressing  the  differences  in 
li  is  age  and  character,  as,  the 
lion's  whelp ,  (Deut.  xycxiii.  22. 
Ezek.  xix.  2 ;)  the  young  lion, 
Ps.  xxxiv.  10 ;  xci.  13.  H03. 
v.  14 ;)  the  grown  and  vigorous 
lion.  (Num.  xxiii.  24.  2Sam. 
xvii.  10.  Nah.  ii.  11, 12.)  For 
beautiful  engravings  of  the  lion 
and  a  minute  description,  see 
art.  Lion  in  Nat.  Hist,  op  the 
Bible,  and  Portfolio  of  Ani¬ 
mals,  pp.  1 — 4,  both  by  Am.  S. 
S.  Union.) 

LIPS.  (Lev.  xiii.  45.)  This 
word  has  various  peculiar  sig¬ 
nifications  in  the  Scriptures: 

Unclean  lips  (Isa.  vi.  5) 
are  lips  polluted  by  sinful 
words. 

Calves  of  our  lips.  (See 
Calves.) 

Burning  lips.  (Prov.  xxvi. 
23.)  Lips  through  which  the 
expressions  of  malice,  envy, 
and  other  malignant  passions 
are  continually  passing,  (Acts 
ix.  1 ;)  or,  as  it  is  oftener  inter¬ 
preted,  burning  with  false  pro¬ 
fessions  of  piety  and  friend¬ 
ship;  as  the  potsherd,  covered 
with  silver  dross,  appears  with 
burning  brightness,  though  it 
is  in  truth  but  a  potsherd. 

Covering  the  Lii?  (Ezek. 
xxiv.22)  or  chin  with  the  outer 
garment  was  a  lonen  of  mourn¬ 
ing. 

LIZARD.  (Lev.  xi.  30.)  It 
is  quite  uncertain  what  spe¬ 
cies  of  the  animal  known  to 
modern  naturalists  by  this 
name  is  intended  by  the  sa¬ 
cred  writers.  The  original 
would  indicate  that  which 
adheres  closely  to  the  earth. 
It  was  unclean  by  the  cere¬ 
monial  law. 

LOCK.  (Judg.  iii.23.)  The 
doors  of  the  ancient  Hebrews 
were  secured  by  bars  of  wood 
or  iron,  though  the  latter  were 


LOC 

almost  entirely  appropriated 
to  the  entrance  of  fortresses, 
prisons,  and  towns.  Thus  we 
find  it  mentioned  in  1  Kings 
iv.  13,  as  something  remark¬ 
able  concerning  Bashan,  that 
there  were  threescore  great 
cities,  having  walls  and  bra¬ 
zen  bars.  See  also  Isa.  xlv.  2. 
These  were  almost  the  only 
locks  known  in  early  times, 
and  they  were  furnished  with 
a  large  and  clumsy  key,  which 
was  applied  to  the  bar  through 
an  orifice  from  the  outside,  by 
meqns  of  which  the  bar  or  bolt 
was  slipped  forward  as  in 
modern  locks.  There  were 
smaller  contrivances  for  inner 
doors,  (Judg.  lii.  24,)  and  pro¬ 
bably  projecting  pieces  by 
which  to  shove  the  boll  with 
the  hand.  (Sol.  So.  v.  4, 5.  See 
Dwellings,  Key.) 

LOCUST.  (Nah.  ii  .  15.)  An 
insect  of  the  grasshopper  spe¬ 
cies,  remarkable  for  numbers 
and  voraciousness,  and  hence 
one  of  the  most  dreadful 
scourges  of  eastern  countries. 
The  eighth  plague  upon  Pha 
raoh  was  in  the  form  of  locusts, 
(Ex.  x.  4 — 15.  Ps.  lxxviii.  46; 
cv.  34,)  and  they  are  frequently 
alluded  to  as  instruments  of 
divine  judgment.  (Deut.  xxviii. 
38—42.  llungsviii.  37. 2Chron. 
vi.  28.)  Many  facts  have  been 
related  by  travellers  and  his¬ 
torians  of  veracity,  to  show  the 
immensity  of  the  numbers  of 
locusts  which  have  been  ob¬ 
served  to  pass  over  some  coun¬ 
tries.  In  873,  in  Germany, 
clouds  of  locusts  came  from 
the  east,  and  continued  to 
darken  the  air  for  two  months; 
and  in  one  hour  would  con¬ 
sume  every  green  thing  on  a 
hundred  acres  of  land;  and 
when  driven  back  into  the 
sea  by  the  wind,  they  occa¬ 
sioned  a  dreadful  pestilence. 
Even  the  heathen  viewed  the 
locusts  as  a  dreadful  judg¬ 
ment  from  heaven.  Pliny 
says,  “  Tljs  plague  is  consi- 


LOC 

dered  a  manifestation  of  the 
wrath  of  the  gods;  by  their 
number  they  darken  the  sun, 
and  the  nations  view  them 
with  anxious  surprise;  their 
strength  is  unfailing,  so  that 
they  cross  oceans,  and  pervade 
immense  tracts  of  land.  They 
cover  the  harvest  with  a  dread¬ 
ful  cloud ;  their  very  touch  de- 
stroying  the  fruits  of  the  earth, 
and  their  bite  utterly  consum¬ 
ing  every  thing.”  The  cele¬ 
brated  traveller  Volney  un- 
designedly  illustrates  the  sa¬ 
cred  Scriptures  in  relation  to 
this  plague,  as  he  does  respect¬ 
ing  many  other  things  :  “  Sy¬ 
ria,  as  Egypt  and  Persia,”  says 
he,  “  and  almost  all  the  south 
of  Asia,  is  subject  toa  calamity 
not  less  dreadful  than  that  of 
volcanoes  and  earthquakes, 
I  have  mentioned ;  I  mean 
those  clouds  of  locusts  so  often 
mentioned  by  travellers.  The 
quantity  of  these  insects  is 
incredible  to  all  who  have  not 
themselves  witnessed  their 
astonishing  numbers.  The 
whole  earth  is  covered  with 
them  for  the  space  of  several 
leagues.  The  noise  they  make 
in  browsing  on  the  trees  may 
be  heard  at  a  great  distance. 
The  Tartars  themselves  are 
less  destructive  than  these  lit¬ 
tle  animals.  One  would  ima- 
gi  ne  that  lire  had  followed  their 
progress.  Wherever  their 
myriads  spread,  the  verdure 
«f  the  country  disappears: 
tree3  and  plants  stripped  of 
their  leaves  give  the  appear¬ 
ance  of  winter  to  the  spring. 
When  clouds  of  them  take 
their  flight,  the  heavens  are 
literally  obscured  by  them.” 
The  prophet  Joel,  under  a 
figurative  piediction  of  the 
invasion  of  Judea  by  the  Chal¬ 
deans,  describes  with  wonder¬ 
ful  exactness  the  movements 
and  depredations  of  this  insect. 
(Joel  ii.  1—11.)  It  is  supposed 
that  the  palmer-worm,  canker- 
tcorm,  and  caterpillar,  (Joel  i. 


LOO 

4,)  are  only  various  species  of 
the  locust.  To  illustrate  the 
above  passage,  the  following 
extract  from  the  journal  of  an 
eastern  traveller  is  in  point: — 

“  The  locusts,  properly  so 
called,  which  are  so  frequently 
mentioned  by  sacred  as  well 
as  profane  authors,  are  some¬ 
times  gregarious  beyond  ex¬ 
pression.  Those  which  I  Baw 
were  much  bigger  than  our 
common  grasshoppers,  and  had 
brown  spotted  wings,  with  legs 
and  bodies  of  a  bright  yellow. 
Their  first  appearance  was 
towards  the  latter  end  of 
March,  the  wind  having  been 
some  time  from  the  south. 
In  the  middle  of  April,  their 
numbers  were  so  vastly  in¬ 
creased,  that  in  the  heat  of  the 
day  they  formed  themselves 
into  large  and  numerous 
swarms,  flew  in  the  air  like 
a  succession  of  clouds,  and,  as 
the  prophet  Joel  expresses  it, 
they  darkened  the  sun.  When 
the  wind  blew  briskly,  so  that 
these  swarms  were  crowded 
by  others,  or  thrown  one  tipon 
another,  we  had  a  lively  idea 
of  that  comparison  of  the 
psalmist,  (Ps.  cix.  23,)  of  being 
tossed  up  and  dawn  as  the 
locust.  In  the  month  of  May, 
when  the  ovaries  of  these  in¬ 
sects  were  ripe  and  turgid, 
each  of  these  swarms  began 
gradually  to  disappear,  and 
retired  into  the  Metijiah  and 
other  adjacent  plains,  where 
they  deposited  their  eggs. 
These  were  no  sooner  hatched, 
in  June,  than  each  of  the 
broods  collected  itself  into  a 
compact  body  of  an  eighth  of 
a  mile  square,  and  marching 
afterwards  directly  forward 
towards  the  sea,  they  let  no¬ 
thing  escape  them;  eating  up 
every  thing  that  was  green 
and  juicy,  not  only  the  lesser 
kinds  of  vegetables,  but  the 
vine  likewise,  the  fig  tree,  the 
pomegranate,  the  palm,  and 
the  apple  tree,  even  all  the 


LOC 

trees  of  the  field,  (Joel  1.  12  ;) 
in  doing  which,  they  kept  their 
tanks  like  men  of  war,  climb¬ 
ing  over,  as  they  advanced, 
every  tree  or  wall  that  was 
in  their  way;  nay,  they  en¬ 
tered  into  our  very  houses  and 
bed-chambers  like  thieves. 
The  inhabitants,  to  stop  their 
progress,  made  a  variety  -  of 
pits  and  trenches  all  over  their 
fields  and  gardens,  which  they 
filled  with  water;  or  else  they 
heaped  up  therein  heath,  stub¬ 
ble,  and  such  like  combustible 
matter,  which '  were  severally 
set  on  fire  upon  the  approach 
of  the  locusts.  But  this  was 
all  to  no  purpose,  for  thetrench- 
es  were  quickly  filled  up,  and 
the  fires  extinguished  by  infi¬ 
nite  swarms  succeeding  one 
another,  whilst  the  front  was 
regardless  of  danger,  and  the 
rear  pressed  on  so  close,  that  a 
retreat  was  altogether  impos¬ 
sible.  A  day  or  two  after  one 
of  these  broods  was  in  motion, 
others  were  already  hatched 
to  march  and  glean  after  them, 
gnawing  off  the  very  bark  and 
the  young  branches  of  such 
trees  as  had  before  escaped 
with  the  loss  only  of  their  fruit 
and  foliage.  So  justly  have 
they  been  compared  by  the 
prophet  to  a  great  arnuj ;  who 
further  observes,  that  the  land 
is  as  the  garden  of  Eden  before 
them ,  and  behind  them  a  deso¬ 
late  wilderness.” 

Another  says,  “  While  seated 
in  our  tents  about  noon,  we 
heard  a  very  unusual  noise, 
that  sounded  like  the  rustling 
of  a  great  wind  at  a  distance. 
On  looking  up,  we  perceived 
an  immense  cloud,  here  and 
there  semi-transparent, inother 
parts  quite  black,  that  spread 
itself  all  over  the  sky,  and  at 
intervals  shadowed  the  sun. 
These  we  soon  found  to  be 
locusts,  whole  swarms  of  them 
falling  about  us.  These  were 
of  a  red  colour,  and  1  should 
suppose  are  the  red  predatory 


LOC 

locusts,  one  of  the  Egyptian 
plagues;  they  are  also  the 
great  grasshopper,  mentioned 
by  the  prophet  Nahum ;  no 
doubt  in  contradistinction  to 
the  lesser.  (Nah.  iii.  17.)  As 
soon  as  they  appeared,  the 
gardeners  and  husbandmen 
made  loud  shoqts,  to  prevent 
their  settling  on  their  grounds. 
It  is  to  this  custom  that  the 
prophet  Jeremiah,  perhaps, 
alludes,  when  he  says,  Surely 
I  will  fill  thee  with  men,  as 
with  caterpillars,  and  they 
shall  lift  up  a  shout  against 
thee.  (Jer.  li.  14.)  They  seem¬ 
ed  to  be  impelled  by  one  conv 
mon  instinct,  and  moved  in 
one  body,  which  had  the  ap¬ 
pearance  of  being  organized 
by  a  leader.  (Joel  li.  7.)  Their 
strength  mnst  be  very  great, 
if  we  consider  what  immense 
journeys  they  have  been  knowD 
to  make.” 

Some  species  of  the  locust 
are  eaten  at  this  day  in  east¬ 
ern  countries,  and  are  even 
esteemed  a  delicacy  when 
properly  cooked.  (Comp.  Lev. 
xi.  22.  filatt.  iii.  4.)  After  tear¬ 
ing  off  the  legs  and  wings,  and 
taking  out  the  entrails,  they 
stick  them  in  long  rows  u|on 
wooden  Spits,  roast  them  at  the 
fire,  and  then  proceed  to  de¬ 
vour  them  with  great  zest. 
There  are  also  other  ways  of 
preparing  them  For  exaqi- 
ple :  they  cook  them  and  dress 
them  in  oil;  or,  having  dried 
them,  they  pulverize  them, 
and  when  other  food  is  scarce, 
make  bread  of  the  meal.  The 
Bedouins  pack  them  with  salt, 
in  close  masses,  which  they 
Carry  in  their  leathern  sacks. 
From  these  they  cut  slices  as 
they  may  need  them.  It  is 
singular  that  even  learne-d 
men  have  suffered  themselves 
to  hesitate  about  undersland- 
I  mg  these  passages  of  the  lite¬ 
ral  locust,  when  the  fact  that 
|  these  are  eaten  hy  the  orient- 
i  als  is  so  abundantly  proved 


LOC 

by  the  concurrent  testimony  | 
of  travellers.  One  of  them 
Bays,they  are  brought  to  mar¬ 
ket  on  strings  in  all  the  cities 
of  Arabia,  and  that  he  saw  an 
Arab  on  mount  Sumara,  who 
had  collected  a  sack  full  of 
them.  They  are  prepared  in 
different  ways.  An  Arab  in 
Egypt,  of  whom  he  requested 
that  he  would  immediately  eat 
locusts  in  his  presence,  threw 
them  upon  the  glowing  coals  ; 
and  after  he  supposed  they 
were  roasted  enough,  he  took 
them  by  the  legs  and  head, 
and  devoured  the  remainder 
at  one  mouthful.  When  the 
Arabs  have  them  in  quantities, 
they  roast  or  dry  them  in  an 
oven,  or  boil  them  and  eat 
them  with  salt.  The  Arabs 
in  the  kingdom  of  Morocco 
boil  the  locusts;  and  the  Be 
douins  eat  locusts,  which  are 
collected  in  great  quantities  in 
the  beginning  of  April,  when 
they  are  easily  caught.  After 
having  been  roasted  a  little 
upon  the  iron  plate  on  which 
bread  is  baked,  they  are  dried 
in  the  sun,  and  then  put  into 
large  sacks,  with  the  mixture 
of  a  little  salt.  They  are  never 
served  up  as  a  dish,  but  every 
one  takes  a  handful  of  them 
when  hungry. 

In  the  book  of  Revelation 
we  have  a  literal  description 
of  the  symbolical  locust,  which 
gives  us  a  terrific  impression 
of  their  power,  and  which 
is  curiously  illustrated  by  a 
passage  from  an  eastern  tra¬ 
veller.  An  Arab  from  Bagdad, 
he  says,  compared  the  head 
of  the  locust  to  that  of  the 
horse;  its  breast  to  that  of 
the  lion ;  its  feet  to  those  of  the 
camel ;  its  body  to  that  of  the 
serpent ;  its  tail  to  that  of  the 
scorpion ;  and  so  of  other  parts. 
In  like  manner,  the  Italians 
still  call  locusts  little  horses ; 
and  the  Germans  call  them 
hay-horses.  (For  cut  and  de¬ 
scription,  see  Youth’s  Friend, 


LOK 

for  October,  1828,  and  Bedouin 
Arabs,  pp.  33 — 13.  65;  both  by 
Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

LOD.  (See  Lydda.) 

LO-DEBAR.  (2  Sam.  ix.  4; 
xvii.  27.)  A  place  in  the  tribe 
of  Gad,  not  far  from  Mahana- 
im,  north  of  the  Jabhok.  Here 
dwelt  Machir  the  Ammonite, 
who  assisted  David  when  he 
retired  from  Absalom’s  usurpa¬ 
tion,  in  whose  house  lived  Me- 
phibosheth,  Jonathan’s  lame 
son,  who  sat  at  David’s  table, 
and  received  from  him  all  that 
pertained  to  Saul  and  his 
house.  Some  suppose  it  to 
be  the  same  with  Debir.  (Josh, 
xiii.  26.) 

LODGE.  (See  Garden.) 

LOG.  (See  Measures.) 

LOINS.  (1  Kings  xviit.  460 
The  dress  of  the  oriental  na¬ 
tions  being  loose,  it  was  neces¬ 
sary  when  they  were  travel¬ 
ling  or  working,  to  gird  up 
their  garments, and  fasten  them 
about theloins;  (see Clothes;) 
hence  the  expression  is  figura¬ 
tively  used  (1  Pet.  i.  13)  to 
denote  restraint  or  abstinence 
from  worldly  cares,  thoughts, 
and  pursuits,  whereby  the  soul 
would  be  entangled  or  hin¬ 
dered. 

LOOKING-GLASS.  (Job 
xxxvii.  18.)  What  is  thus 
translated  was  in  fact  a  plate 
of  metal,  polished  so  finely  as 
to  produce  a  very  perfect  re¬ 
flection  of  objects. 

LORD.  (Gen.  xxxix.  2.) 
This  word,  though  sometimes 
applied  as  a  term  of  reverence 
and  respect,  usually  denotes 
the  Supreme  Being ;  and  in 
this  last  sense  it  is  applied  in¬ 
discriminately  to  the  Father 
and  the  Son,  (Acts  x.  36.  Rev. 
xix.  16,)  especially  in  the  epis¬ 
tles  of  Paul.  In  the  common 
English  translation  of  the  Bi¬ 
ble,  the  word  LORD,  when  it 
stands  for  Jehovah,  is  printed 
in  capitals. 

Lord’s-day,  (Rev.  i.  10,)  or 
the  Christian  Sabbath,  was  dis- 
409 


LOT 

tinguished  by  this  name  from 
the  Sunday  of  the  Pagans,  and 
the  Sabbath,  of  the  Jews.  The 
early  Christian  writers  gene¬ 
rally  made  this  distinction  ; 
and  the  Christian  emperors 
used  the  term  Lord’s-dav,  or 
Sunday,  according  to  the  per¬ 
sons  they  addressed,  i.  e.  whe¬ 
ther  they  were  Pagans  or  Chris¬ 
tians  Lord’s-day  w  as  the  fa¬ 
vourite  name  of  the  day  in  the 
times  of  the  apostles  and  first 
Christians;  and  Sunday  was 
used  only  in  accommodation 
to  the  popular  usage  of  the 
Pagans  around  them.  (See 
Feast.) 

Lord’s  supper.  (1  Cor.  xi. 
20.)  The  night  preceding  his 
crucifixion,  the  Lord  Jesus, 
after  eating  the  paschal  sup¬ 
per  with  his  disciples,  present¬ 
ed  each  of  them  with  a  portion 
of  broken  bread,  and  a  portion 
of  the  fruit  of  the  vine;  and 
declared  to  them  that  as  often 
as  they  should  eat  of  that  bread 
and  drink  of  that  cup  in  re¬ 
membrance  of  him,  they  would 
show  forth  or  illustrate  his 
death  and  their  faith  in  its 
atoning  efficacy,  till  he  should 
come.  The  great  majority  of 
Christians  hold  this  ordinance 
to  be  binding  on  the  church 
till  the  end  of  the  world  ;  and 
that  it  is  the  privilege  and  duty 
of  all  the  disciples  of  Christ  to 
observe  it.  (See  Communion.) 

LOT.  1.  (Gen.  xi.  31;  xix. 
37,38.)  The  son  of  Haran,  and 
nephew  of  Abraham.  (See 
Abraham.) 

2.  A  portion  or  share  of  any 
thing,  particularly  an  inherit¬ 
ance.  (Josh.  xv.  1.  Ps.  cxxv. 

3.  Isa.  xvii.  14 ;  lvii.  6.  Acts 
viii.  21.) 

3.  (Prov.  xviii.  18.)  A  me¬ 
thod  used  to  determine  chances 
or  preferences,  or  to  decide  a 
debate.  The  decision  by  lot 
was  often  resorted  to  in  former 
times,  but  always  with  the 
strictest  reference  to  the  inter¬ 
position  of  God ;  as  in  the  1 


LOT 

choice  of  the  apostle  Matthias, 
(Acts  i.  26,)  and  in  the  cases 
of  Saul  and  Jonathan,  and 
Jonah  and  his  companions,  to 
determine  who  had  offended 
God,  (1  Sam.  xiv.  41, 42.  Jonah 
i.  7;)  and  in  the  division  of  the 
promised  land  amon«  the  tribes 
of  Israel,  the  use  of  the  lot  was 
expressly  commanded  by  God 
himself,  it  being  understood 
that  the  extent  of  territory 
should  be  proportioned  to  the 
population  of  each  tribe.  (Num. 
xxvi.  55.)  So  the  selection  of 
the  scape-goat  was  to  be  deter¬ 
mined  by  lot.  (Lev.  xvi.  8.) 
Property  was  divided  in  the 
same  way.  (Ps.  xxii.  18.  Malt, 
xxvii.  35.)  The  orders  of  the 
priests  and  their  daily  service 
were  also  assigned  by  lot. 
(1  Chron.  xxiv.  xxv.) 

As  to  the  manner  of  casting 
lots,  we  have  no  certain  infor¬ 
mation.  It  is  supposed  by 
some  that  the  stones  or  marks 
which  were  used  in  determin¬ 
ing  the  lot  were  thrown  toge¬ 
ther  into  the  lap  or  fold  of  a 
garment,  or  into  an  urn  or 
vase,  and  that  the  person 
holding  them  shook  them  vio¬ 
lently,  so  that  there  should 
be  a  perfect  mingling  of  the 
whole  contents,  to  prevent  all 
preference  by  the  hand  of  him 
who  should  draw  ;  so  that  the 
passage,  Prov.  xvi.  33,  is  para¬ 
phrased  thus:  ‘In  a  lot-vase 
the  lots  are  shaken  in  all  di¬ 
rections  ;  nevertheless,  from 
the  Lord  is  the  whole  decision 
or  judgment.’ 

The  use  of  lots,  without  a 
distinct  reference  to  the  provi¬ 
dence  of  God  in  determining 
the  matter, or  in  any  case  where 
the  solution  of  doubt  is  possi¬ 
ble  in  any  other  way,  is  con¬ 
demned,  as  much  by  reason  as 
by  religion.  A  case  can  scarce¬ 
ly  be  imagined  at  the  present 
day,  in  which  a  reference  of 
any  matter  to  a  decision  by 
lot  would  be  justifiable.  At 
any  rate,  recourse  to  the  use 
410 


LUD 

LUK 

of  lots,  or  any  similar  mode  of 
determining  rights  or  claims, 
must  always  imply  the  most 
solemn  appeal  to  the  disposer 
of  all  events,  or  an  entire  and 
criminal  disregard  and  denial 
of  his  particular  providence. 

Lot’s  wife.  (Luke  xvii.  32.) 
The  allusion  in  this  passage  to 
the  history  of  Lot's  wife,  refers 
either  to  the  attempt  to  re¬ 
turn,  (which  some  suppose  she 
made,)  or  to  the  mere  looking 
back  with  a  desire  to  return. 
For  her  offence,  it  is  said  she 
was  turned  into  a  pillar  of  sail. 
She  was  probably  made  a  mo¬ 
nument  of  the  divine  displea¬ 
sure,  but  in  what  precise-form 
is  not  known.  (See  Salt.) 

LOVE.  (1  John  iv.  8.  16.) 
This  term  signifies  one  of  the 
constituent  principles  of  our 
nature;  and  in  the  perfect 
exercise  of  it  is  comprehended 
the  whole  of  our  duty  to  God 
and  to  our  fellow-creatures. 
(Matt.  xxii.  37—40.  Rom.  xiii. 
8.  10.  Gal.  v.  14.  James  u.  8.) 
Hence  it  evidently  compre- 
hends  all  holiness  of  heart  and 
life.  The  highest  and  most 
glorious  display  of  the  divine 
character  which  has  ever  been 
made  to  man,  is  the  love  of 
God  in  Jesus  Christ,  (Rom.  v. 
8,)  and  the  great  principle 
and  fruit  of  both  faith  and  obe¬ 
dience  consist  in  the  posses¬ 
sion  and  exercise  of  love. 
(John  xiii.  34,  35.) 

LUBIM.  (SeeLYBiA.) 

LUCIFER.  (Isa.  xiv.  12.) 
This  word,  signifying  light 
giver ,  occurs  but  once  in  our 
Bible,  and  is  then  applied  to 
the  king  of  Babylon  to  indicate 
his  glory,  as  that  of  a  mornin| 
star,  or,  figuratively,  a  son  of 
the  morning.  Tertullian  ^nd 
some  others  suppose  thc  pas¬ 
sage  to  relate  to  the  fall  of 
Satan ;  and  hence  the  term  is 
now  usually  applied  in  that 
way;  though,  as  it  seems,  with¬ 
out  sufficient  warrant 

BUI).  (Geu  x.  22.)  A  son 

of  Shem,  from  whom  the  Lydi¬ 
ans  of  Asia  Minor  are  suppused 
to  have  descended. 

LUDIM.  (Gen.  x.  13.)  Son  of 
Mizraim,  whose  posterity,  also 
called  Lydians,  (Jer.  xlvi.  9,) 
settled  on  the  continent  of 
Africa,  as  we  infer  from  the 
connexion  in  which  they  and 
their  country  are  mentioned, 
Isa.  lxvi.  19.  Ezek.  xxvii.  10; 
xxx.  5.  Their  precise  location 
is  unknown. 

LUKE,  (Col.  iv.  14,)  or  LU¬ 
CAS.  (Phile.  24.)  The  author 
of  one  of  the  gospels,  and  also 
of  the  book  of  Acts.  He  was  a 
physician,  (Col.  iv.  14 ;)  but 
his  parentage,  nativity,  and 
precise  connexion  with  our 
Saviour  and  his  apostles,  are 
uncertain.  It  is  evident  that 
he  was  well  acquainted  with 
every  thing  relative  to  our 
Saviour,  and  to  his  ministry 
upon  earth.  He  wrote  his 
Gospel  in  Achaia,  about  A.  D. 
63,  and  the  Acts  of  the  Apos¬ 
tles  within  a  year  or  two 
afterwards.  Both  these  books 
were  dedicated  to  Theophilus, 
a  distinguished  Christian,  and 
supposed  to  have  been  an 
Egyptian.  He  travelled  much 
with  Paul,  and  was  with  him 
on  his  first  visit  to  Rome, 
whither  he  went  as  a  prisoner. 
(2  Tim.  iv.  11.  Phile.  24.)  By 
some  he  is  thought  to  have 
been  a  Greek,  ana  by  others  a 
Syrian,  and  that  he  was  con¬ 
verted  at  Antioch,  from  which 
place  he  commenced  his  tra¬ 
vels  with  Paul.  Some  suppose 
he  suffered  martyrdom ;  but  of 
the  time  and  manner  of  his 
death  we  have  no  authentic 
information. 

Gospel  by,  contains  many 
things  which  are  not  found  in 
the  other  gospels;  among  which 
are  the  following:  the  birth  of 
John  the  Baptist;  the  Roman 
census  in  Judea.;  the  cir¬ 
cumstances  attending  Christ  .8 
birth  at  Bethlehem ;  the  vi¬ 
sion  granted  to  the  shepherds; 

411 

LUZ 

the  early  testimony  of  Simeon 
and  Anna;  Christ’s  conversa¬ 
tion  with  the  doctors  in  the 
temple  when  he  was  twelve 
years  old ;  the  parables  of  the 
good  Samaritan,  of  the  prodigal 
son,  of  the  rich  man  and  Laza¬ 
rus,  of  the  wicked  judge, and  of 
the  publican  and  Pharisee;  the 
miraculous  cure  of  the  woman 
who  had  been  bowed  down 
by  illness  eighteen  years ;  the 
cleansing  of  the  ten  lepers; 
and  the  restoring  to  life  the 
son  of  a  widow  at  Nain;  the 
account  of  Zaccheus,  and  of 
the  penitent  thief ;  and  the 
particulars  of  the  journey  to 
Emmaus.  It  is  very  satisfac¬ 
tory  that  so  early  a  writer 
as  Irenteus  has  noticed  most 
of  these  peculiarities;  which 
proves  not  only  that  St.  Luke’s 
gospel,  but  that  the  other  gos¬ 
pels  also,  are  the  same  now 
that  they  were  in  the  second 
century.  (See  Gospels.  The 
parables  and  miracles  and  ge¬ 
neral  history,  recorded  in  this 
book,  are  analyzed  in  Union 
Questions,  vol.  i.  ii.,  and  Help 
to  the  Gospels,  both  by  Am. 
S.  S.  Union.) 

LUNATIC.  (Matt,  iv.24.)  It 
was  formerly  supposed  that  the 
changes  of  the  moon  had  an 
influence  upon  certain  diseases 
of  the  mind ;  and  persons  af¬ 
fected  with  those  diseases  were 
therefore  called  lunatics ;  and 
hence,  too,  distracted  persons, 
who  are  sane  at  intervals,  are 
still  called  lunatics,  though 
the  idea  of  their  being  at  all 
under  the  influence  of  the 
moon  is  generally  regarded  as 
irrational. 

LUSTS.  1.  Unlawful  pas¬ 
sions  and  desires.  (1  Cor.  x.  6. 
1  Pet.  ii.  1 1 ;  i v.  2.  2  Pet.  i  i .  10.) 
2.  The  corruption  of  the  heart, 
which  inclines  to  evil,  and  is 
both  the  effect  and  cause  of  sin. 
(James  i.  14, 15.)  3.  The  desire 
of  food  to  sustain  life.  (Deut. 
xii,  15.) 

LUZ.  (Judg.  i.  26.)  A  city 


LYD 

in  the  land  of  the  Hittites 
built  by  a  man  of  Bethel,  who 
was  permitted  to  go  free  by  the 
Ephraimites,  as  a  reward  for 
making  known  to  them  a  se¬ 
cret  passage  into  the  town,  by 
which  they  entered  and  took 
it.  (See  Bethel.) 

LYBIA,  or  LIBYA,  (Acts  ii. 

10, )  was  anciently  among  the 
Greeks  a  general  name  for 
Africa,  but  properly  it  em¬ 
braced  only  so  much  of  Africa 
as  lay  west  of  Egypt,  on  the 
southern  coast  of  the  Mediter 
■ranean.  Profane  geographers 
call  it  Lybia  Cyrenaica,  be 
cause  Cyrene  was  its  capital. 
(See .  Cvrene.)  It  was  the 
country  oftheLubims  (2Chron. 
xii.  3)  or  Lehabim  of  the  Old 
Testament,  from  which  it  is 
supposed  to  have  derived  its 
name. 

LYCAONIA.  (Acts  xiv.  6. 

11. )  A  province  of  Asia  Minor, 
which  the  apostle  Paul  twice 
visited.  It  was  separated  from 
Phrygia  and  created  into  a 
Roman  province  by  Augustus, 
and  was  bounded  north  Dy  Ga¬ 
latia,  east  by  Cappadocia,  south 
by  Cilicia,  and  west  by  Pisidia 
and  Phrygia.  Its  chief  towns 
were  Iconium,  Derbe,  and  Lys- 
tra.  It  is  now  a  part  of  Carama- 
nia,  and  subject  to  the  Turks. 

The  speech  of  this  province 
(Acts  xiv.  11)  is  supposed  to 
have  been  either  the  old  Assy¬ 
rian  language,  or  a  corruption 
of  the  Greek. 

LYCIA.  (Acts  xxvii.  5.)  A 
south-western  province  of  Asia 
Minor,  bounded  north  by  Phry 
gia,  east  by  the  sea  and  country 
of  Pamphylia,  south  by  the  Me 
diterranean,  and  west  by  Caria 
and  the  gulf  of  Glaucus,  now 
that  part  of  Anatolia  embraced 
between  the  bays  of  Macri  and 
Satalia.  Its  chief  cities  were 
Patara  and  Myra. 

LYDDA,  (Acts  ix.  32.  38,)  or 
LOD;  in  Hebrew, Lud.  (Ezrali, 
33.)  A  city  inhabited  by  Benja- 
mites  after  the  captivity,  was  a 
412 


LYD 

few  miles  east  of  Joppa,  on  the 
way  to  Jerusalem.  Here  Peter 
curedEneasof  the  palsy.  Itwas 
burnt  by  the  Romans  in  the 
war  of  Judea;  but  was  rebuilt, 
and  called  by  the  Greeks  l)ios- 
polis,  the  city  of  Jupiter.  It  is 
now  in  ruins,  although  in  the 
twelfth  century  the  see  of  the 
Bishop  of  St.  George,  who  is 
said  to  have  suffered  martyrdom 
there  in  the  early  persecutions 
of  the  church,  and  over  whose 
grave  a  cathedral  was  erected. 

LYDIA.  1.  A  person.  fActs 
xvi.  14, 15.)  A  woman  of  Thy- 
alira,  who  dwelt  in  the  city  of 
Philippi,  in  Macedonia,  and 
was  converted  under  Paul’s 
ministry.  She  opened  her 
house  to  entertain  the  apos¬ 
tles,  constraining  them  to  par¬ 
take  of  her  hospitality. 

She  is  described  as  a  seller 
of  purple;  which  means,  either 
that  she  sold  the  colouring 
matter  or  the  fabric  already 
dyed.  (Comp.  Ezek.xxvii.  7.16. 
See  Purple.) 


LYS 

2.  A  place.  (Ezek.  xxx.  6.) 
There  was  a  celebrated  king¬ 
dom  of  Asia  Minor  known  by 
this  name, of  which  Sardis  was 
the  capital.  It  is  supposed  tc 
have  been  settled  by  the  pos¬ 
terity  of  Lud,  a  son  of  Shem 
It  had  Mysia  on  the  north. 
Phrygia  on  the  east,  Caria  on 
the  south,  and  the  Egean  Sea 
on  the  west.  It  was  once  un¬ 
der  the  dominion  of  Croesus, 
the  wealthiest  monarch  of  his 
age.  It  was  in  the  time  of  the 
apostles  a  province  of  the  Ro¬ 
man  empire.  The  Lydia  of  the 
above-cited  passage  is  supposed 
to  refer  to  a  place  or  a  people 
in  Africa.  (See  Ludim.) 

LYRE.  (See  Harp.) 

LYSANIAS.  (See  Abilene.) 

LYSIAS.  (See  Claudius.) 

LYSTRA.  (Actsxiv.6. 8.21.) 
A  city  of  Lycaonia,  where  Ti¬ 
mothy  was  circumcised,  (per¬ 
haps  born,)  and  where  Paul 
performed  a  surprising  miracle 
upon  a  man  lame  from  hie 
birth. 


M  AA 

MAACAH.  (2  Sam.  iii.  3.) 

The  daughter  of  Talmai, 
king  of  Geshur,  and  the  mo¬ 
ther  of  Absalom  and  Tamar. 
The  same  name  occurs  else¬ 
where, and  designates  different 
individuals  of  both  sexes;  as 
in  1  Kings  xv.  1,  2.  7,  8.  10,  the 
daughter  of  Abishalom,  and  the 
wife  of  Abijam,  and  the  mother 
of  king  Asa ;  in  1  Kings  ii.  39,  it 
designates  a  king  of  Gath  ;  in 
1  Chron.  xxvii.  16,  it  designates 
the  father  of  Shepliatiah ;  and 
in  Gen.  xxii.  24,  it  is  a  daughter 
of  Nahor.  In  1  Kings  xv.  1,  2, 
Maachah,  the  daughter  of  Abi¬ 
shalom,  is  called  Abijah’s  mo¬ 
ther;  and  in  2  Chron.  xiii.  2, 
Abijah’s  mother  is  said  to  have 
been  a  daughter  of  Uriel  of 
Gibeah;  and  again,  in  1  Kings 
xv.  10,  Maachah  is  called  the 
mother  of  Asa,  who  was  Abijah’s 


M  A  A 

second  son,  and  of  course  Maa¬ 
chah  was  his  grandmother,  and 
not  his  mother. 

An  attempt  has  been  made 
to  reconcile  these  apparent  in¬ 
consistencies  between  1  Kings 
xv  2,  and  2  Chron.  xiii.  2,  by 
supposing  that  different  per¬ 
sons  arelnlenued.  The  rela¬ 
tion,  it  is  said,  is  not  the  same 
in  both  cases;  that  the  king’s 
mother  was  a  title  of  dignity, 
and  not  of  consanguinity,  dis¬ 
tinguishing  her  rank  at  court, 
and  not  her  relation  to  the 
king.  Thus  Maachah,  Reho- 
boam’s  wife  and  Abishalom’s 
daughter,  (1  Kings  xv.  2,)  was 
the  natural  mother  of  Abijah, 
or  Abijam.  When  her  son, 
Abijah,  ascended  the  throne, 
the  rank  of  king’s  mother  was 
given  to  Michaiah,  the  daugh. 
ter  of  Uriel  of  Gibeah,  (2  Chron. 


MAC 

xiii.  2;>  but,  at  her  death,  that 
title  devolved  on  Maachah, 
Rehoboam’s  wife,  and  she  en¬ 
joyed  it  at  the  accession  of 
Asa,  her  grandson,  (1  Kings  xv. 
10;)  and  hence,  though  she 
was  Asa’s  grandmother,  she  is 
called,  by  her  title  of  honour, 
the  king’s  mother.  In  confirm¬ 
ation  of  this  opinion,  the  pas¬ 
sage  1  Kings  li.  19,  is  relied 
upon ;  and  it  is  also  said  that 
a  dignitary  with  such  a  title  is 
still  found  in  some  of  the  east¬ 
ern  courts.  Without  determin¬ 
ing  the  value  of  this  suggestion, 
it  is  sufficient  to  say,  that  in  a 
political  and  ecclesiastical  his¬ 
tory  nearly  3000  years  old,  it 
would  be  surprising,  (if  not 
suspicious,)  should  there  be 
found  that  accuracy  in  the  or¬ 
thography  of  proper  names, and 
the  precise  relation  of  families 
and  individuals,  whicli  would 
prevent  all  difficulty  and  con¬ 
fusion. 

MAACHAH,  or  MAACHA- 
THI.  (Deut.  iii.  14.)  A  city 
and  region  of  Syria,  east  and 
north  of  the  sources  of  the  Jor¬ 
dan,  and  not  far  from  Geshur, 
at  the  foot  of  mount  Hernton. 
The  Israelites  would  not  de¬ 
stroy  the  Maachathites,  but 
permitted  them  to  dwell  in 
the  land,  (Josh.  xiii.  13;)  and 
their  king  assisted  the  Am¬ 
monites  against  David.  (2Sam. 
x.  8.)  The  lot  of  the  half-tribe 
of  Manasseh,  beyond  Jordan, 
extended  to  this  country.  (Josh, 
xii.  5.) 

MAALEH-AKRABBIM. 
(See  Akrabbjm.) 

MACEDONIA.  (Acts  xvi. 
9.)  An  extensive  district  of 
Greece,  west  of  the  Egean  Sea, 
south  of  Thrace,  and  north  of 
Thessaly,  supposed'  to  have 
been  settled  originally  by  the 
posterity  of  Chittim,  the  eon 
of  Javan.  It  became  celebrat¬ 
ed  in  the  days  of  Philip  and 
his  son  Alexander  the  Great, 
tinder  whose  reigns  Greece 
was  subduid,  and  Macedonia 


MAC 

became  one  of  the  most  power- 
ful  nations  of  antiquity.  Ma¬ 
cedonia  received  the  gospel 
before  any  other  part  of  Europe. 
It  was  at  that  time  a  Roman 
province;  the  Romans,  under 
Paulus  Emilius,  having  con¬ 
quered  the  country,  afterwards 
divided  the  whole  of  Greece 
and  Macedonia  into  two  great 
provinces,  which  they  called 
Macedonia  and  Achaia.  (2  Cor. 
ix.  2.)  It  remained  a  Roman 
province  for  nearly  six  hun¬ 
dred  years,  when  it  was  con¬ 
quered  by  the  Turks,  and  is 
still  subject  to  them.  Among 
its  chief  cities  were  Philippi 
and  Thessalonica. 

A  sketch  of  the  apostle  Paul’s 
missionary  tour  through  Mace¬ 
donia,  in  the  words  of  a  modern 
missionary  travelling  over  the 
same  ground,  is  not  inappro¬ 
priate  to  this  work  and  this 

artj  0  • 

Salonica ,  (Sabbath,)  May  1-8, 
1834. — W e  stopped  in  our  room. 
In  the  morning  we  read  toge¬ 
ther  the  history  of  Paul’s  visit 
here,  and  his  two  epistles  to 
the  Christian  church  of  this 
place,  (Thessalonians,)  whose 
spiritual  father  he  was.  How 
much  more  do  we  feel,  and  re¬ 
alize  the  contents  of  the  Bible, 
especially  of  its  sacred  history, 
when  we  read  on  the  spot! 
How  lively  every  circum¬ 
stance,  every  link  in  the 
chain,  appears  there !  Paul 
and  Silas  start  from  Antie- 
chia.  It  is  Paul’s  second  mis¬ 
sionary  lour.  At  Derbe  young 
Timotheus  joins  them.  They 
pass  through  Phrygia  and  Ga¬ 
latia,  into  Mysia,  purposing  to 
go  to  Bithynia ;  but  the  Spirit 
suffered  them  not.  They  turn 
aside  to  Troas.  Paul  is  di¬ 
vinely  instructed  to  proceed 
to  Europe  !  What  an  eventful 
moment !  How  worthy  of  a 
divine  revelation !  Then  Luke, 
a  pious  physician,  unites  with 
the  missionary  band ;  for  it  is  at 
this  period  that  Luke  begins  to 
414 


MAC 

speak  in  the  first  person  plural. 
(Acts  xvi.  11.)  His  profession 
was  evidently  calculated  to 
give  him  access  to  the  people, 
where  the  rest  of  the  mission¬ 
aries  might  be  excluded.  They 
forthwith  take  passage ;  they 
touch  upon  Samothracia,the  ro¬ 
mantic, imposing  rock;  thence, 
the  following  day,  they  go  to 
Neapolis  and  to  Philippi.  At 
Philippi,  a  little  flock  is  ga¬ 
thered;  persecution  breaks  out; 
Paul  and  Silas  are  put  into 
prison  and  beaten;  the  keeper 
of  the  prison  is  converted,  and 
the  missionaries  are  honour¬ 
ably  released.  Timothy  and 
Luke,  who  had  excited  no  ill- 
will  against  themselves,  re¬ 
main  at  Philippi ;  while  Paul 
and  Silas, aftera  farewell  meet¬ 
ing  in  Lydia’s  house,  leave  for 
Thessalonica,  passing  through 
Amphipolis  and  Apollonia. 
At  Thessalonica  a  church  is 
planted;  the  fire  of  persecu¬ 
tion  is  again  kindled  up;  Paul 
and  Silas  flee  to  Berea;  there 
Timotheus  joins  them  again. 
(Acts  xvi.  19 — 40;  xvii.  4— 10.) 
Luke  overtakes  them  still  later. 
At  Thessalonica,  Paul,  as  usu¬ 
al,  commences  by  preaching  in 
the  regular  place  of  worship; 
for  while  at  Philippi  they  were 
constrained  to  worship  at  the 
river’s  side,  there  being  no 
synagogue  there.  At  Thessa¬ 
lonica  there  was  one  at  least. 
(Acts  xvii.  1,  2.)  But  not  con¬ 
tented  with  a  weekly  procla¬ 
mation  of  the  truth,  Paul  spoke 
as  he  had  opportunities  to  the 
heathen  population  and  their 
families,  and  met  with  abun¬ 
dant  success,  as  well  among 
the  proselytes  (Acts  xvii.  4)  as 
among  the  idolaters,  (1  Thess. 
i.  9 ;)  and  then  concluded  by 
exhorti  ng  and  comforting  them 
privately  and  personally.  (1 
Thess.  ii.  10,  11.) 

MACHPELAH  (Ren.  xxiii. 
9.  17.)  A  field  and  cave  near 
to  Hebron,  which  Abraham 
purchased  for  a  burial  place, 


MAH 

and  where  he  and  his  wife  and 
several  of  his  children  were 
buried. 

Mr.  Whiting,  an  American 
missionary,  visited  the  spot  in 
the  spring  of  1835.  He  tells 
us  it  is  situated  on  the  side  of  a 
high  hill,  sloping  to  the  south¬ 
west,  and  that  over  the  cave, 
which  is  supposed  to  have  been 
the  burial  place  of  the  patri¬ 
archal  family, is  built  a  mosque. 
It  is  a  noble  structure,  and  re¬ 
garded  as  peculiarly  sacred. 
It  was  built  by  Helen,  the 
mother  of  Constantine,  though 
the  Moslems  say  it  was  built 
by  Solomon.  From  the  summit 
of  the  hill  is  a  fine  view  of  the 
plains  of  Mamre.  Here  the 
missionary  and  his  friends 
thought  and  conversed  of  the 
father  of  the  faithful,  who  tra¬ 
versed  these  plains  three  thou¬ 
sand  years  before,  and  here 
they  read  in  Arabic  to  the  na¬ 
tives  around  them  the  twenty- 
third  chapter  of  Genesis.  (See 
Hebron.) 

MADAI.  (See  Media.) 

MADIAN.  (See  Midian.) 

MAGDALA,  coasts  op.  (See 
Dalmanutha.) 

MAGICIANS.  (Gen.  xli.8.) 
Interpreters  of  hieroglyphics, 
or,  as  some  suppose,  interpret¬ 
ers  of  dreams.  In  later  times, 
it  denoted  necromancers,  or 
enchanters. 

To  consult  magicians  was 
forbidden  by  the  Mosaic  law, 
under  the  penalty  of  death. 
(Lev.  xix.31 ;  xx.  6.  See  Wish 
Men.) 

MAGOG.  (See  Gog.) 

MAHANAIM.  (Gen.  xxxii. 
2.)  A  town  in  the  territory  of 
Gad,  on  the  north  bank  of  the 
river  Jabbok.  It  is  called  Ma 
hanaim  (or  the  host,  or  two 
hosts )  from  the  vision  which 
occurred  to  Jacob  on  that  spot, 
as  recorded  in  the  above-cited 
passage. 

It  was  distinguished  as  Ish- 
boshelh’s  capital,  (2  Sam.  ii.  8 
—12.  29.)  and  as  the  place  to 
415 


MAL 

which  David  repaired  during ' 
the  rebellion  and  usurpation 
of  Absalom.  (2  Sam.  xvii.  24.) 

MAKKEDAH,  (Josh.  x.  10,) 
one  of  the  principal  cities  of 
the  Canaanites,  was  allotted 
to  Judah,  and  lay  south-west, 
of  Jerusalem.  There  was  a  re¬ 
markable  cave  here,  in  which 
five  petty  kings  concealed 
themselves,  but”  were  disco¬ 
vered  by  Joshua,  and  put  to 
an  ignominious  death. 

MAKTESH  (Zeph.  i.  11)  is 
generally  supposed  to  refer  to 
some  street  or  square  in  the 
lower  part  of  the  city  of  Jeru-  I 
salem,  which  was  chiefly  inha¬ 
bited  by  merchants, or  occupied 
for  commercial  purposes. 

MALACHI.  (Mai. hi.)  Many 
Jews  affirm  that  Malachi  signi- 
fiesonly  an  angel  or  messenger, 

C Malachi  Jehovah ,  the  Lord's 
messenger ,  as  in  Hag.  i.  13. 
Mai.  iii.  1,)  and  that  the”  author 
of  tliis  book  is  Ezra  himself; 
but  the  general  opinion  is,  that 
Malachi  lived  about  four  hun¬ 
dred  years  before  Christ,  and 
was  the  last  of  the  inspired 
prophets  under  the  old  dispen¬ 
sation. 

Prophecy  op,  is  last  in  the 
order  of  the  books  of  the  Old 
Testament;  and  it  contains 
sharp  rebukes  of  the  sin  and 
folly  of  the  Jews ;  the  most 
glowing  representations  of  the 
Messiah’s  advent;  and  pre¬ 
dicts  the  preparation  of  his 
way  by  the  preaching  of  John 
the  Baptist.  Malac.hi  is  sup¬ 
posed  to  have  been  contempo¬ 
rary  with  Nehemiah. 

MALLOWS.  (Job  xxx.  4.) 
Supposed  to  be  a  kind  of  bram¬ 
ble  without  thorns,  the  young 
leaves  of  which,  resembling 
lettuce,  are  gathered,  and  boil¬ 
ed  by  the  poor  as  food.  We 
are  told  that  at  Bagdad  quan¬ 
tities  of  this  vegetable  are 
hawked  about,  while  those  who 
carry  it  cry,  Molachia,  Molu- 
chia,  which  differs  little  from 
the  Hebrew  word.  Many  saline 


MAN 

plants  are  found  in  the  deserts 
of  Arabia,  and  some  are  of  opi¬ 
nion  this  is  a  general  name 
for  the  class.  Others  think 
that  the  real  plant  intended 
i3  a  species  of  saltwort;  to 
which  opinion  the  Greek  ver¬ 
sion  of  the  word  gives  some 
countenance. 

MAM  MON  (Matt.  vi.  24) 
is  a  Syriac  word,  signifying 
riches. 

Mammon  of  vnrighteods- 
ness,  (Luke  xvi.  9,)  as  it  stands 
connected  in  tills  passage,  may 
mean,  that  we  should  so  wisely 
use  the  mammon  of  unright¬ 
eousness,  or  the  unsatisfying 
riches  of  this  world,  that  we 
may  secure  friends  in  God  and 
Christ,  and  in  sinners  saved 
and  blessed  by  our  instrument¬ 
ality. 

MAMRE,  (See  Hebron.) 
MAN,  (Gen.  i,  26,)  in  his 
physical  nature,  is  the  head 
and  lord  of  the  animal  crea¬ 
tion.  (Gen.  i.  26 — 28.)  Though 
of  one  blood,  (Acts  xvii.  26,) 
yet,  as  a  race,  mankind  are 
divided  into  various  nations 
and  tribes,  distinguished  by 
colour,  stature,  physiognomy, 
&c.  & c.,  and  inhabiting  such 
portions  of  the  earth  as  God 
in  his  wise  providence  has 
assigned  to  them  respectively. 
Man  was  created  in  the  image 
and  after  the  likeness  of  God. 
He  was  formed  of  the  dust  of  the 
ground ;  and,  besides  the  life 
which  was  given  him  in  com¬ 
mon  with  other  animals,  he 
received  immediately  from  his 
Creator  a  rational  and  immor 
tal  soul,  distinguishing  him 
from, and  elevating  him  incom 
parably  above,  all  other  crea¬ 
tures  upon  earth;  assimilating 
him  to  the  author  of  his  being, 
and  e-nduing  him  with  moral 
affections,  dispositions,  and  ca¬ 
pacities. 

We  are  told  that  God  breath¬ 
ed  into  his  nostrils  the  breath 
of  life,  (or  lives ;)  which  proba¬ 
bly  means  not  only  the  power 
416 


MAN 

of  respiration,  by  wh  ich  animal 
life  is  sustained,  but  that  he 
was  at  the  same  time  furnished 
with  those  high  spiritual  facul¬ 
ties  which  constitute  him  a 
living  soul.  (See  Adam.) 

Thus  created  in  the  image 
and  after  the  likeness  of  God 
himself,  man  was  placed  under 
the  restraints  of  the  divine  law; 
but,  by  the  force  of  tempta¬ 
tion,  he  was  Jed  to  break 
through  those  restraints,  and  so 
became  an  object  of  the  divine 
displeasure;  whereby  all  his 
relations  and  prospects  were 
completely  changed.  From  this 
time,  the  character  of  the  first 
man  and  the  character  of  God 
were  placed  in  direct  opposi¬ 
tion  to  each  other;  the  one 
being  sinful,  and  the  other  in¬ 
finitely  holy.  And  this  dread¬ 
ful  event  has  in  iike  manner 
changed  the  condition  and 
prospects  of  the  whole  race ; 
for,  since  that  hour,  sin  has 
been  the  universal  character¬ 
istic  of  every  son  and  daughter 
of  Adam,  (see  Sin  ;)  and  death 
has  reigned  over  all  but  two 
of  them. 

Man  is  still  upon  the  earth 
as  a  probationer.  He  is  under 
the  moral  and  providential  go¬ 
vernment  of  the  divine  Being, 
and  is  required  to  love  the 
Lord  his  God  with  all  his 
heart,  and  soul,  and  mind,  and 
strength,  and  his  neighbour  as 
himself. 

Such  is  the  strength  of  the 
depravity  of  his  heart,  that  he 
feels  no  inclination  to  obey 
this  law,  but  readily  yields  to 
the  temptations  which  assail 
him  to  disregard  and  violate  it. 
If  he  has  correct  views  of  its 
Btrictness  and  spirituality,  he 
finds,  that  however  it  may  be 
with  him  in  the  outward  .act 
and  in  the  sight  of  his  fellow- 
men,  there  are  thoughts  and 
intents  of  his  heart  which  it 
condemns. 

To  save  man  in  this  hopeless 
extremity,  God  sent  his  own 


MAN 

Son  into  the  world,  who  not 
only  rendered  perfect  obedi¬ 
ence  to  the  divine  law,  but 
bore  the  penalty  of  its  viola¬ 
tion,  and  thus  made  an  atone¬ 
ment  for  him  and  opened  the 
way  by  which  believing  peni¬ 
tents  may  approach  unto  God, 
and  receive  the  forgiveness  of 
their  sins,  and  be  restored  to 
the  divine  favour.  And  not 
only  has  he  thus  made  an 
atonement  for  sin;  but,  upon 
his  ascension  to  glory,  he  sent 
down  the  precious  influences 
of  the  Holy  Spirit  to  renew  and 
sanctify  the  soul,  while  he  him 
self  ever  lives  to  make  inter 
cession  for  us. 

Though  mankind,  therefore, 
have  lost  the  image  of  God,  iri 
which  they  were  created,  and 
have  exposed  themselves  to  the 
dreadful  penalty  of  the  divine 
law  ;  yet,  by  repentance  and 
faith  in  Jesus  Christ,  the  me¬ 
diator  between  God  and  man, 
we  obtain  forgiveness  of  sin, 
and,  through  free,  sovereign, 
boundless  grace,  we  are  deli¬ 
vered  from  the  bondage,  guilt, 
and  pollution  of  sin,  into  the 
glorious  liberty  of  the  children 
of  God,  and  are  made  heirs 
of  God  and  joint-heirs  with 
Christ. 

Obedience  to  God’s  com¬ 
mands,  and  entire,  cheerful 
submission  to  his  authority, 
constitute  the  evidence  or 
fruits  of  this  faith ;  but  are  not, 
in  any  sense  or  degree,  the 
ground  or  primary  cause  of  our 
justification  in  the  sight  of 
God. 

Thus  we  have  presented  to 
us,  in  the  history  of  man, 
a  creature  once  pure,  perfect, 
and  immortal ;  then  debased, 
polluted,  and  ruined  by  sin; 
and  finally  restored  to  favour, 
and  made  a  partaker  of  end 
less  glory  ana  blessedness,  by 
a  scheme  of  mercy  which  not 
only  preserves  unsullied  the 
character  and  government  of 
the  di  vine  Being,  but  eloriousiy 
417 


MAN 

illustrates  his  infinite  attri- 1 
bules,  anil  at  the  same  time 
requires  of  the  sinner  the  ex¬ 
ercise  of  all  his  powers  in 
God’s  service,  the  renuncia¬ 
tion  of  all  merit  and  righteous¬ 
ness  on  his  own  part,  and  a 
cheerful,  unreserved  submis¬ 
sion  of  himself,  and  all  that  he  j 
is  and  has,  to  the  disposal  of 
his  Creator. 

In  this  state  of  probation  or 
trial,  all  men  are  subject  to 
affliction  and  temptation,  sick¬ 
ness  and  death ;  but  after  this 
state  is  passed,  all  will  be 
judged  according  to  the  deeds 
done  in  the  body;  the  right¬ 
eous,  or  those  who,  having 
been  pardoned  and  sanctified, 
have  loved  and  served  God, 
will  be  received  into  his  pre¬ 
sence,  where  is  fulness  of  joy 
and  pleasures  for  evermore; 
while  those  who  neglect  the 
means  and  refuse  the  offer  of 
salvation,  will  be  driven  away 
in  their  wickedness  into  outer 
darkness,  where  are  weeping, 
and  wailing,  and  gnashing  of 
teeth ;  and  these  will  be  re¬ 
spectively  the  eternal  and  un¬ 
changeable  portion  of  each 
class.  (See  Christ.  See  also 
The  First  Man,  and  Sketch¬ 
es  from  the  Bible,  both  by 
Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

Man  of  sin.  (See  Anti¬ 
christ.) 

MAN,  son  of.  (See  Son  of 
Man.  See  also  Acts  vii.  5G.) 

MANASSEH.  1.  (Gen.  xli. 
51.)  The  first-born  of  Joseph. 
When  he  and  his  brother 
Ephraim  were  boys,  and  Jacob 
their  grandfather  was  about  to 
die,  Joseph  took  them  into  the 
patriarch’s  presence  to  receive 
his  blessing.  On  this  occasion 
he  adopted  them  into  his  own 
family,  as  his  own  children, 
and  iii  a  most  significant  and 
interesting  manner,  prediced 
the  superiority  of  Ephraim  over 
Manasseh,  as  it  respected  num¬ 
bers,  &c.  (Gen.  xlviii.  5—20. 


MAN 

Comp.  Num.  i.  32,  33.  35,  and 
ii.  IS.  20.  Ps.  lxxx.  2.) 

On  their  way  to  Canaan,  the 
Israelites  conquered  a  large 
territory  east  of  the  Jordan  ; 
and  some  of  them,  whose  pos¬ 
sessions  were  chiefly  in  cattle, 
desired  to  have  their  portion 
assigned  them  among  tne  rich 

gistures  and  fruitful  hills  of 
ashan  and  the  surrounding 
country.  This  request  was 
granted  ;  and  half  the  tribe  of 
Manasseh  received  the  terri¬ 
tory  stretching  from  near  to 
Cesarea  Philippi  along  the  Jor¬ 
dan  down  nearly  to  Mahanaitn. 

The  other  half  had  its  por¬ 
tion  on  the  west  of  the  Jordan, 
between  Ephraim  and  Issa- 
clrar,  across  the  country  from 
the  Jordan  to  the  Mediterra¬ 
nean.  This  tribe  possessed 
small  tracts  within  the  bounds 
of  Issachar  and  Asher. 

2.  (2 Kings  xx.  21.)  Son  and 
successor  of  Hezekiah,  king 
of  Judah,  ascended  the  throne 
at  the  age  of  twelve  years. 
The  former  part  of  his  reign 
was  distinguished  for  acts  of 
daring  impiety  and  wanton 
cruelly;  which  are  particu¬ 
larly  detailed  by  the  sacred 
historian.  (2  Kings  xxi.)  For 
these  sins,  in  which  he  per¬ 
suaded  his  subjects  to  partici¬ 
pate,  the  country  was  visit¬ 
ed  with  God’s  judgments;  and 
their  severity  and  desolation 
are  described  in  the  strongest 
figurative  language.  (2  Kings 
xxi.  13.)  He  was  at  last  taken 
captive  by  the  Assyrian  king, 
and  ignominiously  transported 
to  Babylon.  Upon  his  repent¬ 
ance  and  prayer,  however,  he 
was  liberated,  and  returned  to 
his  capital,  where  he  died, 
after  having  done  much  to  re^ 
pair  the  evils  of  his  former 
life.  The  term  of  his  reign 
was  fifty-five  years.  (2Chron. 
xxxiii.  1—20.) 

MANDRAKES.  (Sol.  Song 
vii.  13.)  It  is  uncertain  what 
418 


MAN 

rdant  is  intended  by  the  He¬ 
brew  word,  which  is  translated 
mandrakes  in  the  above  pas¬ 
sage,  and  in  Gen.  xxx.  14—  1G. 


MAN 

The  appearance  of  the  plant 
known  in  modern  times  by 
this  name  is  represented  'h 
the  subjoined  cut. 


What  is  generally  called  the 
May-apple  is  also  often  called 
mandrake,  and  bears  a  fruit 
somewhat  resembling  lemons. 

We  know  that  a  plant  of  this 
name  is  now  common  in  the 
east ;  its  fruit  ripens  from  May 
to  June,  and  is  of  the  size  of 
small  apples,  and  in  its  gene¬ 
ral  appearance  like  a  melon. 
To  what  degree  (if  any)  it  pos¬ 
sesses  the  properties  ascribed 
to  it  by  the  ancients  we  know 
not;  certainly  no  such  proper¬ 
ties  belong  to  what  we  call  the 
mandrake. 

MANEH.  (See  Measures.) 

MANNA.  (Ex.  xvi.  15.)  A 
substance  miraculously  fur¬ 
nished  to  the  children  of  Israel 
on  ti^r  journey  through  the 
wild^less,  and  designed  as  a 
substitute  for  bread,  the  mate¬ 
rial  for  which  they  could  not 
raise  during  their  wanderings. 


It  is  called  the  bread  rained 
from  heaven ,  Ex.  xvi.  4. 

The  most  remarkable  things 
about  the  manna  of  the  Is¬ 
raelites  were,  (1.)  That  dou¬ 
ble  the  quantity  was  supplied 
on  the  day  preceding  the  Sab¬ 
bath,  orseventh  day;  (2.)  That 
on  the  Sabbath,  or  seventh  day, 
none  was  furnished;  (3.)  That 
what  they  kept  from  the  sixth 
day  to  the  seventh  was  sweet 
and  good,  while  what  they 
kept  from  any  other  day  to  the 
next  day  bred  worms,  and  be¬ 
came  offensive.  These  niira 
cles,  it  should  be  remembered 
were  all  wrought  in  attestation 
of  the  sanctity  of  the  Sabbath 

The  manna  of  the  Jews  is 
described  as  n  small,  round 
thing,  as  small  as  the  hoar¬ 
frost  on  the  ground ;  that  it  was 
like  coriander  seed,  white,  ant 
the  taste  of  it  like  loafers  madi 
419 


MAN 

with  honey.  (Ex.  xvi.  14.  31.) 
Wafers  were  small,  thin  cakes 
of  finer  flour,  mingled  with  oil, 
and  used  in  various  offerings. 
(Lev.  ii.  4;  vii.  12.)  If  to  this 
mixture  was  added  a  portion 
of  honey,  there  would  be  the 
nourishmentoftheflour,the  fla¬ 
vour  of  fresh  oil,  and  the  sweet¬ 
ness  of  honey.  The  original 
word  furnishes  no  clew  to  the 
nature  of  the  substance.  It  is 
said,  that  when  the  Israelites 
first  saw  it,  they  exclaimed,  It 
is  manna ;  for  they  knew  not 
what  it  was.  Some  have  inter- 

Sreted'  it  to  mean  prepared food. 

if  course,  we  must  be  satisfied 
with  the  description  given  by 
the  sacred  historian.  As  to  the 
size  and  colour,  it  was  proba¬ 
bly  that  of  the  coarsest  parti¬ 
cles  of  white  frost,  or  the  finest 
hailstones,  nearly  resembling 
sleet.  It  was  ground  in  mills, 
or  beaten  in  a  mortar,  then 
placed  in  pans  in  the  shape  of 
cakes,  and  baked.  In  gather¬ 
ing  this  food,  each  was  per¬ 
mitted  to  take  what  was  ne¬ 
cessary  for  his  own  use,  not 
exceeding  an  omer  or  about 
three  quarts  for  each  member 
of  the  family.  If  more  than 
this  should  be  collected  by  ex¬ 
traordinary  industry,  the  sur¬ 
plus  was  to  be  distributed  to 
those  who  had  less. 

For  forty  years  this  miracu¬ 
lous  supply  of  food  was  fur¬ 
nished  daily  to  between  three 
and  four  millions  of  people. 
(DeuL  xxix.  5,  G.)  It  ceased 
while  they  were  encamped  at 
Gilgal,  immediately  after  they 
had  celebrated  the  passover 
for  the  first  time  in  the  land 
of  promise.  (Josh.  v.  10. 12.)  It 
is  not  improbable  that  the  usu¬ 
al  quantity  of  animal  food  was 
consumed.  The  manna  was  a 
substitute  for  bread,  which  is 
the  staff  of  life.  To  comme¬ 
morate  this  long-continued  and 
wonderful  miracle,  Moses  was 
instructed  that  a  golden  pot 
should  be  provided,  (Ex.  xvi. 


MAN 

33.  Heb.  ix.  4,)  and  that  an 
omer  (or  one  man’s  portion) 
of  the  manna  should  be  put 
up  for  preservation,  and  placed 
in  or  near  the  ark,  that  suc¬ 
ceeding  generations  might  see 
with  their  own  eyes  the  very 
substance  on  which  their  fa¬ 
thers  were  miraculously  fed  in 
their  long  and  perilous  jour- 
neyings  from  Egypt  to  Canaan. 

The  substance  known  to  us 
as  manna  is  so  called  from  its 
supposed  resemblance  to  the 
manna  of  Israel.  The  best  of 
it  is  brought  from  Syria,  Ara¬ 
bia,  and  Persia.  It  falls,  or  is 
drawn  from  a  tree  or  shrub,  in 
various  ways;  and  the  Arabs 
boil  and  strain  it,  and  then 
use  it  as  honey  on  their  bread 
or  cakes.  The  manna  of  Israel 
was  essentially  different  from 
the  natural  manna  in  a  variety 
of  particulars.  The  natural 
manna  is  not  found  in  the  de¬ 
sert;  it  falls  only  in  thespring; 
it  is  said  not  to  melt  in  the 
sun ;  it  does  not  breed  worms, 
and  become  offensive  if  kept 
from  day  to  day.  It  cannot  be 
ground  or  beaten  in  a  mortar, 
as  the  manna  of  the  Israelites 
was.  It  has  medicinal  proper¬ 
ties,  which  that  had  not ;  it  is 
produced  on  every  day  alike ; 
and  it  comes  at  the  very  season 
of  the  year  when  the  manna 
of  Israel  ceased.  The  Israel¬ 
ites  never  saw  it  before,  nor 
has  it  ever  appeared  again,  as 
we  infer  from  comparing  Dent, 
viii.  3.  16,  with  Ex.  xvi.  15.  32, 
33. 

A  very  reputable  eastern  tra¬ 
veller  gives  us  the  following 
account  of  modern  manna  in 
Arabia : 

“  It  is  from  the  tamarisk,  or 
taifa,  that  the  manna  is  ob¬ 
tained.  This  substance  is  call¬ 
ed  by  the  Bedouins  mqmn,  and 
accurately  resemble^fche  de¬ 
scription  of  manna  given  in 
the  Scriptures.  In  the  month 
of  June,  it  drops  from  the  thorns 
of  the  tamarisk  upon  the  fallen 
420 


MAN 

twigs, leaves,  and  thorns, which 
always  cover  the  ground  be¬ 
neath  that  tree  in  the  natural 
state;  the  manna  is  collected 
before  sunrise, when  it  is  coagu¬ 
lated;  bui  he  says  it  dissolves 
as  soon  as  the  sun  shines  upon 
it.  The  Arabs  clean  away  the 
leaves,  dirt,  &c.  which  adhere 
to  it,  boil  it,  strain  it  through  a 
coarse  piece  of  cloth,  and  put 
it  in  leathern  skins.  In  this 
way  they  preserve  it  till  the 
following  year,  and  use  it  as 
they  do  honey,  to  pour  over 
unleavened  bread,  or  to  dip 
their  bread  Into.  I  could  not 
learn  that  they  ever  made  it 
into  cakes  or  loaves.  The 
manna  is  found  only  in  years 
when  copious  rains  have  fal¬ 
len  ;  sometimes  it  is  not  pro¬ 
duced  at  all.  I  saw  none  of  it 
among  the  Arabs,  but  I  obtain¬ 
ed  a  small  piece  of  the  last 
year’s  produce,  in  the  convent, 
(of  mount  Sinai.)  where,  hav¬ 
ing  been  kept  in  the  cool 
shade  and  moderate  temper¬ 
ature  of  that  place,  it  had 
become  quite  solid,  and  form¬ 
ed  a  small  cake ;  it  became 
soft  when  kept  some  time  in 
the  hand ;  if  placed  in  the 
snn  for  five  minutes,  it  dis¬ 
solved  ;  but  when  restored  to 
a  cool  place,  it  became  solid 
again  in  a  quarter  of  an  hour. 
In  the  season  at  which  the 
Arabs  gather  it,  it  never  ac¬ 
quires  that  state  of  hardness 
which  will  allow  of  its  being 
pounded,  as  the  Israelites  are 
said  to  have  done,  in  Num.  xi. 
8.  Its  colour  is  a  dirty  yellow ; 
and  the  piece  which  I  saw  was 
still  mixed  with  bits  of  tama¬ 
risk  leaves ;  its  taste  is  agreea¬ 
ble,  somewhat  aromatic,  and 
as  sweet  as  honey.  If  eaten  in 
any  considerable  quantity,  it 
is  said  to  be  slightly  medicinal. 
The  quantity  of  manna  col¬ 
lected  at  present,  even  in  sea¬ 
sons  when  the  most  copious 
rains  fall,  is  trifling,  perhaps 
not  amounting  to  more  than 
36 


MAO 

five  or  six  hundred  pounds.  It 
is  entirely  consumed  among 
the  Bedouins,  who  consider  it 
the  greatest  dainty  which  their 
country  affords.  The  harvest 
is  usually  in  June,  and  lasts 
for  about  six  weeks.” 

Manna  is  called  the  com  of 
heaven,  and  angels’  food,  (Ps. 
lxxviii.24,25,)  perhaps  in  allu¬ 
sion  to  the  mode  by  which  it 
was  supplied. 

The  phrase  hidden  manna 
(Rev.  ii.  17)  figuratively  de¬ 
scribes  the  support  which 
Christ  furnishes  to  the  true 
believer,  of  which  the  world 
do  not  and  cannot  partake. 
(Comp.  John  vi.  49.  51.) 

MANOAH,  (Judg.  xiii.  2,)  the 
father  of  Samson,  was  born  at 
Zorah.  In  the  absence  of  Ma- 
noah,  an  angel  appeared  to  his 
wife,  and  predicted  the  birth 
of  Samson,  describing  particu¬ 
larly  the  mannerofhis  life, and 
the  chief  purpose  for  which  he 
should  be  born.  Manoah  pray¬ 
ed  for  a  repetition  of  the  visit. 
The  angel  again  appeared, and 
Manoah  had  an  interview  with 
him ;  and,  when  he  was  about 
to  depart,  proposed  to  prepare 
a  kid  for  him,  that  he  might 
artake  of  the  hospitality  of 
is  house;  but  the  angel  de¬ 
clined  taking  any  food,  and 
told  him  if  the  kid  was  for  an 
offering,  it  must  be  to  the  Lord. 
The  kid  was  prepared  as  a 
sacrifice,  and  offered  upon  a 
rock.  When  the  flame  from 
this  rude  altar  ascended  to¬ 
wards  heaven,  the  angel  pass¬ 
ed  upward  with  it.  Manoah 
and  his  wife,  witnessing  this 
wonderful  scene,  fell  upon 
their  faces  to  the  ground.  He 
was  disposed  to  construe  the 
visit  of  the  angel  unfavoura¬ 
bly;  but  his  wife  more  justly 
regarded  the  emblematical  ac¬ 
ceptance  of  the  sacrifice  as  a 
token  for  good  ;  and  so  it 
proved. 

MAON,  (1  Sam.  xxv.  2,)  dis¬ 
tinguished  as  the  residence  of 
421 


MAR 

Nabal,  was  on  the  southern 
boundary  of  Judea. 

Wilderness  op,  (1  Sam. 
xxiii.  25,)  was  in  the  south¬ 
ern  part  of  Judah,  south  of 
the  wilderness  of  Ziph,  and 
near  the  town  of  Muon,  and 
extended  to  the  mountains  of 
Idumea.  It  was  in  the  wil¬ 
derness  of  Maon  that  David 
concealed  himself  when  the 
Ziphites  were  seeking  his  de¬ 
struction. 

MAKAH.  (Ex.  xv.  23.)  A 
place  on  the  line  of  the  march 
of  the  Israelites,  at  which  hit¬ 
ter  water  was  made  palata¬ 
ble  by  casting  into  it  a  tree 
which  God  designated  to  Mo¬ 
ses.  Whether  the  effect  was 
miraculous,  or  only  the  indi¬ 
cation  to  Moses  of  a  particular 
tree  which  was  capable  of  pro- 
ducina  it,  is  uncertain.  The 
word  IVlarah,  signify  ing  6iMcr- 
ness,,  was  adopted  by  Naomi, 
as  applicable  to  herself, in  view 
of  her  many  sorrows.  (Ruth  i. 
20) 

The  well  of  Hawara,  on  the 
eastern  coast  of  the  gulf  of 
Suez,  is  spoken  of  by  travellers 
as  containing  bitter  water,  and 
corresponds,  in  distance,  &c., 
to  the  Marah  of  the  sacred 
history. 

MARANATHA.  (See  Ana¬ 
thema.) 

MARBLE.  (Rev.  xviii.  12.) 
A  species  of  limestone,  remark¬ 
able  for  its  durability,  and  ca¬ 
pable  ofreceiving  a  high  polish. 
It  was  probably  used  in  very 
early  times  for  building  mate¬ 
rials,  (1  Kings  vi.  7.  36 ;  vii.  9— 
12.  1  Chron.  xxix.  2.)  and  for 
many  kinds  of  vessels.  The 
colours  of  marble  are  various 
and  beautiful,  and  pieces  of 
all  sizes  may  be  wrought  to- 
ether  so  as  to  resemble  a 
eiutiful  painting.  Such  was 
probably  the  pavement  and 
columns  of  the  Persian  palace, 
described  in  Esth.  i.  6. 

MARCUS.  (See  John 
Mark.) 


MAR 

MARESHAH.  (Josh.  xv. 44.) 
A  towr  of  Judah,  famous  as  the 
scene  of  the  battle  between 
Asa  king  of  Judah,  and  Zerak 
king  of  Ethiopia,  with  his  nu¬ 
merous  army.  It  was  also  the 
residence  of  the  prophet  Mi- 
cah.  (Mic.  i.  15.) 

MARK.  (Acts  xii.  12.)  Gene¬ 
rally  supposed  to  be  the  same 
with  Marcus,  (1  Pet.  v.  13 ;)  but 
whether  he  was  the  same  with 
John  Mark  (Acts  xv.  37 — 39. 
Col.  iv.  10.  2  Tim.  iv.  11)  is 
not  clear.  (See  John  Mark.) 

Gospel  by.  The  second  in 
order  of  the  books  of  the  New 
Testament.  It  is  supposed  to 
have  been  written  between 
A.  d.  56  and  Go,  and  it  con¬ 
tains  the  substance  of  the  pub¬ 
lic  discourses  and  private  con¬ 
versations  of  our  Saviour,  ob¬ 
tained  in  a  great  measure,  as 
some  have  supposed,  from  the 
lips  of  the  apostle  Peter,  whose 
intimate  companion  he  was 
for  several  years.  It  is  not 
unlikely  that  the  apostle  him¬ 
self  had  an  opportunity  to  ex¬ 
amine  it,  inasmuch  as  many 
things  commendatory  of  him, 
mentioned  in  the  other  gospels, 
are  omitted  in  this.  There 
are  a  sufficient  number  of  im¬ 
portant  differences  between 
this  gospel  and  the  other  three, 
to  show  that  this  is  not  an 
abridgment  or  compilation  from 
them,  or  either  of  them  ;  and 
among  these  we  may  mention 
two  miracles  which  are  not  re¬ 
corded  in  any  other  gospel ; 
and  yet  there  are  but  twenty- 
four  verses  in  Mark  which 
contain  any  important  fact  not 
mentioned  by  some  other  evan¬ 
gelist. 

MARKETS,  (Matt.  xi.  16,1 
or  MARKET-PLACE.  (Luke 
vii.  32.)  The  markets  of  east¬ 
ern  towns  occupy  one  side  of 
an  area,  the  other  sides  being 
occupied  by  public  buildings, 
temples,  courts,  and  offices  of 
various  kinds.  Hence  they 
were  the  place  of  general  con 


MAR 

course.  Laws  were  promul¬ 
gated  here ;  questions  of  philo¬ 
sophy  and  public  interest  were 
discussed ;  and,  it  being  ge¬ 
nerally  in  or  near  the  gate  of 
the  city,  or  the  thoroughfare,  as 
we  might  call  it,  judicial  inves¬ 
tigations  were  made  here.  (Acts 
xvi.  19;  xvii.  17.  See  Gate.) 

The  country  people  would 
be  found  at  this  point  in  the 
greatest  numbers,  as  well  as 
judges  and  magistrates.  Hence 
the  Tree  of  the  expression, 
Mark  xii.  38. 

The  market-places  would 
embrace  the  whole  area;  and 
here  a  crowd  of  children  and 
idlers  would  be  found  amusing 
themselves.  To  reprove  the 
inconsistency  of  the  Pharisees, 
in  rejecting  Christ  for  doing, 
as  they  said,  the  very  things 
which  they  rejected  John  for  not 
doing,  he  compares  them  to  a 
company  of  children  who  are 
imitating  the  customs  of  their 
elders  on  public  occasions,  as 
by  a  mock  marriage  or  a  mock 
funeral.  On  the  former  of  these 
occasions,  it  was  customary  to 
express  joy  and  congratulation 
by  music  and  dancing;  and  on 
the  latter,  to  employ  persons 
to  lead  in  loud  lamentations. 
In  the  children’s  sport,  a  few 
tried  to  persuade  the  rest  to 
join  in  some  joyful  measure, 
but  they  preferred  to  mourn; 
and  then  they  commenced  a 
lamentation,  but  they  prefer¬ 
red  the  music.  So  perverse 
and  inconsistent  were  they, that 
they  could  be  pleased  with  no¬ 
thing. 

The  market-place  was  re¬ 
sorted  to  by  labourers  who 
sought  employment.  An  in¬ 
telligent  traveller  tells  us  of 
a  scene  he  witnessed  in  Per¬ 
sia,  where  a  great  number 
of  peasants  assembled  in  the 
market-place  before  sunrise, 
with  their  spades  in  their 
hands,  waiting  to  be  employ¬ 
ed  ;  and  when  he  passed  the 
same  place  at  night,  some  of 


MAR 

them  were  still  there,  waiting 
for  something  to  do.  (See  Matt, 
xx.  1—16.) 

MARRIAGE  (Matt.  xxii.  2) 
is  a  divine  institution.  (Gen. 
ii.  21 — 25.)  It  is  also  a  civil 
contract,  uniting  one  man  and 
one  woman  together  in  the  re¬ 
lation  of  husEand  and  wife. 
Among  the  benefits  of  the  insti¬ 
tution  are,  (1.)  Domestic  com¬ 
fort  ;  (2.)  Provision  for  the 
health,  education,  and  support 
of  children ;  (3.)  The  distri¬ 
bution  of  society  into  familie 
or  small  communities,  with 
master  or  governor  over  them 
who  has  natural  as  well  as 
legal  authority;  (4.)  The  secu¬ 
rity  which  arises  from  parental 
anxiety,  and  the  confinement 
of  children  to  permanent  habi¬ 
tations  ;  and,  (5.)  The  encou¬ 
ragement  of  industry. 

No  sins  are  more  frequently 
and  pointedly  condemned  by 
the  Bible,  than  such  as  violate 
or  impair  the  sacredness  of  the 
marriage  relation;  and  nothing 
is  wanting  to  'raise  this  to  the 
highest,  purest,  and  most  sa¬ 
cred  relation  in  which  two 
human  beings  can  stand  tu 
each  other,  but  obedience  to 
the  precepts  of  the  Holy  Scrip¬ 
tures  on  this  subject. 

In  the  celebration  of  mar¬ 
riages  in  the  east  at  the  present 
day,  many  of  the  peculiar  cus¬ 
toms  of  ancient  times  are  ob¬ 
served.  At  a  Hindoo  marriage, 
says  a  modern  missionary,  the 
procession  of  which  I  saw  some 
years  ago,  the  bridegroom  came 
from  a  distance,  and  the  brid 
lived  at  Serampore,  to  which 
place  the  bridegroom  was  to 
come  by  water.  After  waiting 
two  or  three  hours,  at  length, 
near  midnight,  it  was  announc¬ 
ed,  in  the  very  words  of  Scrip¬ 
ture,  Behold,  the  bridegroom 
cometh ;  go  ye  out  to  meet  him. 
All  the  persons  employed  now 
lighted  their  lamps,  and  ran 
with  them  in  their  hands  to  fill 
up  their  stations  in  the  proces. 

423 


MAR 

sion;  some  of  them  had  lost 
their  lights,  and  were  unpre¬ 
pared,  but  it  was  then  too  late 
to  seek  them,  and  the  cavalcade 
moved  forward  to  the  house  of 
the  bride ;  at  which  place  the 
company  entered  a  large  and 
splendidly  illuminated  area, 
before  the  house,  covered  with 
an  awning,  where  a  great  mul¬ 
titude  of  friends,  dressed  in 
their  best  apparel,  were  seated 
upon  mats.  The  bridegroom 
was  carried  in  the  arms  of  a 
friend,  and  placed  in  a  superb 
seat  in  the  midst  of  the  com¬ 
pany,  where  he  sat  a  short 
time,  and  then  went  into  the 
house,  the  door  of  which  was 
immediately  shut,  and  guarded 
by  sepoys.  I  and  others  expos¬ 
tulated  with  the  door-keepers, 
but  in  vain.  Never  was  I  so 
struck  with  our  Lord’s  beautiful 
parable  as  at  this  moment — 
And  the  door  was  shut. 

The  journal  of  one  of  the  Ame¬ 
rican  missionaries  in  Greece 
contains  an  account  of  an  Ar¬ 
menian  wedding  which  she 
attended and,  after  describing 
the  dresses  and  previous  cere¬ 
monies,  she  says,  that  at  twelve 
o’clock  at  night,  precisely,  the 
cry  was  made  by  some  of  the 
attendants,  Behold ,  the  bride - 
groom  cometh;  and  immedi¬ 
ately  five  or  six  men  set  off  to 
meet  him. 

The  custom  of  crying  and 
shouting  at  the  approach  of  the 
bridegroom  seems  to  have  been 
continued  from  the  days  of  our 
Saviour. 

(For  «  very  interesting  and 
minute  account  of  the  laws  and 
customs  of  ancient  nations,  re¬ 
specting  marriage,  polygamy, 
divorce,  & c.  &c.,  the  ceremo¬ 
nies  attending  an  eastern  wed- 
ding,  and  the  figurative  allu¬ 
sions  of  the  sacred  writers  to 
these  topics,  the  student  is  re¬ 
ferred  to  Biblical  Antiq.ut. 
vol.  i.ch.  vi.  §  1 ;  Omab,  pp.  145 
—152 :  and  Evenino  Recrea- 


MAR 

tions,  vol.  ii.,  pp.  89—99,  bv 
Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

It  was  the  custom  to  crown 
the  married  couple.  Hence  the 
allusion,  Sol.  Song  iii.  11.  Isa 
xlix.  18,  where  the  word  orna 
ment  might  as  well  be  rendered 
crown.  (See  Dowry.) 

MARS-HILL.  (See  Areo 

PAGITE.) 

MARTHA.  (John  xi.  1.)  The 
sister  of  Lazarus  and  Mary,  and 
the  mistress  of  their  family  at 
Bethany.  (Luke  x.  38—40.) 
She  is  always  named  before 
Mary,  and  was  probably  the 
elder.  There  is  no  question 
of  her  piety.  (John  xi.  5.  25— 
27.  See  Lazarus,  Mary.) 

MARTYR. '  (Acts  xxii.  20.) 
One  who  bears  witness  to  the 
truth  at  the  expense  of  his  life. 
The  word  occurs  thrice  only  in 
the  Scriptures. 

MMY,  1.  (Luke  i  27,) 
the  mother  of  our  Lord,  was 
cousin  to  Elisabeth,  the  mother 
of  John  the  Baptist.  (Luke  i. 
36.)  The  sacredf history  Tecords 
but  few  incidents  of  her  life, 
after  the  infancy  of  the  Messi¬ 
ah.  She  was  present  at  the 
marriage  in  Cana,  (John  ii.  3,) 
where  he  wrought  a  miracle. 
She  also  sought  an  interview 
with  him  in  company  with 
others  of  the  family,  when  he 
was  preaching  to  a  crowd  in  a 
country  place.  (Luke  viii.  19, 
20.)  She  was  present  at  his 
crucifixion,  (John  xix.  25,)  and 
was  there  commended  by  the 
expiring  Redeemer  to  the  filial 
kindness  and  attention  of  the 
beloved  John ;  and  she  is  men¬ 
tioned  as  one  among  the  pray¬ 
ing  company  in  the  upper  room 
at  Jerusalem,  after  tne  ascen 
sion  of  our  Saviour.  (Acts  i.  14.) 

2.  (John  xix.  25.)  The  sister 
of  the  above  Mary,  the  wife  of 
Cleophas,  and  mother  of  James 
the  less,  Simon,  Joses,  and 
Judas.  They  were  of  course 
cousins, and  are  called  brethren 
of  our  Lord.  (Matt.  xiii.  55 
424 


MAR 


MAT 


xxvii.56.  Markvi.3.)  She  was 
present  at  the  crucifixion  and 
burial  of  our  Lord,  (Matt,  xxvii. 
5G.  Cl,)  was  amon|  those  who 
went  to  embalm  him,  '(Mark 
xvi.  1—10,)  was  among  the 
first  to  whom  the  news  of  his 
resurrection  was  announced, 
(I  lUke  xxiv.  6,)  and  on  her  way 
to  the  disciples  with  the  intel¬ 
ligence,  she  met  her  risen 
Lord  and  worshipped  him. 
(Matt,  xxviii.  9.) 

3.  (Actsxii.12.)  The  mother 
of  John  Mark,  a  godly  wo¬ 
man.  residing  at  Jerusalem,  at 
whose  house  the  disciples 
were  convened  the  night 
Peter  was  miraculously  de¬ 
livered  from  prison. 

4.  (Johnxi.l.)  The  sister  ol 
Lazarus,  and  a  devoted  friend 
and  disciple  of  our  Saviour. 
She  evinced  her  affection  for 
him  at  the  supper  in  Bethany, 
a  fewdays before  his  crucifix¬ 
ion, (John  xii.  3,)  and  received 
from  him  the  testimony  that 
she  had  chosen  the  good  part 
which  should  not  be  taken 
from  her.  (Luke  x.  41.  42.) 

5.  (Luke  viii.2  ,)MaryMagda- 
lene ,  or  Mary  of  Magdala.  So 
called,  probably, from  the  fact 
that  she  was  a  native  or  resi¬ 
dent  of  the  villageof  Magdala. 

Thegeneralimpression  that 
she  was  an  unchaste  woman 
isentirely  without  foundation. 
There  is  nothing  to  warrant 
the  opinion  that  she  was  not  a 
woman  ingoodeircumstances 
andof  unblemished  character. 
Having  been  relieved  of  a  de¬ 
moniacal  possession  by  thedi- 
vine  power  of  our  Saviour, she 
became  hisfollower,(Lukeviii. 
2. 3,)  and  evinced  her  attach¬ 
ment  to  him  and  his  cause  to 
Lite  very  last.  She  was  at  his 
crucifixion  (John  xix.  25)  and 
burial,  (Mark  xv.  47,)  and  she 
was  among  those  who  had  pre¬ 
pared  the  materials  to  embalm 
him,  (Mark  xvi.  1,)  and  who 
first  went  to  the  sepulchre  after 


the  resurrection;  and  what  is 
particularly  interesting  in  her 
history,  she  was  the  first  to 
whom  the  risen  Redeemer  ap¬ 
peared,  (Mark  xvi.  9;)  and  his 
conversation  with  her  is  ex¬ 
ceeded  in  interest  and  pathos 
by  no  passage  of  history,  sacred 
or  profane.  (John  xx.  11 — 18.) 

MASCHIL  is  found  in  the 
title  or  inscription  of  Psalm 
xxxii.andseveral  other  psalms, 
and  probably  means  an  in¬ 
structive  song. 

MATTHEW,  (Matt.  ix.  9,) 
called  also  Levi,  (Mark  ii.  14.) 
was  a  native  of  Galilee,  and, 
though  a  Jew,  was  employed 
as  a  tax-gatherer  under  the 
provincial  government  of  Ju¬ 
dea.  He  was  called  from  his 
official  occupation  into  the  ser¬ 
vice  of  Christ,  entertained  him 
at  his  house,  (Mark  ii.  15,)  be¬ 
came  one  of  the  twelve  apos¬ 
tles,  and  was  engaged  in  the 
propagation  of  the  gospel  after 
our  Saviour’s  ascension.  (Acts 
i.  13.)  There  is  no  certainty 
respecting  the  time,  place,  or 
manner  of  his  death. 

Gospel  of,  is  supposed  to 
have  been  written  five  years 
afterChrist’s  ascension, or  about 
the  year  38.  It  existed  at  a  very 
early  period,  both  in  the  He¬ 
brew  and  Greek  languages;  and 
some  suppose  it  was  first  writ¬ 
ten  in  Hebrew,  and  translated 
into  Greek  by  Matthew  himself 
or,  at  least,  during  his  lifetime- 
There  is  internal  evidence  that 
it  was  designed  particularly  for 
the  use  of  the  Jews.  Matthew, 
as  appears  from  the  preceding 
article,  was  early  called  into 
the  cornpany  of  Christ’s  disci¬ 
ples,  and  was  a  constant  at¬ 
tendant  upon  his  ministry  to 
its  close.  His  is  the  earliest  of 
the  four  histories,  and  certainly 
has  the  characteristics  of  a  nar¬ 
rative  written  soon  after  the 
events  happened.  The  visit  of 
the  wise  men;  the  slaughter 
of  the  infants ;  the  parable  of 
the  ten  virgins ;  the  resurrec- 


MEA 

lion  of  the  saints  at  the  time  of 
the  crucifixion ;  and  some  other 
facts  are  related  by  Matthew, 
which  are  not  mentioned  by 
either  of  the  other  evangelists. 
(See  Union  Questions,  vols.  i. 
ii.,  and  Help  to  the  Gospels, 
both  by  Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

MATTHIAS.  (Acts  i.  23.)  A 
disciple  of  Christ,  and  a  con¬ 
stant  attendant  on  his  travels 
and  ministry,  from  its  com¬ 
mencement  until  his  ascen- ' 
sion.  (Acts  i.  21,  22.)  He  was 
appointed  to  supply  the  va¬ 
cancy  in  the  company  of  the 
twelve  apostles,  occasioned  by 
the  apostacy  of  Judas. 

MAZZAROTH.  (Jobxxxviii. 
32.)  Const  thou  oring  forth 
Mazzaroth  in  hih  season 7  was 
one  of  the  questions  by  which 
God  reproved  the  weakness 
and  presumption  of  his  servant 
Job.  It  is  supposed  by  some 
to  mean  the  twelve  signs  of 
the  zodiac;  each  of  which  is 
brought  forth  in  its  season  by 
the  wisdom  and  power  of  God 
only. 

MEALS,  MEAL -TIME. 
(E.uth  ii.  14.)  The  meals  of  the 
orientals,  both  ancient  and  mo¬ 
dern,  may  be  compared  to  our 
dinner  and  supper.  (Luke  xiv. 
12.)  What  is  here  called  din¬ 
ner  might  nevertheless  as  well 
be  called  breakfast ;  for  it  is  a 
light  meal,  and  is  taken  at  an 
early  hour.  In  Persia,  they 
partake  of  this  first  meal  be¬ 
tween  ten  and  eleven  o’clock 
in  the  forenoon;  and  it  con¬ 
sists  principally  of  fruits,  milk, 
cheese,  arid  confectionary. 

The  principal  meal  of  the 
day  is  tne  supper.  Among  the 
Romans,  it  anciently  took 
place  about  three  o’clock ;  but 
in  the  east,  as  at  the  present 
day  in  IPersia,  about  six  or 
seven  in  the  evening,  in  order 
to  avoid  the  enfeebling  heat  of 
the  afternoon.  (Mark  vi.  21. 
Luke  xiv.  16.  24.  John  xii.  2.) 

Before  going  to  meals  it  was 
common  to  wash  the  hands;  a 


MEA 

custom  rendered  necessary  by 
their  method  of  partaking  ol 
food.  The  same  practice  ob¬ 
tained  among  the  Greeks  and 
Romans  at  an  early  date,  and 
still  prevails  in  the  east.  (See 
Eatin'g.) 

The  Pharisees  had  exalted 
this  into  a  religious  duly,  .ana 
affected  to  be  greatly  scandal 
ized  at  the  omission  of  it  by 
the  disciples  of  our  Lord.  (Mall, 
xv.  2.  20.  Luke  xi.  38 ) 

In  Samuel’s  time,  the  people 
would  not  eat  until  he  had 
blessed  the  sacrifice ;  and  this 
is  the  first  notice  in  Scripture 
of  a  blessing  on  food.  (1  Sam. 
ix.  13.)  In  the  time  of  Christ, 
however,  it  was  common  before 
every  meal  to  bless  or  give 
thanks.  (Matt.  xiv.  19 ;  xv.36.) 

A  distinction  of  rank  also 
prevailed  in  sitting  at  meals. 
(See  Feasts,  Seats,  Table. 
See  also  Biblical  ANTiaui- 
ties,  vol.  i.  ch.  v.  §  2,  by  Am. 
S.  S.  Union.) 

MEARAH.  (Josh.  xiii.  4.)  A 
noted  cave  between  Sarepla 
and  Sidon. 

MEASURES  &  WEIGHTS. 
(Prov.  xx.  10.)  The  Jewish 
law  contains  two  precepts  re¬ 
specting  weights  and  measures. 
The  first  (Lev.  xix.  35,  36)  re¬ 
fers  to  the  standards  kept  in 
the  sanctuary ;  and  the  second 
(Deut.  xxv.  13—15)  refers  to 
copies  of  them  kept  by  every 
family  for  its  own  use.  Much 
perplexity  has  attended  all 
investigations  of  this  subject, 
and  we  must  be  contented  with 
approximations  to  truth. 

The  models  or  standards  of  the 
weights  and  measures  which 
were  in  earliest  use  were  pre¬ 
served  for  a  long  time  in  the 
Jewish  temple,  but  were  de¬ 
stroyed  with  that  sacred  edifice, 
and  afterwards  the  measures 
and  weights  of  the  people 
among  whom  the  Jews  dwelt 
were  adopted.  Josephus  as¬ 
serts  that  measures  and  weighu 
were  invented  by  Cain.  They 
426 


MEA 

were  certainly  in  use  from  the 
earliest  period.  (Gen.  vi.  15: 
xxiii.  16.) 

As  to  currency,  it  is  supposed 
the  Jews  had  no  coins  or  pieces 
of  metal  of  fixed  size  and  value, 
but  that  the  precious  metals 
were  exchanged  for  articles  of 
merchandise  by  weight.  Thus 
Abraham  bought  the  field  of 
Ephron  for  four  hundred  she¬ 
kels  of  silver,  as  we  should  buy 
an  acre  of  land  for  a  hundrea 
bushels  of  wheat,  or  a  hundred 
pounds  of  flax.  This  is  the 
usual  mode  of  dealing  among 
uncivilized  nations  at  the  pre¬ 
sent  day.  Every  piece  or  mass 
of  metal  was  valued  according 
to  its  purity  and  weight.  Hence 
the  practice  of  carrying  weights 
.  in  a  bag,  to  which  allusion  is 
frequently  made  by  the  sacred 
writers.  (Deut.  xxv.  13.  Prov. 
xvi.ll.Mic.vi.il.)  We  have 
abundant  evidence  that  in  Da¬ 
vid’s  time  gold  was  used  as  an 
article  of  merchandise,  and  not 
as  a  standard  of  value. 

In  presenting  this  subject  in 
such  a  form  as  to  aid  the  bibli¬ 
cal  student  or  teacher,  we  shall 
include  only  those  terms  which 
are  actually  used  in  the  Bible, 
and  shall  endeavour  to  esta- 
olish  a  definite  rule  rather  than 
to  perplex  by  an  array  of  con¬ 
flicting  opinions  and  authori¬ 
ties. 

I.  Of  measures  of  length. 
The  handbreadth ,  or  palm , 
(1  Kings  vii.  26,)  was  four  digits, 
or  the  breadth  of  the  four  fingers 
— from  three  inches  to  three  and 
a  half. 

A  span,  (Lam.  ii.  20,)  which 
expresses  the  distance  across 
the  hand  from  the  extremity 
of  the  thumb  to  the  extremity 
of  the  little  finger,  when  they 
are  stretched  as  far  apart  as 
possible,  say  nine  to  ten  inches. 

A  cubit.  (Gen.  vi.  16.)  It  is 
obvious  that  this  term  is  applied 
by  the  sacred  writers  to  differ 
ent  lengths,  one  being  at  least 
hand-breadth  longer  than  the 


MEA 

3  other.  It  is,  however,  generally 
;  agreed  that  the  common  cubit 
was  about  eighteen  inches. 

1  A  fathom  (Acts  xxvii.  23) 
3  was  from  six  feet  to  see  feet 
,  and  a  half. 

3  The  measuring  reed  (Ezek. 
'  xlii.  16)  is  supposed  to  have 
3  been  from  ten  to  eleven  feet; 
'  and  the  measuring  line  (Zech. 
-  ii.l)ahundredandforty-sixfeet. 
7  The furlong  (Luke  xxiv.  13) 
t  was  a  Greek  measure,  and 
I  nearly  the  same  as  at  present, 
s  viz.  one-eighth  of  a  mile,  or 
[  forty  rods. 

The  mile,  (Matt.  v.  41,)  pro- 
i  babiy  1612  yards,  or  about  one- 
;  twelfth  less  than  ours. 
i  The  Sabbath-day’s  journey 
i  (Acts  i.  12)  was  about  seven- 
i  eighths  of  a  mile;  and  the 
term  denoted  the  distance 
which  Jewish  tradition  said 
one  might  travel  without  a 
violation  of  the  law.  (Ex.  xvi. 
29.)  It  is  supposed  that  this 
distance  extended  first  from 
the  tabernacle  to  the  remotest 
section  of  the  camp,  and  after 
wards  from  the  temple  to  the 
remotest  parts  of  the  holy  city. 

The  term  a  day’s  journey 
(Num.  xi.  31.  Luke  ii.  44)  pro¬ 
bably  indicated  no  certain  dis¬ 
tance,  but  was  taken  to  be  tho 
ordinary  distance  which  a  per¬ 
son  travels  on  foot  in  the  prose¬ 
cution  of  a  journey,  perhaps 
twenty  miles. 

II.  Hollow  measures. 

(1.)  Dry.  A  cab,  or  kab, 
(2  Kings  vi.  25,)  one-third  of  an 
omer,  or  two  pints. 

An  omer,  (Ex.  xvi.  36,)  one- 
tenth  of  an  ephah,  or  six  pints. 

The  measure,  or seah,  (Gen. 
xviii.  6.  Matt.  xiii.  33.  Luke 
xiii.21,)  one-third  of  an  ephah, 
or  twenty  pints. 

The  ephah,  (Ex.  xvi.  36,)  ten 
omers,  or  three  seahs,  or  sixty 
pints. 

The  homer,  (Isa.  v.  10,)  when 
used  for  dry  measure,  one  hun¬ 
dred  omers,  or  six  hundred 
pints. 


427 


ME  A 

Tenth  deal  (Lev.  xxiii.  17, 
or  tenth  pan)  is  supposed  to 
have  been  the  same  with  the 
orner,  or  the  tenth  part  of  an 
ephah. 

The  Greek  word  translated 
bushel  (Matt.  v.  15)  is  sup¬ 
posed  by  some  to  answer  to  tne 
Hebrew  word  seah.  The  Ro¬ 
man  bushel  was  very  nearly 
the  same  with  the  English 
peck. 

(2.)  Liquid.  The  log ,  (Lev. 
siv.  10,)  six  egg-shells  full, 
tuie-tenth  of  a  hm,  or  nearly 
one  pint. 

The  hin,  (Ex.  xxix.  40,)  one- 
sixth  of  a  bath,  or  ten  pints. 

The  bath,  (Isa.  v.  10,)  one- 
tenth  of  a  homer,  (Ezek.  xlv. 
11,)  seven  and  a  half  gallons, 
or  sixty  pints. 

The  homer,  or  cor,  (Ezek. 
xlv.  14,)  ten  baths,  seventy-five 
gallons,  or  six  hundred  pints. 

The  firkin  (John  ii.  6)  was 
a  Greek  measure,  containing 
seven  and  a  half  gallons. 

III.  Op  weights. 

In  the  time  of  Moses  the 
common  weight  was  a  shekel, 
whichsignifiesaireigW.  There 
were  also  the  parts  of  a  shekel, 
as  the  fourth,  third,  and  half. 
The  shekel,  the  maneh,  and 
the  talent  were  all  originally 
names  of  weights;  and  here 
it  may  be  remarked  that  there 
appears  no  sufficient  warrant 
for  the  opinion  that  the  Jews 
had  two  kinds  of  weights. 
When  the  phrase  shekel  of  the 
sanctuary  is  used,  (Ex.  xxx. 
13,)  it  means,  not  that  this  was 
different  from  the  common 
shekel,  but  that  it  was  a  true 
standard  weight,  according  to 
the  authorized  standard  pre¬ 
served  in  the  sanctuary,  or,  as 
we  should  say,  a  sealed  weight 
or  measure,  to  denote  that  its 
accuracy  is  certified  by  autho¬ 
rity.  To  weigh  substances  the 
Jews  had — 

The  shekel,  (Amos  viii.  5,) 
half  an  ounce  avoirdupois. 

The  maneh  or  mina,  (Ezek. 


MEA 

xlv.  12,)  one  hundred  shekels, 
or  fifty  ounces,  equal  to  three 
pounds  two  ounces  avoirdupois. 

The  talent,  (2  Sam.  xii.  3U,) 
three  thousand  shekels,  thirty 
manehs,fifteenhundred  ounces, 
equal  to  ninety-three  pounds 
twelve  ounces  avoirdupois. 

IV.  Of  currency. 

(1.)  Before  the  captivity. 

The  gerah,  one-twentieth  of 
a  shekel,  would  be  worth  now 
nearly  two  and  a  half  cents. 

The  bekah,  half  a  shekel, 
equal  to  twenty-five  cents. 

The  shekel,  twenty  gerahs, 
weighing  half  an  ounce  troy, 
equal  to  fifty  cents. 

The  maneh  or  mina,  one 
hundred  shekels,  fifty  ounces, 
or  four  pounds  two  ounces  troy, 
eijual  to  fifty  dollars. 

The  talent,  thirty  minte  or 
three  thousand  shekels,  ninety- 
three  pounds  twelve  ounces, 
equal  to  SI  500,  if  of  silver,  or 
$25,000,  if  of  gold.  The  pound 
is  equal  to  the  mina. 

The  value  of  gold  was  to  that 
of  sil  ver  about  as  twelve  to  one. 

The  dram,  (IChron.  xxix. 
7,)  or  drachm ,  was  the  same 
with  the  daric. 

(2.)  After  the  captivity. 

The  daric,  dram,  or  drachm, 
(Ezra  ii.  69,)  was  a  Persian  gold 
coin,  equal  to  about  five  dol¬ 
lars  fifty  cents. 

The  stater  or piece  of  money, 
(Matt.  xvii.  27,)  a  Greek  or 
Roman  silver  coin,  (a  shekel 
in  weight,)  and  in  value  over  , 
fifty  cents.  The  slater  or 
coined  shekel  of  the  Jews  is 
often  found  in  the  cabinets 
of  antiquaries  at  the  present 
day. 

The  penny,  (Matt.  xxii.  19,) 
or  drachm,  a  Roman  silver 
coin,  equal  to  from  twelve  and 
a  half  to  fourteen  cents. 

The  farthing,  (Matt.  x.  29,) 
a  Roman  silver  coin,  equal  to 
one  cent  and  a  quarter. 

Another  piece  -of  money 
equal  to  one-fourth  of  a  far¬ 
thing  is  called  bv  the  same 
'428 


MEA 

name,  (Matt.  v.  2G ;)  and  the 
mite  (Mark  xii.  42)  tyae  half 
of  this  last  farthing,  or  about 
one-eighth  of  a  cent  and  a  half. 

All  erroneous  impression  pre¬ 
vails  respecting  the  real  value 
of  money,  from  our  associations 
with  its  nominal  value.  The 
penny  a  day  (Matt.  xx.  2)  seems 
to  be  a  mean  compensation  for 
ten  or  twelve  hours’  labour, 
and  the  twopence  (Luke  x.  35) 
affords  very  equivocal  evidence 
of  generosity  in  the  good  Sa. 
mariian;  but  when  it  is  con¬ 
sidered  what  these  sums  could 
obtain  of  the  comforts  and  ne¬ 
cessaries  of  life,  the  case  ap¬ 
pears  differently. 

As  lately  as  the  year  1351, 
the  price  of  labour  was  regu¬ 
lated  in  England  by  parlia¬ 
ment,  and  “haymakers,  corn- 
weeders,  without  meat,  drink, 
or  other  courtesy,”  (in  modern 
phrase,  finding  themselves,) 
were  to  have  a  penny  a  day. 
In  many  places  higher  wages 
are  given  for  haymaking  than 
for  any  other  kind  of  agricul¬ 
tural  labour.  The  pay  of  a 
chaplain  in  England,  in  1314, 
was  three  half-pence,  or  about 
three  cents  a  day.  At  the  same 
time  wheat  was  sixteen  cents 
a  bushel,  and  a  fat  sheep  twelve 
cents.  A  penny  a  day  under 
such  circumstances  would  not 
be  inconsiderable  wages.  It 
has  been  estimated  that  four 
hundred  and  forty  grains  of 
silver  would  purchase  as  much 
in  the  fourth  century  before 
Christ,  as  four  thousand  four 
hundred  grains  would  purchase 
in  England  in  17S0. 

MEAT,  MEATS.  (Gen.  i.  29. 
Mark  vii.  19.)  The  food  of  the 
Hebrews  was  regulated  by  the 
appointment  of  God.  Their 
methods  of  cooking  meats  were 
various,  though  they  never  ate 
of  food  dressed  by  any  other 
than  a  Jew.  nor  of  food  pre¬ 
pared  by  other  kitchen  uten¬ 
sils  than  those  of  their  own 
nation.  What  animals  they 


MEA 

might  eat,  and  what  they  ought 
not,  was  particularly  command¬ 
ed.  (Lev.xi.  Deut.xiv.)  The  im¬ 
port  of  the  word  meat  seems  to 
have  undergone  a  considerable 
change  since  our  version  of  the 
Bible  was  made;  for,  in  this, 
it  means  food  in  general;  or, 
when  confined  to  one  species 
of  food,  always  signifies  meal, 
flour,  or  grain,  but  never  flesh, 
which  is  now  the  usual  accep¬ 
tation  of  the  word.  A  meat¬ 
offering  in  the  Scriptures  is 
always  a  vegetable  and  never 
an  animal  offering ;  and  it 
might  now  be  rendered  a 
bread-offering,  or  a  meal-offer¬ 
ing,  instead  of  a  meat-offering. 

Meats  offered  to  idols. 
(1  Cor.  viii.  7.  10.)  At  the  first 
settling  of  the  church,  there 
were  many  disputes  concern¬ 
ing  the  use  of  meats  offered  to 
idols.  Some  newly  converted 
Christians,  convinced  that  an 
idol  was  nothing,  and  that  the 
distinction  of  clean  and  unclean 
creatures  was  abolished  by  our 
Saviour,  ate  indifferently  of 
whatever  was  served  up  to 
them,  even  among  pagans, 
without  inquiring  whether  the 
meats  had  been  offered  to  idols. 
They  took  the  same  liberty  in 
buying  meat  sold  in  the  mar¬ 
ket,  not  regarding  whether  it 
were  pure  or  impure,  accord¬ 
ing  to  the  Jews;  or  whether 
it  nad  been  offered  to  idols  or 
not.  But  other  Christians, 
weaker  or  less  instructed,  were 
offended  at  this  liberty,  and 
thought  that  eating  of  meat 
whicn  had  been  offered  to  idols 
was  a  kind  of  partaking  in  than 
Wicked  and  sacrilegious  act. 

This  diversity  of  opinion  pro¬ 
duced  some  scandal,  for  which 
Paul  thought  it  behoved  him 
to  provide  a  remedy.  (Rom. 
xiv.  20,  21.)  Ho  determined, 
therefore,  that  all  things  were 
cl  pan  to  such  as  were  clean^ 
(Tit.  i.  15.)  and  that  an  idol 
was  nothing  at  all.  That  a 
man  might  safely  eat  of  what 


MED 

evrr  was  sold  in  the  market, 
and  need  not  scrupulously  in¬ 
quire  from  whence  it  came; 
and  that  if  an  unbeliever  should 
invite  a  believer  to  eat  with 
him,  the  believer  might  eat 
of  whatever  was  set  before 
him,  &c.  (1  Cor.  x.  25,  &c.) 

But  at  the  same  time  he  en¬ 
joins,  that  the  laws  of  charity 
and  prudence  should  be  ob¬ 
served  ;  that  believers  should 
be  cautious  of  scandalizing  or 
offending  weak  minds;  for 
though  all  things  might  be 
lawful,  yet  all  things  were  not 
always  expedient. 

MEDEBA.  (Josh.  xiii.  16.)  A 
city  in  the  eastern  part  of  the 
territory  of  Reuben,  which  still 
retains  nearly  its  ancient  name 
Madaba.  The  site  of  the  old 
town  shows  the  ruins  of  a 
temple,  and  the  excavations 
of  ponds  and  reservoirs. 

MEDIA.  (Isa.  xxi.  2.)  This 
country,  which  probably  de¬ 
rives  its  name  from  Madai, 
(Gen.  x.  2,)  anciently  occupied 
what  is  now  part  of  the  king¬ 
dom  of  Persia,  and  was  bound¬ 
ed  north  by  the  Caspian  Sea 
and  Armenia,  south  by  Persia 
proper,  and  west  by  Assyria. 
It  was  a  fertile  and  well-cul¬ 
tivated  region,  and  was  divided 
into  greater  and  lesser  Media. 

Ninus,  king  of  Assyria,  added 
this  country  to  his  kingdom, 
and  retained  it  until  the  time 
of  Sennacherib,  when  it  re¬ 
volted,  and  his  son  became 
king,  b.  c.  700.  It  fell  into 
the  hand  of  Cyrus  the  Great, 
about  55G  b.  c.,  who  perfectly 
united  Media  and  Persia,  form¬ 
ing  the  Medo-Persian  kingdom. 
Hence,  by  Esther  and  Daniel, 
the  laws  and  chronicles  of  Die 
Medes  and  Persians  are  always 
mentioned  together.  God  em¬ 
ployed  the  Medes  to  punish 
Babylon,  and  then  sent  them 
the  cup  of  his  wrath  by  Cyrus. 
(Isa.  xiii.  17,  18;  xxi.  2,3.  Jer. 
xxv.  25.) 

MEDIATOR.  (Gal.  iii.  19.) 


MED 

One  who  interposes  between 
two  parties  at  variance,  with 
the  view  of  effecting  e  recon¬ 
ciliation  between  them.  The 
title  belongs  pre-eminently  to 
the  divine  Redeemer, in  ana  by 
whom  God  is  reconciling  the 
world  unto  himself.  (1  Tim.  ii. 
5.  Heb.  viii.  6,  and  xii.  24.)  And 
it  is  to  be  remembered  that  he 
is  the  only  mediator  between 
God  and  man.  Of  course  our 
blessed  Saviour  has  always 
stood  in  that  relation,  as  well 
before  as  since  his  manifesta¬ 
tion  in  the  flesh.  He  is  the 
Angel  of  the  covenant, by  whom 
alt  the  divine  communications 
were  made  under  the  several 
dispensations.  Of  the  new  co¬ 
venant  he  became  the  surety 
as  well  as  the  mediator,  seal¬ 
ing  it  with  his  own  blood  ;  and 
the  blessings  of  this  covenant 
are  now  and  ever  will  be  be¬ 
stowed  in  virtue  of  his  merits 
and  intercession.  The  errors 
and  absurdities  into  which 
many  are  betrayed  who  reject 
this  doctrine  are  without  num¬ 
ber  ;  and  no  view  of  the  subject 
accords  with  the  divine  ora¬ 
cles,  or  brings  into  their  just 
relation  all  'the  parties  con¬ 
cerned,  except  that  which  con¬ 
templates  the  Redeemer  both 
in  his  divine  and  human  na¬ 
ture  :  as,  on  the  one  hand,  iden¬ 
tified  with  the  infinite  Jehovah, 
whose  honour  and  glory  are  to 
be  maintained,  and  whose  fa¬ 
vour  is  to  be  secured ;  while, 
on  the  other,  he  is  the  self- 
offered,  atoning  sacrifice  for 
sin;  and,  as  the  friend  of  sin¬ 
ners,  invites  them  to  come  to 
him  in  faith  and  penitence, 
and  receive  the  boundless 
blessings  of  God’s  grace,  se¬ 
cured  to  them  by  his  ow  n  pre¬ 
vailing  intercession.  In  all 
ages,  and  in  all  parts  of  the 
world,  there  has  constantly 
revailed  such  a  sense  of  the 
oliuess  of  the  supreme  Di¬ 
vinity,  as  to  make  recourse  la 
some  sort  of  mediation  uni- 
430 


MEL 


MEL 


versa! .  There  is  not  a  form 
of  religion  known,  even  among 
the  savages  and  heathen  na¬ 
tions,  which  does  not  recog¬ 
nise,  with  more  or  less  dis¬ 
tinctness,  the  necessity  of  a  me¬ 
diator  between  the  divinity  and 
man.  This  fact,  together  with 
the  consideration  that  there  is 
nothing  in  the  doctrine  itself 
contrary  to  reason  and  ana¬ 
logy,  sufficiently  establishes 
it  against  the  objections  and 
cavils  of  scoffers  and  unbe¬ 
lievers.  •  . 

MEGIDDO.  (Josh.  xli.  21.) 

A  city  belonging  to  Manasseh, 
but  lying  within  the  limits  of 
Issachar,  not  far  from  the  river 
Kishon,  whose  waters  are  hence 
called  the  icaters  of  Megiddo. 
<Judg.  v.  19.)  Us  inhabitants 
were  not  expelled  by  Manas¬ 
seh,  but  when  Israel  became 
strong  were  made  tributary. 
Solomon  fortified  it,  and  made 
It  the  residence  of  one  of  his 
commissaries,  who  provided 
stores  of  provision  for  his  house¬ 
hold.  (1  Kings  iv.  12;  ix.  15.) 
There,  too,  Ahaziah  died,  in 
consequence  of  a  wound  in 
battle,  and  Josiah  was  slam 
by  Pharaoh-necho  of  Egypt. 
(SKincs  ix.  27:  xxiii.  29.)  _ 

MELCH1ZEDEC  (Gen.  xiv. 
18)  is  supposed  to  have  been 
king  of  the  Salem  which  was 
afterwards  Jerusalem,  (though 
it  is  not  improbable  that  the 
title  king  of  Salem  was  a 
mere  appellation.)  He  is  men-, 
tioned  before  the  institution 
of  the  Aaronic  order  as  a 
priest  of  the  most  high  God. 
Some  have  strangely  suppos¬ 
ed  him  to  have  been  Shem, 
but  his  birth  and  genealogy 
are  concealed,  (perhaps  pur¬ 
posely,)  or  the  phrase  with¬ 
out  father,  &c.  may  mean  that 
bis  parents  were  of  obscure  or 
low  origin;  and  we  know  not 
that  he  had  a  predecessor  or 
successor ;  at  any  rate  the  time 
of  his  priesthood  was  unlimit¬ 
ed,  and  in  this  respect  differ¬ 


ent  from  the  Levitical  priest 
hood.  (Num.  viii.  24,25.)  The 
phrase  having  neither  begin¬ 
ning  of  days  nor  end  of  lift 
may  apply  either  to  the  tima 
of  his  birth  and  death  being 
unknown,  or  to  the  indefinite 
termofhisofficiallife.  Abraham 
showed  his  respect  for  the  age, 
rank,  pieyq  and  priestly  office 
of  Melchizedec,  by  paying  him 
a  tithe  of  the  spoils  he  had 
taken  in  the  battle  with  Che- 
dorlaomer  and  his  allies,  in 
the  valley  of  Jehoshaphat;  and 
hence  the  argumentof  the  apos¬ 
tle,  that  if  Abraham,  whom  the 
Jews  regarded  so  Highly,  and 
who  was  the  ancestor  of  the 
sons  of  Levi,  thus  acknow¬ 
ledged  the  dignity  and  supe¬ 
riority  of  Melchizedec;  surely 
Christ,  the  great  High-priest, 
of  whom  Melchizedec  was  but 
an  imperfect  type,  was  worthy 
of  like  or  still  greater  homage. 
And  if  the  ancestor  of  Levi 
thus  paid  homage  to  Melchi- 
zedeothe  type  of  Christ,  surely 
the  priesthood  which  was  filled 
by  the  sons  of  Levi  must  be 
regarded  as  far  inferior  in  dig¬ 
nity  and  excellence  to  the 
priesthood  of  Christ  himself. 
(Heb.  v.  vi.  vii.) 

MELITA,  (Acts  xxviii.  1,) 
now  Malta,  an  island  twelve 
miles  in  breadth  and  twenty 
in  length,  lying  between  Sicily 
and  Africa,  about  two  hundred 
miles  east  of  Tunis,  and  in 
that  part  of  the  Mediterranean 
which,  in  the  apostle’s  day, 
was  often  called  Adria,  in¬ 
cluding  the  Ionian  and  Sici¬ 
lian  seas,  according  to  the  tes¬ 
timony  of  Ptolemy  and  Strabo. 
Here  Paul  and  his  company 
were  shipwrecked  on  the  pas¬ 
sage  to  Rome,  and  very  kindly 
treated  by  the  inhabitants,  es¬ 
pecially  by  Publius  the  govern¬ 
or.  A  modern  traveller  says, — 
“Passed  St.  Paul’s  harbour, 
where  the  apostle  iswas  ship¬ 
wrecked.  In  reading  the  ac¬ 
count  of  this  shipwreck,  I 


MEL 

had  ever  experienced  difficulty 
In  comprehending  how  there 
could  be  a  place  formed  on 
the  coast  of  an  island,  where 
two  seas  met.  But  in  view¬ 
ing  the  spot  pointed  out  where 
the  ship  was  thrust  in,  the 
difficulty  was  removed.  The 
island  Gozo  lies  west  of  the 
main  island,  (Malta,)  and  is 
separated  only  by  a  strait,  from 
half  to  a  quarter  ol  a  mile  in 
width.  When  a  violent  Euro 
clydon  (east-wind)  prevails, 
and  the  seas  run  high,  a  power¬ 
ful  current  is  forced  in  at  each 
end  of  this  strait,  which  ranges 
nearly  north  and  south.  The 
ship  was  driven  in  at  the  north 
end,  and  struck  in  a  small 
nook,  on  the  Malta  side,  about 
forty  rods  from  the  entrance. 
This  strait  must  have  been, 

I  think,  the  creek  with  a 
shore,  into  which  they  were 
minded ,  if  possible,  to  thrust 
in  the  ship.  For,  while  lying 
off  to  the  north,  the  entrance 
of  the  strait  has  the  exact  ap¬ 
pearance  of  the  mouth  of  a 
creek  or  river.” 

This  island  was  settled  by  a 
Phenician  colony,  about  b.  c. 
1500.  Since  the  Christian  era, 
it  has  belonged  successively 
to  the  Goths,  Vandals,  Sara¬ 
cens,  Normans,  Germans,  and 
French,  until  Charles  V.  sur¬ 
rendered  it  to  the  knights  of 
St.  John  of  Jerusalem,  who 
were  dispossessed  by  Bona¬ 
parte  ;  and  by  the  treaty  of 
1814  it  was  allotted  toEngland. 
At  present  it  is  the  centre  of 
extensive  missionary  opera¬ 
tions.  Publications  in  the  mo¬ 
dern  Greek,  Armenian,  Turk¬ 
ish,  and  Arabic  languages  are 
widely  circulated ;  and  it  is 
also  a  depository  for  Bibles  in 
various  languages. 

MELONS.  (Num.  xi.  5.) 
Probably  what  is  known  to  us 
as  the  water-melon,  a  fruit 
which  is  still  found  in  great 
perfectiofir-m  Egypt,  and  which 


MEP 

travellers  tell  us  furnished  the 
chief  food  and  drink  of  the 
lower  classes  during  the  heal 
of  summer. 

JVIENAHEM  (2  Kings  xv. 
14)  was  the  son  of  GacTi,  and 
having  slain  Sballumj  king 
of  Samaria,  reigned  in  his 
steaa.  His  reign,  which  lasted 
ten  years,  was  distinguished 
for  cruelty  and  oppression. 
(2  Kings  xv.  16 — 20.) 

MENE.  (Dan.  v.  25.)  A  word 
of  that  significant  sentence 
which  appeared  on  the  wall 
of  Belshazzar’s  banqueting- 
hall,  to  warn  him  of  the  im¬ 
pending  destruction  of  Baby¬ 
lon.  The  wjiole  sentence  is 
in  the  pure  Chaldee  language, 
and  reads,  when  translated 
literally,  ‘Mene,  he  is  num¬ 
bered. — Mene.A*  xsnumbered — 
Tekel,  he  is  weighed — Uphar- 
sin,  they  are  divided.’  Peres, 
in  the  original  language,  is  the 
same  word  with  Upharsin,  but 
in  a  different  case  or  number. 
It  means,  he  teas  divided. 

MEPHAATH  (Josh.  xiii.  18) 
is  supposed  to  have  been  con¬ 
tiguous  to  Kedemoth,  Bezer, 
and  Jahzah.  (1  Chron.  vi.  78, 
79.)  In  later  times  it  was  in 
the  hands  of  the  Moabites.  (Jer. 
xlviii.  21.) 

MEPHIBOSHETH,  1.  (2 
Sam.  xxi.  8,)  was  a  son  of  Saul, 
who,  wilh  his  brother  and  five 
others  of  the  family,  suffered 
a  violent  death  at  the  hands 
of  the  Gibeoniles. 

2.  (2  Sam.  iv.  4.)  Or  Merib- 
baal ,  (1  Chron.  viii.  34,)  was  a 
eon  ot  Jonathan,  and  grandson 
of  Saul,  who,  at  the  age  of  five 
years,  fell  from  his  nurse’s 
arms,  and  was  ever  after  a 
cripple.  When  David  was  in 
quiet  possession  of  his  king¬ 
dom,  he  sought  out  this  branch 
of  the  family  of  Jonathan  his 
friend,  and  not  only  gave  hint 
an  honourable  place  in  his 
palace,  but  made  ample  pro¬ 
vision  for  his  family.  The  iiv 
.  432 


MER 

veresting  history  of  this  liberal 
proceedingofDavid’s  is  minute¬ 
ly  related  in  2  Sam.  ix. 

MERAB.  (1  Sam.  xiv.  49.) 
The  eldest  daughter  of  Saul, 
who  promised  her  to  David  in 
marriage;  but  she  married 
Adriel  of  Meholath,  by  whom 
she  had  five  sons,  and  David 
took  her  sister  Michal.  The 
five  sons  of  Merab  suffered  a 
violent  death  at  the  hands  of 
theGibeonit.es.  (2 Sam.  xxi.  8.) 
They  are  called  the  Jive  sons 
of  Michal,  whom  she  brought 
up  for  Adriel ;  and  the  proba¬ 
bility  is,  if  the  text  is  correctly 
expressed,  that  Michal  adopted 
her  sister’s  children,  (their  mo¬ 
ther  being  dead.)  At  all  events, 
we  may  be  sure  that  if  the  his¬ 
tory  was  fabulous,  such  ap- 
arent  inconsistencies  would 
ave  been  avoided;  so  that 
their  occurrence  shows  the  ab¬ 
sence  of  any  cunning. 

MERCHANTS.  (Isa.  xxiii. 
2.)  The  earliest  mode  of  com¬ 
merce  was  doubtless  by  cara¬ 
vans.  The  merchants  to  whom 
Joseph  was  sold  were  probably 
of  this  character.  The  earliest 
commerce  with  India,  of  which 
we  have  any  knowledge,  was 
carried  on  in  this  way  by 
the  merchants  of  Arabia  and 
Egypt.  There  was,  however, 
considerable  intercourse  be¬ 
tween  many  countries  by 
water.  The  Phenicians  held 
the  first  rank  as  a  commercial 
nation,  and  their  first  metro¬ 
polis  was  Sidon,  and  after¬ 
wards  Tyre.  Something  may 
be  learned  of  their  commerce 
from  Ezek.  xxvii.  and  xxviii. 
(See  Ships.)  The  commerce 
of  the  Egyptians  was  also  very 
extensive.  They  imported 
goods  from  India,  and  carried 
on  an  export,  trade  with  various 
parts  of  the  Mediterranean. 

MERCY.  (Gen.  xix.  19.)  An 
essential  attribute  of  the  Di¬ 
vine  Being,  for  the  knowledge 
of  which  we  are  indebted 
wholly  to  revelation.  The  ' 


MER 

lan  of  salvation  by  Jesus 

hrist  provides  for  the  exercise 
of  infinite  mercy,  consistently 
with  the  most  rigid  demands 
of  truth  and  righteousness ;  so 
that,  under  this  gracious  dis¬ 
pensation,  mercy  and  truth 
are  said  to  have  met  together, 
and  righteousness  and  peace 
to  have  kissed  each  other.  (Ps. 
lxxxv.  10.) 

The  expression  7  will  have 
mercy,  and.  not  sacrifice,  (If  is. 
vi.  G.  Matt.  ix.  13,)  signifies  (as 
its  connexion  indicates)  that 
God  is  pleased  with  the  ex 
ercise  ol  mercy  rather  than 
with  the  offering  of  sacrifices, 
though  sin  has  made  the  latter 
necessary.  (Comp.  1  Sam.  xv. 
22.) 

Mercy  is  also  a  Christian 
grace,  and  no  duty  is  more 
strongly  urged  by  the  Scrip¬ 
tures' than  the  exercise  of  ii 
towards  all  men,  and  espe¬ 
cially  towards  such  as  have 
trespassed  against  us.  (Matt. 
xviii.  33 — 35.) 

Mercy-seat.  (Ex.  xxy.  17.) 
This  was  the  lid  or  cover  of  the 
ark  of  the  covenant.  It  was 
made,  of  gold,  and  two  cherubs 
of  gold  were  placed  at  each 
end,  and  stretching  their  w  ing3 
towards  each  other,  forced  a 
kind  of  throne,  upon  which 
God  was  supposed  to  be  present 
in  a  peculiar  manner,  to  hear 
and  answer  prayer,  and  t» 
make  known  his  holy  will. 

MERIBAH.  (See  Rephi- 

DIM.) 

MERODACH.  (Jer.  1. 2.)  The 
name  of  an  idol  god  of  the  Ba¬ 
bylonians,  supposed  by  some 
to  have  represented  the  planet 
Mars,  and  by  others  to  have 
been  the  statue  of  some  famous 
king.  It  was  the  surname  of 
some  of  the  Babylonish  mo- 
narchs.  (Isa.  xxxix.  1.) 

JYLEROM.  (Josh.  xi.  5,  6.)  A 
marshy  lake  in  the  northern 
part  of  Judea,  through  which 
the  Jordan  flows.  It  is  now 
called  Rmle,  as  is  the  vaile“ 
433' 


MBS 

which  encloses  it.  It  is  about 
welve  miles  above  Tiberias, 
and  is  regarded  by  many  as  pro¬ 
perly  the  source  of  the  Jordan. 
Most  of  its  bed  is  dry  in  sum¬ 
mer,  and  is  overgrown  with 
grass  and  shrubbery,  affording 
retreats  for  wild  beasts.  In  the 
spring  freshets  the  lake  swells 
to  six  miles  in  length,  and 
three  and  a  half  in  breadth,  and 
abounds  with  fish.  It  is  called 
the  waters  of  Merom,  or  high 
waters,  because  it  was  higher 
than  the  other  lakes  of  Judea. 
.(See  Omar,  by  Am.  S.  S.  U  nion, 
J».  123.) 

MEROZ.  (Judg.  v.  23.)  A 
place  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
crook  Kishon,  whose  inhabit¬ 
ants  were  accursed  for  refusing 
to  come  to  the  help  of  Israel, 
-in  the  contest  with  Sisera. 

MESECH,  (Ps.  cxx.  5,)  or 
MESHECH.  (Ezek.xxxii.26.) 
The  name  of  the  coufttry  in  the 
north-eastern  angle  of  Asia  Mi¬ 
nor,  supposed  to  have  been  set¬ 
tled  by  the  posterity  of  Mesech, 
the  son  of  Japheth.  They  had 
considerable  commerce  with 
Tyre.  (Ezek.  xxvii.13.)  Some 
suppose  the  Muscovites  were 
of  this  race.  The  terms  Me¬ 
sech  and  Kedar,  in  the  above 
passage  from  Psalms,  is  sup¬ 
posed  to  denote  northern  and 
southern  barbarians  generally. 

MESHA.  1.  A  place.  (Gen. 
x.  30.)  Supposed  to  denote 
the  country  called  by  the 
Greeks  Messene,  and  lying 
near  the  modern  Bassora. 

2.  A  person.  (2Kingsiii.4.) 
A  king  of  Moab,  who  refused 
to  pay  to  Jehoram,  . king  of  Is¬ 
rael,  the  annual  tribute  which 
he  had  been  accustomed  to  pay 
to  his  father  Ahab.  For  this 
offence  Jehoram  determined  to 
punish  him;  and  calling  to  his 
aid  Jehoshaphat,  kmgofjudah, 
and  the  king  of  the  Edomites, 
he  invaded  the  territory  of 
Moab,  signally  defeated  them, 
desolated  their  country,  and  at 
last  the  king  and  his  army 


MES 

were  closely  besieged  in  a 
walled  town.  In  this  extremity 
Mesha  attempted  to  cut  hia 
way  through  the  enemy’s 
ranks;  but  failing  in  this,  he 
made  the  horrible  sacrifice  of 
his  eldest  son  to  some  idol  god ; 
and  it  was  done  openly  upon 
the  wall,  in  sight  of  the  camp 
of  Israel,  that  they  might  be 
persuaded  by  such  a  revolting 
spectacle  to  raise  the  siege. 
This  effect  was  produced,  for 
we  are  told  that  they  imme¬ 
diately  retired,  contenting 
themselves  with  great  spoil. 

MESHACH.  (See  Abednb- 
no.) 

MESHECH.  (See  Mesech.) 

MESOPOTAMIA,  (Deut. 
xxiii.  4,)  or  Syria,  between  the 
two  rivers,  elsewhere  called 
Padan-aram,  (Gen.  xxviii.  2,) 
or  the  plain  of  Syria,  was  the 
name  of  the  country  lying  be¬ 
tween  the  Tigris  and  the  Eu¬ 
phrates.  It  was  the  first  abode 
of  men  both  before  and  after 
the  flood,  and  was  bounded 
north  by  Armenia,  east  by 
Assyria,  south  by  Arabia,  and 
west  by  Syria,  and  embraced 
tire  modern  El-jesira  of  Turkey. 

MESSENGER.  (Mal.rii.l.) 
The  laws  and  edicts  of  th  e  J ew- 
ish  kingswere  proclaimed  near 
the  royal  residence  by  public 
criers;  but  they  were  made 
known  to  more  distant  towns 
and  provinces  by  messengers 
sent  for  that  purpose.  (1  Sarn. 
xi.7.  2 Chron.  xxxvi. 22.  Amos 
iv.  5.)  They  stood  in  the  gate 
of  the  city,  where  the  largest 
mass  of  people  might  be  found, 
and  proclaimed  the  law  or 
message,  as  in  Jer.  xi.  6;  xvii. 
19,  20.  At  Jerusalem,  these 
messages  were  proclaimed  in 
the  temple,  where  a  concourse 
of  people  was  always  found. 
Our  Saviour  is  called  the  Mes  > 
senger  of  the  covenant ,  (J)Ial. 
iii.  I,)  inasmuch  as  he  divested 
himself  of  his  divine  and  eter¬ 
nal  glory,  and,  taking  the  form 
of  a  servant,  came  to  declare 
43-1 


MES 

the  will  of  God;  to  seal  the 
covenant  of  grate  with  his 
precious  blood,  and  thus  to 
make  propitiation  for  our  sins; 
so  that  we,  by  the  exercise  of 
faith  and  repentance,  wrought 
in  us  by  the  blessed  Spirit, 
may  be  made  meet  for  the 
inheritance  which  that  cove¬ 
nant  secures,  and  of  which  he 
was  Prince  and  Mediator  as 
well  as  Messenger. 

The  spies  concealed  by  Ra- 
Uab  (Josh.  vi.  17)  are  called 
messengers  ,*  and  the  punish¬ 
ment  which  God  inflicts  oil 
the  wicked  for  their  sins  is 
also  called  a  messenger.  (Prov. 
xvii.  11.) 

Ministers  of  the  gospel  are 
also  called  messengers,  (2  Cor. 
viii.  23,)  because  they  declare 
or  announce  the  message  of 
mercy  which  the  gospel  con¬ 
tains. 

MESSIAH,  (Dan.  ix.  25,)  or 
MESSIAS,  (John  iy.  25,)  sig¬ 
nifies  anointed ;  a  title  given 
by  way  of  eminence  to  Jesus 
Christ.  It  is  sometimes  applied 
by  the  sacred  writers  in  a  sub¬ 
ordinate  sense,  as  in  Isa.  xlv.  1. 
Ezek.  xxviii.  14;  but  when  ap¬ 
plied  to  Christ,  it  denotes  that 
he  unites  in  himself  the  offices 
of  a  prophet,  a  priest,  and  a 
king;  not  of  the  Jews  only, 
but  of  all  mankind. 

The  Jews  expected  the  Mes¬ 
siah  would  be  their  deliverer 
from  civil  bondage,  and  would 
raise  them,  as  a  nation,  to  great 
power.  Hence  they  rejected 
the  meek  and  lowly  Jesus,  and 
nut  him  to  shame  and  death. 
They  were  disappointed  and 
offended  because  his  kingdom 
was  not  of  this  world,  and  pro¬ 
mised  no  privileges  to  them  in 
distinction  from  the  Gentiles. 
The  whole  Scriptures  abound 
with  evidence  that  they  were 
and  are  under  a  gross  delusion ; 
and  the  Christian  church  is 
looking  with  deep  interest  for 
the  time  when  the  veil  shall 
be  taken  from  their  eyes; 


MIC 

when  they  shall  look  on  Him 
whom  they  have  pierced,  and 
mourn;  and  when  they  shall 
receive  him  as  the  long-pro¬ 
mised  and  long-expected  Mes¬ 
siah.  (See  Christ.) 

METHEG-AMMAH.  (2Sam. 
viii.  1.)  The  same  with  Gath. 
(Comp.  1  Chron.  xviiL  1.) 

MICAH.  1.  (Judg;  xvii.  1.) 
A  celebrated  idolater  in  mount 
Ephraim,  who  persuaded  a  Le- 
vite  to  officiate  as  his  priest 
for  a  stipulated  reward.  The 
emissaries  sent  out  by  the  tribe 
of  Dan  to  find  a  settlement  for 
them  happened  to  call  at  MU 
call’s  house,  and  saw  the  idols 
and  the  Levite ;  and  the  party 
of  the  Danites,  who  afterwards 
went  to  Laish,  took  Micah’s 
house  in  their  way, secured  all 
his  images,  and  persuaded  his 
priest  to  accompany  them. 
Micah  endeavoured  to  obtain 
them  again,  but  in  vain.  (Judg. 
xviii.) 

2.  (Micah  i.  1.)  The  prophet, 
was  a  native  of  Mareshah, 
(hence  called  the  Morasthite ,) 
a  village  in  the  south  of  the 
territory  of  Judah.  (Josh,  xv.44.) 
It  is  supposed  that  a  reference 
to  one  of  his  predictions  saved 
the  life  of  Jeremiah.  (Jer.  xxvi. 
18-24.) 

Prophecy  op,  is  the  thirty- 
third  in  the  order  of  the  books 
of  the  Bible.  It  was  uttered 
within  the  space  of  fifty  yeari 
viz.from  the  commencement  of 
the  reign  of  Jotham,  a.  m.  3245, 
to  the  close  of  the  reign  of  He- 
zekiah,  a.  m.  3306,  or  nearly 
contemporary  with  Isaiah.  The 
prophecies  of  Micah,  which  are 
recorded  in  the  sacred  canon, 
make  but  seven  chapters,  and 
are  divided  into  three  sections: 
§  1.  Prophecies  in  the  reign  of 
Jotham,  ch.  i. 

§  2.  Prophecies  in  the  reign  of 
Ahaz,  ii. — -iv.  8. 

§  3.  Prophecies  in  the  reign  of 
Hezekiab,  iv.  9— vii. 

The  remarkable  feature  of 
this  whole  prophecy  is,  that  it 


MIC 

is  very  explicit  respecting  the 
birthplace  and  prominent  cha¬ 
racteristics  of  the  Messiah,  and 
the  blessings  of  his  reign  upon 
earth. 

MICAIAH.  (See  Ahab.) 

MICHAEL.  (Dan.  x.  13.)  A 
name  of  frequent  occurrence 
in  the  street  writings.  It  is 
applied  particularly  to  an  an¬ 
gel,  or  a  prince  of  angels,  (as 
the  name  denotes,)  (Jude  9;) 
and  in  the  book  of  Daniel,  the 
same  Michael  is  spoken  of  as 
a  prince.  (See  Archangel.) 

MICHAL.  (1  Sam.  xiv.  49.) 
Second  daughter  of  Saul,  and 
the  wife  of  David.  She  was 
evidently  an  unprincipled  wo¬ 
man.  When  she  had  aided 
David  to  escape  from  the  fury 
of  her  enraged  father,  she 
placed  an  image  in  the  bed  ; 
and  when  the  messengers  came 
to  seize  him,  Michal  told  them 
he  was  sick  in  bed.  Saul  di¬ 
rected  him  to  be  brought,  sick 
or  well ;  and  when  the  mes¬ 
sengers  came  again  and  disco¬ 
vered  the  trick,  Michal  ex¬ 
cused  herself  to  her  father  by 
a  direct  falsehood. 

During  David’s  exile,  Michal 
married  another  man,  with 
whom  she  lived  nine  or  ten 
years.  David,  having  in  the 
mean  time  become  established 
on  the  throne,  required  of 
Abner,  as  one  of  the  conditions 
of  a  treaty,  that  Michal  should 
be  restored  to  him,  which  was 
accordingly  done. 

As  another  and  conclusive 
evidence  of  her  impiety,  we 
are  told  that  she  despised  Da¬ 
vid  when  she  saw  the  expres¬ 
sions  of  his  gratitude  and  joy 
at  the  approach  of  the  ark  of 
the  Lord,  and  was  evidently 
filled  with  passion  and  con¬ 
tempt.  For  this  sin  she  was 
visited  with  a  special  judg¬ 
ment.  (2  Sam.  vi.  16—23.) 

M1CHMASH,  (1  Sam.  xiii.2,) 
or  MICHMAS.  (Neh.  vii.  31.) 
A  place  on  the  borders  of 
Ephraim  and  Benjamin.  It  is 


MID 

supposed  to  lie  on  the  road 
through  Rama,  nine  miles  from 
Jerusalem.  Probably  a  narrow 
defile,  formed  by  two  abrupt, 
rugged  rocks  in  mount  Ephra¬ 
im,  was  called  the  passage  of 
Michmash ,  (1  Sam.  xiii.  23,)  In 
which  was  the  garrison  of  the 
Philistines,  and  which  was  pro¬ 
bably  so  well  defended  as  Do 
make  it  a  safe  depfit  for  the 
stores  of  Sennacherib's  army, 
in  his  ad  vanceupon  Jerusalem. 
(Isa.  x.  28, 29.)  The  place  was 
in  later  times  of  some  import¬ 
ance,  (Neh.  xi.  31 ;)  and  is 
mentioned  by  profane  histori- 
ans  four  hundred  years  after 
Christ. 

MIDIAN,  (Ex.  ii.  15,)  or 
MADIAN.  (Acts  vii.  29.)  A 
country  lying  around  the  east¬ 
ern  branch  of  the  Red  Sea,  and 
supposed  to  have  been  settled 
by  the  posterity  of  Midian. 
fourth  son  of  Abraham  and 
Keturah.  Midian  was  cele¬ 
brated  for  its  ca/nels,  (Judg.viL 
12:)  and  the  descendants  ol 
Ephah,  who  were  the  posterity 
of  Midian,  were  rich  in  camels 
and  dromedaries.  (Isa.  lx.  6.) 
Hither  Moses  fled,  and  here 
he  married  the  daughter  of 
Jethro. 

It  is  supposed  that  another 
country  of  the  same  name  was 
situated  on  the  eastern  coast 
of  the  Dead  Sea,  in  Arabia 
Petrea,  adjoining  Moab ;  but 
very  learned  geographers  de- 
scribe  but  one  land  of  Midian, 
and  this  embraces  both  sided1, 
of  the  eastern  gulf  of  the  Red 
Sea,  extending  southwardly 
near  to  mount  Sinai.  Ferhapo 
they  might  have  been  distin¬ 
guished  as  northern  and  south¬ 
ern  Midianites. 

When  the  children  of  Israel 
were  encamped  in  the  plains 
of  Moab,  the  Midianites  were 
invited  by  the  Moabites  to  join 
in  the  deputation  to  Balaam,  to 
procure  nis  services  to  curse 
the  children  of  Israel.  Foi 
their  conduct  towards  the  Isra- 
436 


MIL 

elites,  they  were  completely 
subdued ;  tlieir  kings  and  their 
male  population  slain ;  their 
cities  and  fortifications  were 
burned ;  and  their  property  of 
every  kind,  to  an  almost  in¬ 
credible  amount,  with  their 
wives  and  children,  were 
brought  to  the  camp  of  Israel, 
and  there  disposed  of  by  Moses 
and  Eleazar.  (Num.  xxxi.)  Pro¬ 
bably  a  few  escaped  the  gene¬ 
ral  massacre ;  for,  about  two 
centuries  afterwards,  the  Mi- 
dlanites  were  again  a  powerful 
nation,  mustering  an  immense 
army,  who,  for  their  oppressive 
treatment  of  the  Israelites,  were 
miraculously  defeated  by  Gide¬ 
on,  (Judg.  vi.  vii.  viii. ;)  after 
which,  they  seem  to  have  been 
incorporated  with  the  Moab¬ 
ites  and  Arabians. 

A  modern  traveller  describes 
the  scene  in  the  solitudes  of 
Midian,  where  tradition  says 
Moses  kept  the  sheep  of  Jethro 
his  father-in-law.  It  is  seen 
from  the  convent  on  mount 
Sinai,  in  a  valley  in  rear  of 
the  mount,  between  two  ridges. 
A  group  of  trees  stands  in  the 
midst  of  the  plain. 

The  curtains  of  Midian  (Hab. 
iii.  7)  i3  a  figurative  expression 
denoting  the  borders  or  inha¬ 
bitants  of  Midian. 

MIGDOL.  (Ex.  xiv.  2.)  A 
fortress  or  tower,  (probably  the 
modern  Bir  Suez,)  erected  at 
a  watering  place  a  few  miles 
north  of  Suez,  towards  Etham. 

MIGEON.  (1  Sam.  xiv.  2.) 
A  place  in  the  vicinity  of  Mich- 
mash.  (Comp.  Isa.  x.  28.  See 
Michmash.) 

MILCOLM.  (See  Moloch.) 

MILE.  (See  Measures.) 

MILETUS,  (Acts  xx.  15,)  or 
MILETUM.  (2  Tim.  iv.  20.)  A 
city  and  seaport,  and  the  capi¬ 
tal  of  ancient  Ionia.  It  stood 
about  forty  miles  south  of 
Ephesus,  and  was  second  only 
to  that  city  in  wealth,  com¬ 
merce,  and  luxury.  Miletus 
is  distinguished  as  the  birth- 


M1L 

place  of  Thales,  and  Anaxime¬ 
nes  his  pupil,  and  also  for  a 
magnificent  temple  and  oracle 
of  Apollo.  It  was  here  that 
Paul  received  the  elders  of 
Ephesus,  whom  he  could  not 
visit  in  his  journey,  and  here 
he  left  Trophimus  sick.  There 
are  ruins  of  an  old  town-  near 
tlxe  mouth  of  the  river  Mean¬ 
der:  but  whether  they  are  those 
of  Miletus  is  very  doubtful. 
The  Turkish  town  of  Melas  is 
said  to  occupy  the  site  of  the 
ancient  Miletus ;  and  the  Mi- 
letum,  where  Trophimus  was 
left,  is  also  placed  by  some 
geographers  on  the  island  of 
Crete,  but  without  sufficient 
warrant. 

MILK.  (1  Cor.  iii.  2.)  A 
liquid  and  very  nourishing 
food,  drawn  principally  from 
cows.  The  simplest  spiritual 
food,  or  the  plain  and  easy 
truths  of  the  gospel,  wherewith 
the  new-born  soul  is  nourished 
and  sustained,  is  compared  to 
milk  (Heb.  v.  12.  I  Pet.  ii.  2.) 

A  land  flowing  with  milk 
and  honey  (Josh.  v.  6)  means 
a  country  of  extraordinary  fer¬ 
tility,  affording  every  thing 
which  is  needed  for  the  sup¬ 
port  and  comfort  of  life.  The 
phrase  wine  and  milk  (Isa.  lv. 
1)  denotes  all  spiritual  bless¬ 
ings  and  privileges. 

Cheese  was  made  of  milk. 
(2  Sam.  xvii.  29.) 

The  word  rendered  cheeses  In 
1  Sam.  xvii.  18,  means  cheeses 
of  milk,  supposed  to  have 
been  slices  of  coagulated  or 
curdled  milk,  which  had  been 
strained  through  a  leathern 
strainer,  and  after  it  had  grown 
hard,  was  cut  in  pieces  for  use. 
This  is  much  like  the  modem 
process  of  making  cheese;  and 
food  made  in  the  same  way  is 
common  in  some  parts  of  this 
country,  under  the  name  of 
cheese-curd.  (See  Cheese.) 

MILL.  (Ex.  xi.  5.)  The 
simplest  mill  for  bruising 
grain  was  nothing  more  than 


MIL 

two  stones,  between  which 
they  were  broken.  Such  were 
seen  in  the  country  of  the 
Niger  by-  Richard  and  John 
Lander,  on  their  recent  expe¬ 
dition  in  Africa.  Ifoneofthese 
stones  be  hollowed  out,  so  as  to 
contain  the  corn  to  be  pounded 
by  another  stone,  or  by  a  piece 
of  wood  or  tnetal,  it  is  not  a 
mill,  but  a  mortar.  When 
manna  was  given  in  the  desert, 
the  people  went  about,  and  ga¬ 
thered  it,  and  ground  it  in 
mills,  or  beat  it  in  a  mortar. 
(Num.  xi.  8.)  In  the  law  it 
is  ordained,  No  man  shall 
take  the  nether  or  the  upper 
millstone  to  pledge;  for  he 
taketh  life  to  pledge;  that  is, 
he  who  lends  money  must 
be  humane  to  the  borrower, 
and  must  not  make  the  poor 
man  pawn  his  mill,  without 
which  his  life  cannot  be  sus¬ 
tained.  (Deut.  xxiv.  6.)  From 
these  mills  and  mortars  there 
must  have  been  obtained  at 
first  only  a  kind  of  peeled 
grain,  which  may  be  compared 
to  the  German  graupe,  the 
English  groats,  and  the  Ame¬ 
rican  grits,  or  homimj.  Fine 
flour  was  more  laboriously  ob¬ 
tained  from  household-mills, 
like  our  coffee  mills.  The  lat¬ 
ter  implement  is  indeed  far 
more  refined  and  ingenious 
than  the  eastern  hand-mills. 
Yet  we  read  that  Sarah  set 
before  the  three  angels  who 
visited  Mamre  cakes  of fine 
meal.  (Gen.  xviii.  6.)  It  is 
almost  needless  to  observe, 
that  sieves  must  have  been 
known  at  the  same  time. 

Niebuhr  describes  two  kinds 
of  eastern  hand-mills.  The 
first  is  very  simple,  and  con¬ 
sists  of  an  oblong  stone,  some¬ 
what  roughened  or  hollowed 
upon  the  surface;  upon  which 
the  corn,  after  being  moisten¬ 
ed,  is  rubbed  with  another 
stone,  of  a  long  and  round 
shape.  Niebuhr  saw  these 
mills  only  once.  Ttey  seem, 


MIL 

therefore,  not  to  be  common. 
The  other,  which  is  also  de¬ 
scribed  by  Shaw  and  Tourne- 
fort,  was  seen  by  Niebuhr  in 
Egypt.  It  consists  of  two 
round  stones,  each  about  two 
feet  in  diameter,  and  six 
inches  high.  The  under  one, 
or  nether  millstone,  (Job  xlL 
24,)  is  immoveable,  and  is 
somewhat  lower  around  the 
edge  than  in  the  centre ;  that 
is,  it  is  slightly  convex  on  the 
top.  The  upper  one  is  just  the 
reverse,  being  cojjcave  on  the 
bottom,  or  thicker  at  the  cir¬ 
cumference,  so  as  to  fit  pretty 
closely  to  the  other.  In  the 
centre  there  is  a  hole,  and 
above  this  a  funnel,  or  hopper, 
into  which  the  grain  is  poured, 
and  thus  it  runs  in  between  the 
stones,  and  is  broken  between 
them  into  meal,  which  falls 
over  the  edge  upon  a  board. 
On  the  top  of  the  other  stone 
there  is  an  upright  peg,  by 
means  of  which  it  is  turned 
around.  Such  mills  cost,  says 
Tournefortdess  than  a  Spanish 
dollar. 


a  is  a  section  of  the  uppev 
millstone,  in  which  we  see  the 
hopper  and  the  peg,  or  handle 
438 


MIL 

b  is  the  lower  millstone,  con¬ 
vex  above,  to  fit  the  other, 
c  is  the  complete  mill. 
Frequent  allusions  are  made 
In  Scripture  to  these  utensils. 
Of  Leviathan,  it  is  said,  that 
his  heart  is  as  hard  as  a  piece 
if.  the  nether  millstone.  (Job 
xli.24.)  Allhe  siege  of  Thebez, 
a  certain  woman  cast  a  piece 
of  a  millstone  uponAbimelech’s 
head,  and  entirely  brake  his 
skull.  (Judg.  ix.  53.) 

■  Wheat  was  the  grain  com¬ 
monly  used  for  bread.  The 
poor  people,  however,  lived 
much  upon  barley,  as  at  the 
present  day,  the  Arabs  do  up¬ 
on  millet,  or  durra.  Niebuhr 
thinks  this  durra  was  the  first 
kind  of  corn  which  was  ground 
and  made  into  bread.  The 
durra  bread,  like_  barley  bread, 
is  very  good  while  fresh ;  the 
latter,  however,  is  superior, 
and  has  a  better  taste  in  hot 
climates  than  with  us.  After 
sotjie  hours,  it  becomes  taste¬ 
less  ;  yet  the  same  thing  takes 
place  with  regard  to  the  wheat- 
en  bread  of  the  orientals.  They 
are  forced,  therefore,  to  bake 
every  day,  and  no  more  is 
ground  daily  than  is  wanted 
for  the  baking.  This  daily 
grinding  makes  such  a  noise 
in  the  houses  as  is  heard  in  the 
Streets.  The  sound  was  pleas¬ 
ing,  because  it  was  naturally 
associated  with  industry,  and 
the  supports  and  enjoyments 
of  life.  Hence  the  prediction 
in  Jer.  xxv.  10.  The  noise  of 
the  millstones, and  the  lighting 
up  of  candles,  are  circum¬ 
stances  belonging  to  inhabited 
places,  and  are  striking  when 
we  call  to  mind  the  fact  that 
they  grind  at  a  very  early  hour 
in  the  morning.  Chardin  says 
it  is  this  noise  which  often 
awakens  people  in  the  morn¬ 
ing  ;  and  Harmer  supposes  the 
import  of  the  verse  just  quoted 
to  be,  “Gloomy  shall  be  the 
silence  of  the  morning,  melan- 
'Jioly  the  shadows  of  the  eve- 


MfN 

ning;  no  cheerful  noise  to  ani¬ 
mate  the  one,  no  enlivening 
ray  to  soften  the  gloom  of  the 
other.  Desolation  shall  every¬ 
where  reign.”  'See  farther, 
Biblical  Antiquities,  vol.  i. 
ch.  v.  §  2,  by  Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

MILLET.  (Ezek.  iv.  9.)  A 
plant  resembling  wheat  and 
rye,  the  stalk  of  which  grows 
about  three  feet  in  height,  and 
bears  a  great  number  of  grains. 
This  grain  was  coarse,  and 
chiefly  used  for  beasts. 

.Niebuhr  informs  us,  that 
there  is  a  kind  of  millet  used 
in  the  east, called  durra, which, 
made  into  bread  with  camels’ 
milk,  butter,  or  grease,  is  al¬ 
most  the  only  food  eaten  by 
the  common  people  in  Arabia ; 
but  he  says  he  found  it  so  un¬ 
palatable,  that  he  would  have 
preferred  plain  barley  bread, 
which  furnishes  the  reason  of 
its  being  appointed  as  a  pan 
of  the  hard  fare  of  IJzekiel. 

MILLO,  house  of.  (Judg.ix. 
6.)  Supposed  by  some  to  denote 
either  the  senate  or  chief  men 
of  the  place,  or  to  be  the  name 
of  a  distinguished  individual 
in  Shechem,  whose  family 
and  adherents  joined  in  ele¬ 
vating  Abimelech  to  the  throne. 
Others  suppose  it  to  be  a  vil¬ 
lage.  Millo  in  Jerusalem  (2Chr. 
xxxii.  5)  was  a  section  of  the 
fortifications,  oe  perhaps  the 
public  edifices  in  that  city. 
The  expression  in  2Kings  xii. 
20,  describes  the  place  as  above 
Silla— perhaps  Siloam. 

MINA.  (See  Measures.) 

MIND.  (Gen.  xxiii.8.)  The 
meaning  of  this  word,  when 
employed  by  the  writers  of 
Scripture,  must  be  determined 
by  its  connexion.  According 
to  this,  it  sometimes  means 
the  soul  renewed,  in  oppo¬ 
sition  U)  the  flesh  under  the 
dominion  of  sin,  (Rom.  vii. 
25 ;)  and,  at  others,  the  im¬ 
material,  in  opposition  to  the 
material  nature.  (Eph.  it.  3.) 
Sometimes  it  means  temper  or 


MIN 

disposition,  as  in  Phil.  ii.  3.  5 ; 
or  a  particular  faculty  is  meant, 
as  in  Ps.  xxxi.  12.  Isa.  xlvi.  8; 
lxv.  17.  Mark  xiv.  72.  Some¬ 
times  the  motive  or  intention, 
as  in  Prov.  xxi.  27 ;  or  thought, 
as  in  Isa.  xxvi.  3.  Jer.  li.  50; 
or  opinions,  as  in  Judg.  xix.  30 ; 
or  affections,  as  in  Ezek.  xxiv. 
25.  When  used  in  reference 
to  God,  it  signifies  will, counsel, 
or  purpose,  as  in  Rom.  viii.  27 ; 
xi.  34.  1  Cor.  ii.  16.  When 
used  as  a  verb,  it  signifies  to 
regard  and  care  for,  as  in  Rom. 
vin.  5;  xii.  16;  and  Phil.  iii. 
19;  or  to  incline,  as  in  2Chron. 
xxiv.  4.  Matt.  i.  19.  Acts  Xx. 
13;  or  to  be  disposed,  as  in 
Phil.  ii.  2.  20 ;  iii.  15. 

MINISTER,  cl.)  One  who 
serves  another.  (Ex.  xxiv.  13. 
Josh.  i.l.  Matt.  xxv. 44.)  When 
applied  to  Christ,  as  the  minis¬ 
ter  of  the  sanctuary,  (Heb.viii. 
2,)  it  denotes  his  official  cha¬ 
racter  as  our  high-priest,  who 
is  set  on  the  right  hand  of  the 
throne  of  the  Majesty  in  the 
heavens,  and  who  ever  livelh 
to  make  intercession  for  us. 
(2.)  Those  persons  who  are 
appointed  to  preach  the  gospel 
and  administer  its  ordinances. 
(ICor.iv.l.  2Cor.iii.6.  Eph.iii. 
7.  1  Thess.  iii.  2.  1  Tim.  iv.  6.) 
(3.)  To  magistrates,  (Rom.  xiii. 
6,)  as  God’s  ministers,  to  punish 
the  evil  and  protect  the  good ; 
and,  (4.)  To  the  angels,  who 
stand  ready  to  do  the  will  of 
God.  (Ps.  ciii.21.  Dan.  vii.  10. 
Rom.  xiii.  6.  Heb.  i.14.) 

MINISTRATION.  (1.)  The 
riod  during  which  an  office 
administered.  (Luke  i.  23.) 
(2.)  Distribution  of  alms.  (Acts 
Vi.  1.  2  Cor.  ix.  13.)  The  law 
of  Moses  was  the  ministration 
of  death  and  condemnation. 
ft  convinces  men  of  sin,  the 
enalty  for  which  is  eternal 
eath;  and  to  this  they  are 
already  condemned.  The  gos¬ 
pel  is  the  ministration  of  the 
Spirit  that  giveth  life  ;  it  pro¬ 
ceeds  from  the  Holy  Ghost;  is 


MIR 

confirmed  and  applied  by  him, 
and  by  means  of  it,  he  conveys 
life,  and  all  spiritual  graces 
and  benefits,  to  the  souls  ol 
men.  (2  Cor.  iii.  7,  8.) 

MINNI.  (Jer.  li.  27.)  A  pro¬ 
vince  of  Armenia,  or,  more  pro¬ 
bably  one  of  several  clans  or 
tribes  who  were  settled  on 
mount  Taurus,  east  and  south 
of  the  Black  Sea.  The  Ash- 
kenites  were  another  of  these 
tribes. 

MINNITH.  (Judg.  xi.  33.) 

A  place  east  of  Jordan,  four 
miles  from  Heshbon,  on  the 
Philadelphia  road,  famous  for 
its  wheat.  (Ezek.  xxvii.  17.) 

MINSTREL.  (2Kings  iii.15.) 
A  musician  or  piper.  It  s.eems, 
from  the  case  ot  Jairus,  to  have 
been  customary  in  the  time 
of  our  Saviour  to  employ  min¬ 
strels  at  funerals:  for  when 
Christ  came  into  the  house  to 
raise  his  daughter,  he  saw  the 
minstrels  and  the  people  mak¬ 
ing  a  noise.  (Matt.  ix.  23.1 
MINT.  (Matt,  xxiii.  23.y  A 
garden  herb  of  several  species. 
The  law  of  Moses  required 
that  tithes  should  be  paid  of 
the  produce  of  the  field,  (Deut. 
xiv.  22 ;)  but  the  Jews,  in  their 
Pharisaical  precision,  tithed  an 
article  which  could  scarcely 
be  regarded  as  tithable  by  the 
law,  while  its  most  important, 
plain,  and  imperative jjrecepts 
were  neglected.  (See  Tithes.) 

MIRACLE.  (Ex.  vii.  9.)  An 
effect  caused  by  an  extraordi¬ 
nary  interposition  of  divine 
power.  It  is  not  an  effect  con¬ 
trary  to  the  laws  of  nature,  (as 
they  are  called,)  nor  does  it 
necessarily  require  a  suspen¬ 
sion  of  those  laws.  It  is  at 
most  but  a  suspension  of  the 
operation  of  those  laws,  as  to  a 
specific  event.  It  would  not 
and  could  not  be  produced  by 
the  ordinary  operation  of  those 
lawB;  and  hence, being  beyond 
or  above  the  order  of  nature,  it 
requires  the  exercise  of  divine 
power  to  accomplish  it. 


MIR 

Miracles  were  performed  in 
attestation  of  the  truth  of%some 
particular  doctrine  or  system 
ef  religion.  Those  performed 
by  our  Saviour  incontrovertibly 
prove  his  divine  power.  They 
exceed  thirty  in  number.  Many 
of  them  were  wrought  before 
a  great  multitude  of  people, 
friends  and  enemies,  in  the 
•pen  day,  and  where  there  was 
no  chance  to  deceive.  And  it  , 

Miracles. 

Water  turned  into  wine  - 
The  Capernaum  nobleman’s  son  cured  - 
Draught  of  fishes  -  -  -  - 

Demoniac  cured  -  -  •  • 

Peter’s  mother-in-law  healed  • 

Leper  healed  - 

Centurion’s  servant  healed  -  -  • 

Widow’s  son  raised  from  the  dead  • 
Tempest  calmed 

Demoniacs  of  Gadara  cured  ... 
Man  sick  of  the  palsy  cured  - 
Jairus’  daughter  raised  to  life 
Woman  diseased  with  issue  of  blood  healed 
Sight  restored  to  two  blind  men 
Dumb  demoniac  cured  .... 
Diseased  cripple  at  Bethesda  cured  - 
A  withered  hand  cured  -  ■ 

Demoniac  cured  -  -  •  • 

Five  thousand  fed  -  -  •  - 

Canaan  ite  woman’s  daughter  cured  • 

Man  deaf  and  dumb  cured  ... 
Four  thousand  fed  •  -  •  •  • 

Blind  man  restored  to  sight  ... 
Boy  possessed  of  a  devil  cured 
Man  born  blind  restored  to  sight  • 
Woman  cured  of  eighteen  years’  infirmity 
Dropsical  man  cured  .... 
Ten  lepers  cleansed  •  -  <  '* 

Lazarus  raised  from  the  grave  to  life 
Two  blind  men  restored  to  sight 
Fig  tree  blasted  ..... 
The  ear  of  Malchus  healed  ... 
Draught  of  fishes  -  •  -  .  . 

MIRIAM,  (Ex.  xv.  21,)  the 
lifter  of  Moses  ami  Aaron,  is 
opposed  to  have  been  ten  or 
welve  years  older  than  Moses; 
and  being  appointed  to  watch 
the  ark  of  bulrushes,  in  which  : 
her  infant  brother  was  laid, 
among  the  flags  of  the  river, 
she  was  there  when  Pharaoh’s 
daughter  came  down  and  dis¬ 
covered  it,  and  proposed  to  go 
for  a  nurse,  concealing  her  re¬ 
lation  to  the  child.  She  imme-  : 
diately  called  her  mother  as 
the  nurse,  and  the  infant  was 
placed  under  her  care.  She 


MIT 

really  requires  more  faith  to 
believe  that  such  a  multitude 
of  people  could  be  so  cften 
deceived  by  one  of  the  most 
blameless  men  that  ever  lived 
on  the  earth,  than  it  requires 
to  believe  the  miracles  theta- 
selves. 

The  following  is  a  table  of 
Christ’s  miracles,  arranged  in 
the  order  in  which  they  ar» 
'  supposed  to  have  been  wrought 


Place. 

Record. 

Cana 

- 

John  ii.  1—11. 

Ditto  * 

. 

-  iv.  46 — 54. 

Sea  of  Galilee 

Luke  v.  1—11. 

Capernaum 

- 

Mark  i.  23—26. 

Ditto 

• 

- 30,31. 

Ditto  - 

• 

-  40—45. 

Ditto  - 

• 

Matt.  viii.  5—13. 

Nain 

Luke  vii.  11—17 

Sea  of  Galilee 

Matt.viii.23— 27. 

Gadara  - 

-  28-34. 

Capernaum 

-  ix.  1—8. 

Ditto  • 

- 18-26 

Ditto  - 

Luke  viii. 43—48 

Ditto  • 

Matt.  ix.  27— 3L 

Ditto 

-  32, 33. 

Jerusalem 

John  v.  1 — 9. 

Judea  - • 

Matt.  xii.  10—13 

Capernaum 

-  22,  23. 

Decapolis 

-  xiv.  15—21 

Near  Tyre 

-  xv.  22—28. 

Decapolis 

Mark  vii.  31—37 

Ditto  - 

Matt.  xv.  32— 39 

Bethsaida 

Mark  viii. 22— 26. 

Tabor  - 

Matt,  xvii.14 — 2L 

Jerusalem 

John  ix 

Galilee  - 

Lukexiii.  11 — 17. 

Ditto 

- xiv.  1 — 1. 

Samaria 

- xv  ii.  11—19. 

Bethany 

John  xi. 

Jericho 

Matt.  xx.  30 — 34. 

Civet  - 

— —  xx  i.  18—21. 

Gethsemane 

Luke  xxii.  50,  51. 

Sea  of  Galilee 

John  xxi.  1—14. 

was  smitten  with  leprosy  foj 
her  treatment  of  Moses,  but 
was  restored  in  answer  to  the 
prayer  of  Moses.  (Num.  xii. 
1—15.)  She  died,  and  was  bu¬ 
ried  at  Kadesh.  (Num.  xx.  1.1 

MIRRORS.  (See  Looking- 
glass.) 

MITE.  (Luke  xii.  59.)  The 
lowest  denomination  of  Jewish 
money,  and  probably  of  the 
value  of  two  mills  of  our  cur¬ 
rency.  (See  Measures,  &c.) 

MITRE.  (Ex.  xxvili.  4—7.) 
This  was  the  head-dress  of  the 
Jewish  priest.  It  was  of  fins 


MI? 

flax  or  linen,  made  with  many 
folds,  making  in  length  eight 
yards,  finished  with  elegance 
and  taste,  and  wreathed  round 
the  head  in  the  shape  of  an 
eastern  turban.  It  bore  upon 
its  front  a  gold  plate,  on  which 
was  inscribed  “  Holiness  to 
the  Lord.”  The  Jews  tell  us 
that  the  mitre  and  the  bonnet 
were  the  same  thing,  only  fold¬ 
ed  up  differently,  according  to 
the  dignity  of  the  wearer. 

MITYLENE.  (Acts  xx.  14.) 
The  capital  of  the  ancient 
island  of  Lesbos.  The  whole 
island  is  now  under  the  Turk¬ 
ish  power,  and  is  called  Miti- 
lene,  and  the  chief  town  is 
called  Castra,  near  which  the 
ruins  of  the  ancient  city  are 
discernible.  The  island  lies 
on  the  eastern  coast  of  Asia 
Minor,  nearly  opposite  Perga- 
mos,  and  is  about  one  hundred 
and  seventy  miles  in  circum¬ 
ference.  The  population  is  at 
present  25,000.  The  chief  pro¬ 
ductions  are  wine  and  figs. 
Paul  passed  through  this  island 
on  his  way  from  Corinth  to 
Jerusalem  ;  and  it  is  famous  as 
the  birthplace  of  many  wise 
and  learned  men. 

MIZPAH,  (1  Kings  xv. 22,)  or 
MIZPEH.  (Josh.  xv.  38.)  This 
name  is  given  to  several  places, 
and  implies  a  post  of  observa¬ 
tion  or  a  watch-tower.  They 
seem  to  have  been  known  as 
places  of  convocation  on  public 
occasions,  religious  and  civil. 

1.  (Josh,  xv.38.)  A  city  in  the 
territory  of  Judah,  north  of 
Hebron,  and  nearly  twenty 
miles  south  from  Jerusalem. 
Some  geographers  place  it  in 
the  tribe  of  Benjamin.  (Josh, 
xviii.  26.) 

Samuel  dwelt  at  Mizpah, 
(1  Sam.  vii.  5, 6,)  and  Saul  was 
anointed  king  there,  (1  Sam.  x. 
17—24;)  and  hither,  it  is  sup¬ 
posed,  the  Jews  often  resorted 
for  business  and  devotion. 
(Judg.xx.l.  ISam.  vii. 5— 7;  x. 
17.)  It  was  fortified  by  Asa  with 


MOA 

the  stone  and  timber  which 
Baasha  had  been  using  for  the 
like  purpose  at  Rama,  I'l  Kings 
xv.  22;)  and  was  the  residence 
of  Gedaliah,  the  governor  ap¬ 
pointed  by  Nebuchadnezzar 
after  his  subjection  of  the  land. 
(Jer.  xl.  6.)  We  find  it  rebuilt 
after  the  return  from  Babylon. 
(Nell.  iii.  10.) 

2.  (Gen.  xxxi.  49.)  A  city 
in  the  territory  of  Gad,  where 
Laban  and  Jacob  entered  into 
a  covenant  of  friendship,  and 
where  Jephthah  resided  and 
mustered  his  army.  (Judg.  xi. 
11.29.) 

3.  (Josh.  xi.  3. 8.)  A  tract  of 
country  lying  near  the  baseol 
mount  Hermon. 

4.  (1  Sam.  xxii.  3.)  A  town 
of  Moab,  where  David  placed 
his  father  and  mother  during 
his  reverses 

MIZRAIM  (Gen.  x.  6)  is  the 
original  word  translated  Egypt; 
and  the  modern  Arabian  name 
Mitzr  is  an  abbreviation  of  the 
Hebrew  word  Mizraim.  (See 
Egypt.) 

MIZREPHOTH-MAIM 
(Josh.  xi.  8.)  A  place  near 
Sidon,  and  supposed  to  be  the 
same  with  Sarepta. 

MNASON.  (Actsxxi.16.)  A 
native  of  Cyprus,  but  a  resident 
of  Jerusalem.  He  was  an  early 
convert  to  Christianity,  and  hos¬ 
pitably  entertained  the  apos¬ 
tles.  It  is  supposed  by  some 
that  the  reading  of  the  passage 
should  be, 1  brought  us  to  Mna- 
son  of  Cyprus,’  &c. 

MOAB,  plains  op,  (Num. 
xxii.  1;  xxxiii.  48—50,)  were 
situated  east  of  Jordan  and  the 
Dead  Sea,  on  both  sides  of  the 
Arnon.  The  country  belonged 
principally  to  the  Amorites, 
north  of  the  Arnon,  where  the 
Israelites  encamped  before  the 
passage  of  the  Jordan.  After¬ 
wards  it  fell  to  the  lot  of  Reu¬ 
ben. 

The  inhabitants  were  called 
Moabites,  and  the  country  de¬ 
rived  its  name  from  Moab  the 

m 


MOL 

son  of  Lot,  (Gen.  xix.  37,)  by 
whose  posterity  it  was  conquer¬ 
ed,  when  in  possession  of  the 

rltnt  race  of  Emims.  (Deut.  ii. 
1. 12.)  They  were  severely 
punished  for  their  treatment 
of  the  Israelites.  (Deut.  xxiii. 
3— G.  Judg.  iii.  12— 30.  2  Sam. 
viii.  2.  See  Mesha.)  They 
were  an  idolatrous  nation,  and 
are  made  the  subject  of  seve¬ 
ral  prophecies.  (Isa.  xv.  xvi. 
Jer.  xlviii.) 

Their  country  seems  to  have 
been  exceedingly  fertile  in  an¬ 
cient  times;  but  now  it  is  a 
barren  desert,  traversed  only 
by  wandering  Arabs,  according 
to  that  prediction  of  the  pro¬ 
phet,  JSloab  shall  be  a  perpetu¬ 
al  desolation.  (Zeph.  ii.  a.) 

MOLE.  (Isa.  ii.  20.)  Some 
are  of  the  opinion  that  the 
word  in  Lev.  xi.  30,  which 
our  translators  render  mole,  is 
properly  the  chameleon;  and 
that  the  word  translated  wea¬ 
sel ,  in  the  preceding  verse,  is 
the  mole ;  and  in  the-  east,  at 
this 'day,  the  mole  is  called 
khuld,  which  is  evidently  the 
same  as  the  Hebrew  word 
choled,  here  used.  A  learn¬ 
ed  author  is,  moreover,  of  opi¬ 
nion  that  the  words  rendered 
moles  and  bats,  in  the  passage 
first  above  cited,  should  be  read 
as  one  word,  and  that  no  animal 
is  meant,  but  a  deep  sink,  or 
subterranean  vault;  and  an¬ 
other  concurs  in  the  opinion, 
but  thinks  that  sepulchres  are 
intended. 

The  habits  of  the  mole  are 
well  known;  and  the  idea  of 
the  prophet  is  fully  sustained 
by  any  expression  denoting  the 
cavernsordesolate  placesof  the 
earth.  (See  Youth’s  Friend, 
for  Aug.  1829,  by  Am.  S.  S.  U.) 

MOLECH,  (Lev.  xviii.  21,) 
or  MILCOLM,  (1  Kings  xi.  5,) 
or  MOLOCH.  (Acts  vii.  43.) 
The  name  of  an  idol  god,  wor¬ 
shipped  by  the  Ammonites 
with  human  sacrifices. 


MON 

The  Rabbins  tell  us  that  H 
was  made  of  brass,  and  placed 
on  a  brazen  throne,  and  that  the 
head  was  that  of  a  calf,  with  a 
crown  upon  it.  The  throne 
and  image  were  made  hollow, 
and*%  furious  fire  was  kindled 
within  it.  The  flames  pene- 
trated  into  the  body  and  limbs 
of  the  idol ;  and  when  the  arms 
were  red-hot,  the  victim  was 
thrown  into  them,  and  was  al¬ 
most  immediately  burned  to 
death.  Its  cries  were  drowned 
by  drums,  &c.  Some  have 
doubted  whether  there  was  an 
actual  sacrifice  of  life  on  these 
occasions;  and  they  refer  to  cus¬ 
toms  still  prevalent  in  China, 
and  among  some  of  the  Indian 
nations,  where  the  devotees 
walk  barefoot  over  burning 
coals,  and  often  carry  their 
children  in  their  arms  for  the 
purpose  of  consecrating  them. 
This  they  ca\\passing  through 
the  fire.  (2  Kings  xvi.  3.)  No 
objection  can  be  made  to  the 
credibility  of  the  Rabbins’  ac¬ 
count,  from  the  barbarity  of  it; 
for  the  burning  of  widows,  and 
the  drowning  of  children,  in 
India,  are ,  certainly  no  less  re¬ 
volting  instances  of  cruelty, 
than  the  throwing  of  infants 
into  the  heated  arms  of  an  idol 
god.  We  subjoin  a  cut  of  this 
idol. 

The  tabernacle  of  Moloch 
was  the  tent  or  small  house  in 
which  the  image  of  the  idol 
was  placed.  It  was  of  a  size 
and  shape  to  be  portable,  and 
was  taken  up  like' other  bag¬ 
gage,  and  carried  from  place  to 
place. 

MONEY.  (Gen.  xxiii. 9.)  This 
is  the  first  mention  of  money  in 
the  sacred  Scriptures.  It  was 
silver,  and  was  weighed,  and 
is  said  to  have  been  current 
with  the  merchant.  The  prac¬ 
tice  of  weighing  money  is  ge¬ 
neral  in  Syria,  Egypt,  and  all 
Turkey.  No  piece,  however 
elfaded,  is  refused  there.  The 


MON 


MON 


vrorani  OI  Moloch,  p.  443. 


merchant  draws  met  his  scales 
and  weighs  it,  as  in  the  days 
of  Abraham,  when  he  purchased 
his  sepulchre.  In  considerable 
payments, an  agent  of  exchange 
is  sent  for,  who  counts  it  by 
thousands,  rejects  pieces  of 
false  money,  and  weighs  all 
the  coin  either  separately  or 
together.  With  11s,  the  piece  of 
metal  is  stamped  according  to 
its  value,  as  fixed  by  public 
authority.  (See  Changers, 
Measures,  &c.) 

MONTH.  (Gen.  viii.4.)  The 
twelfth  part  of  a  year.  The 
ancient  Hebrews  called  the 
months  by  their  numbers;  as 
first  month,  second  mouth, third 


month,  Sec.  The  length  of  the 
month  was  regulated  by  the 
changes  of  the  moon.  After 
they  left  Egypt,  the  Jews  had 
two  courses  of  months;  one 
making  the  civil,  and  the  other 
the  sacred  year ;  the  former 
commenced  from  the  first  new 
moon  in  October,  and  this  was 
used  in  civil  and  agricultural 
concerns  only ;  and  the  latter 
from  the  first  new  moon  in 
April,  because  they  left  Egypt 
on  the  fifteenth  of  that  month, 
and  was  used  in  regulating  the 
time  of  their  feasts,  &c.  The 
prophets  use  this  reckoning. 

The  names  of  the  Hebron 
months  follow. 


444 


MOR 


MOIL 


CknL  Sacred.  Beginning  with  the  new  moon* 


VII.  •  I.  Nisan,  or  Abib  March,  or  April  -  •  -  «  Neh.  II.  1. 

VilL  *  II.  Zif.orZiv  -  April,  or  May  •  ....  1  Kings  vi.l, 

IX.  •  III.  Sivan  ....  May,  or  June  ....  Esth.  viii.  9. 

X.  •  IV.  Tammuz  ...  June,  or  July  -  -  -  -  - 

XI.  •  V.  Ab  .....  July,  or  August  *  -  -  - 

KII.  •  VI.  Elul  ....  August,  or  September  •  •  Neh.  vi.  15. 

I.  -  VII.  Tishri,  or  Ethanim  September,  or  October  -  •  1  Kings  viii.  2. 

II.  •  VI 11.  Bui  .....  October,  or  November  -  *  lKiujpvi.38. 

III.  .  -  IX.  Kisleu,  or  Chisleu  November,  or  December  •  Neh.  i.  1. 

IV.  «  X.  Tebeth  ....  December,  or  January  -  •  Esth.  ii.  16. 

V.  -  XI.  Shebat  ....  January,  or  February  -  -  Zech.  i.  7. 

VL  •  XII.  Adar  ....  February,  or  March  -  -  Esth.  iii.  7. 


Twelve  lunar  months,  mak¬ 
ing  but  three  hundred  and  fif¬ 
ty-four  days  and  six  hours,  the 
Jewish  year  was  short  of  the 
Roman  by  twelve  days.  To 
compensate  for  this  difference, 
the  Jews  every  three  years  in¬ 
tercalated  a  thirteenth  month, 
which  they  called  Vedar,  the 
second  Adar.  By  this  means, 
their  lunar  year  equalled  the 
solar. 

MOON,  (Deut.  xxxiii.  1 1.)  or 
lesser  light.  (Gen.  1.  16.)  The 
moon  is  a  planet  revolving 
round  the  earth,  and  reflecting 
the  light  of  the  sun.  The 
church  is  compared  to  the 
moon  with  great  force  and 
beauty,  (Sol.  Song  vi.  10,)  as 
she  derives  from  the  Sun  of 
righteousness  all  her  bright¬ 
ness  and  glory. 

The  new  moan  regulated 
many  of  the  feasts  and  sacred 
seivices  under  the  old  dispen¬ 
sation.  The  new  moon  was 
always  the  beginning  of  the 
month,  and  this  day  they  called 
Neamenia,  new-moon  day,  or 
new  month. 

The  heathens  have  generally 
worshipped  the  moon,  under 
the  names  of  Queen  of  heaven, 
Venus  Urania, Succotlc-benot  h, 
Ashtaroth,  Diana,  Hecate,  or 
perhaps  Meni.  &c.  (Deut.  iv. 
19  ;  xvii.  3.  Job  xxxi.  26,  27.) 
The  orientals  regulate  their 
journeys  by  the  moon,  and  set 
iff  soon  after  her  change. 

MORDECAI.  (Esth.  ii.  5.)  A 
captive  Jew  of  the  family  of 
Saul,  resident  at  the  court  of  . 
Ahasuerus.  An  uncle  of  his  1 
38 


died,  leaving  an  orphan  daugh¬ 
ter  named  Hadassah,  whom 
Mordecai  adopted,  and  who 
afterwards  became  the  queen 
of  Persia.  (See  Esther.)  Mor¬ 
decai  fell  under  the  displeasure 
of  Haman,  one  of  the  king’s 
principal  officers  of  state,  a 
very  proud  and  ambitious  man; 
and  to  be  revenged  on  the  de¬ 
spised  Jew,  he  laid  a  plan  for 
the  extermination  of  the  whole 
body  of  Jews  in  the  empire. 
His  purpose  was,  however,  de¬ 
feated  by  the  interposition  of 
the  queen.  Haman  lost  his 
life,  and  Mordecai  was  ele¬ 
vated  .to  wealth  and  power. 
(See  Haman.  See,  also,  Ha¬ 
dassah,  by  Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

MOREH,  plain  or  plains  of, 
(Gen.  xii.  6.  Deut.  xi.  30,)  was 
probably  a  famous  oak  or  grove 
of  oaks  in  the  vicinity  of  She- 
chem,  and  perhaps  at  the  foot 
of  a  hill  of  the  same  name. 
(Judg.  vii.  1.)  It  was  near  ths 
mounts  Ebal  and  Gerizim,  and 
some  think  it  the  same  with 
Ebal.  (Deut.  xi.  29,  30.)  The 
oak  of  Shechem  is  often  re¬ 
ferred  to,  (Gen.  xxxv.  4.  Josh, 
xxiv.  25, 26,)  and  in  these  and 
other  passages  is  supposed  to 
be  the  same  with  the  plain  of  , 
Moreh. 

Hence,  from  Judg.  vii.  1,  it 
would  appear  that  the  hill  of 
Moreh  was  in  or  near  the  val¬ 
ley  of  Jezreel.  As  the  original 
phrase  means  high  oak,  it  might 
be  applied  to  several  places 
designated  in  each  case  by  the 
connexion. 

MORIAH.  (Gen.  xxii.  24 

445 


MOS 

This  hill  was  situated  north¬ 
east  of  Jerusalem,  and  was 
originally  separated  from  Acra 
by  a  valley,  which,  accord¬ 
ing  to  Jewish  historians,  was 
filled  up  by  the  Asmnneans; 
and  thus  the  two  hills  be¬ 
came  one.  In  the  time  of 
David,  mount  Moriah  was  not 
included  within  the  limits  of 
the  city,  but  formed  a  part  of 
the  cultivated  ground  of  Arau- 
nah  the  Jebusite,  from  whom 
David  bought  it.  (2  Sam.  xxiv. 
16—26.)  On  this  spot  Solomon 
built  the  temple.  (2  Chron. 
Hi.  1.)  It  is  supposed  that  this 
is  the  mount  Moriah  on  which 
Abraham  was  directed  to  offer 
up  his  son  Isaac  for  a  burnt- 
offering.  (See  passage  first 
cited.) 

This  mount  was  raised  by 
artificial  means  to  the  height 
of  about  seven  hundred  feet. 
Being  at  first  a  rocky  precipice, 
it  was  enclosed  by  a  square 
wall,  and  filled  in,  until  it 
formed  a  level  area  for  the 
temple  and  its  courts.  Moriah 
is  now  a  piece  of  level  ground. 
It  is  occupied  by  an  open 
court  fifteen  hundred  feet  long, 
and  one  thousand  feet  wide, 
surrounded  by  a  wall,  and 
planted  with  trees.  In  the 
centre  of  this  area  is  a  large 
platform,  paved  with  marble, 
on  which  stands  the  mosque 
which  the  caliph  Omar  erected 
in  the  seventh  century,  and 
which  is  considered  the  second 
only  to  the  holy  house  at  Mecca 
in  point  of  sanctity,  and  the 
first  in  size  and  magnificence. 
NoOhristian  is  allowed  toenter 
this  enclosure;  though  this  pro¬ 
hibition  has  been  relaxed  in  fa¬ 
vour  of  several  modern  travel- 
lers.(SeejERUsALEM, Temple.) 

MORNING.  (See  Day, 
Watch.) 

Morning  watch.  (See 
Watch.) 

Morning  STAR.(SeeSTARs.) 

MORTAR.  (See  Lime.) 

MOSES,  (Ex.  ii.  10.)  the  dis- 


MOS 

tinguished  leader  and  general 
of  the  Hebrews,  was  born  in 
Egypt,  A.  m.  2433.  For  three 
months  he  escaped  the  general 
massacre  of  all  the  male  chil¬ 
dren  of  the  Hebrews  by  being 
secreted,  and  then  he  was 
placed  in  an  ark  or  basket  of 
reed  or  osier  work  made  water 
tight,  and  deposited  among  thR 
flags  on  the  river  bank.  The 
sister  of  the  .  infant  was  sta¬ 
tioned  near  to  watch,  and  by 
and  by  one  of  the  daughters 
of  Pharaoh,  walking  near  the 
spot,  discovered  the  basket, 
and,  upon  opening  it,  saw  the 
helpless  babe,  and, being  moved 
by  its  cries,  was  disposed  to  save 
it,  notwithstanding  she  saw  it 
wasone  of  the  Hebrew  children 
that  her  father’s  tyrannical  de¬ 
cree  doomed  to  death.  Miriam 
asked  the  princess  if  she  should 
call  a  nurse,  and  being  told  to 
do  so,  immediately  called  her 
mother,  who  was  directed  to 
take  the  child  and  nurse  it  for 
the  princess  upon  wages.  This 
commission  the  mother  joy¬ 
fully  executed.  She  nourished 
the  child,  and  probably  in¬ 
structed  him  in  the  principles 
of  religion;  and  at  a  proper 
time  took  him  to  Pharaoh’s 
daughter,  aud  he  became  her 
son.  She  gave  him  the  name 
of  Moses,  signifying  that  he 
was  drawn  out  of  the  water. 
Being  instructed  in  the  various 
branches  of  Egyptian  learning, 
(Acts  vii.  22.)  and  having  great 
advantages  from  his  connexion 
with  the  royal  family,  the  pros¬ 
pects  of  the  young  Hebrew 
were  extremely  flattering;  but, 
at  the  age  of  forty,  he  chose  to 
renounce  them  all,  and  become 
the  servant  of  God.  (Heb.  xi. 
24 — 26.)  He  espoused  the  cause 
of  an  oppressed  Israelite,  and, 
in  his  defence,  put  an  Egyp¬ 
tian  to  death,  for  which  causa 
he  fled  into  Midian,  where  he 
married  Zipporah,  a  daughter 
of  Jethro,  and  lived  forty  years 
as  a  shepherd.  At  the  end  of 
446 


MOS 

that  period,  he  received  a  mi- 1 
raculous  intimation  from  God 
that  he  was  to  be  the  leader 
and  deliverer  of  his  chosen 
people,  for  which  high  and 
responsible  office  he  was  fur¬ 
nished  with  the  necessary  gifts 
and  graces.  His  brother  Aaron 
was  associated  with  him,  and 
the  history  of  their  official 
career  would  be  a  history  of 
the  Jews  from  the  close  of  their 
bondage  in  Egypt  to  their  ap¬ 
proach  to  the  land  of  promise. 
The  miracles  God  wrought  by 
his  hands ;  his  frequent  oppor¬ 
tunities  of  communion  imme¬ 
diately  with  the  divine  ma-f 
iesty;  the  wonderful  displays 
he  witnessed  of  the  power  and 
glory  of  Jehovah,  and  his  con¬ 
nexion  with  the  grand  and 
significant  system  of  religious 
rites  and  ceremonies,  which  is 
called  after  him  the  Mosaic 
ritual  or  dispensation ;  the  se¬ 
verity  of  the  rebukes  he  suf¬ 
fered  in  consequence  of  a  single 
sinful  act,  (Num.  xx.  12);  his  ex¬ 
traordinary  meekness,  (Num. 
xii.  3) ;  the  singular  manner  of 
his  death,  and  the  fact  that  he 
is  the  historian  of  ages  and 
events  so  remote  and  so  in¬ 
tensely  interesting  to  us,  in  our 
various  relations,  prospects, 
and  circumstances,  all  combine 
to  make  him,  perhaps,  the  most 
extraordinary  man  that  ever 
lived.  (Dent,  xxxiv.  10—12.) 

He  retained  his  faculties  to 
a  very  extraordinary  degree, 
for  we  are  told  that  at  his  death, 
which  took  place  at  an  ad¬ 
vanced  age,  his  eye  was  not 
dim ,  nor  his  natural  force 
abated.  (Deut.  xxxiv.  7.)  After 
having  seen  the  most  con¬ 
clusive  tokens  that  God  would 
accomplish  all  his  purposes  in 
bringing  his  people  into  the 
promised  land,  (Num-  xxxi. 
xxxii.,)  he  assembled  the  na¬ 
tion,  anil  recapitulated  in  their 
hearing  the  events  of  their 
history.  He  exhorted  them  to 
obedience;  proposed  to  them 


MOS 

the  blessings  and  the  curses 
which  were  suspended  on  their 
faithfulness ;  solemnly  testified 
to  the  truth  and  holiness  of 
the  Divine  Being,  (Deut.  xxvii, 
xxviii.  xxix.  xxx.,)  and  made 
all  necessary  arrangemen.s 
with  his  successor  for  the  com¬ 
pletion  of  the  commission.  He 
then  celebrates  the  glory  of 
God  in  one  of  the  most  sublime 
and  animated  hymns  of  praise 
that  we  find  on  record;  and 
after  pronouncing  oh  the 
tribes,  respectively,  the  most 
solemn  prophetic  blessings,  he 
went  up  into  a  mountain  ap¬ 
pointed  for  that  purpose  by 
God,  from  the  summit  of  which 
he  could  survey  the  whole 
length  of  the  land  of  Canaan, 
and  across  from  the  Jordan  to 
the  Mediterranean.  When  he 
had  thus  seen,  for  himself,  the 
promised  possession  of  his 
countrymen,  he  cheerfully  re¬ 
signed  his  spirit  to  the  hands 
of  a  covenant-keeping  God, 
and  at  the  advanced  age  of 
one  hundred  and  twenty  years, 
he  died  upon  or  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  mountain,  and  was  bu¬ 
ried  in  a  valley  of  Moab ;  but 
the  precise  place  of  his  burial 
was  never  known. 

What  is  said  respecting  his 
burial,  (Deut.  xxxiv.  6;)  what 
Jude  says  of  the  archangel  dis¬ 
puting  with  the  devil  about  his 
body,  (Jude  9 ;)  and  his  appear¬ 
ing  with  Elijah  on  the  mount 
of  transfiguration,  (Matt.  xvii. 
3,)  have  led  some  to  conjecture 
that  he  was  immediately  raised 
from  the  dead,  and  translated 
to  heaven ;  but  where  the 
Scriptures  are  silent,  it  is  our 
wisdom  to  be  so  also,  and  not 
attempt  to  be  wise  above.what 
is  written. 

Moses  uttered  a  remarkable 
prophecy  respecting  the  Mes¬ 
siah,  (Deut.  xviii.  17—19.  comp. 
Acts  iii.  22,  and  vii.  37;)  and 
the  similarity  of  their  character 
and  offices  is,  in  many  re- 
spects,  very  strikin". 


MOS 

We  have  already  alluded  to 
Moses  as  the  author  of  the  first 
five  books  of  the  Bible  called 
the  Pentateuch,  containing  the 
history  of  the  creation  of  the 
world  and  its  inhabitants ;  the 
fall  and  curse  of  man  ;  the-de- 
struction  of  all  the  human  race 
save  one  family  of  eight  souls; 
the  dispersion  of  the  nations ; 
the  deliverance  of  the  chosen 
people  of  God  from  oppression, 
and  the  introduction  of  that 
wonderful  dispensation  of 
which  the  Divine  Being  him¬ 
self  was  the  author  and  exe¬ 
cutor,  and  under  which  the 
civil  and  ecclesiastical  govern¬ 
ment  of  these  nations  was  ad¬ 
ministered  for  so  many  ages. 

In  relation  to  this  portion 
of  the  sacred  history,  and  es¬ 
pecially  the  earliest  chapters 
of  it,  the  late  Baron  Cuvier, 
who  has  been  justly  called  the 
prince  of  geologists,  says :  “  His 
books  (i.  e.  the  books  of  Moses) 
show  us  that  he  had  very 
perfect  ideas  respecting  se¬ 
veral  of  the  highest  questions 
of  natural  philosophy.  His 
cosmogony  especially,  consi- 
drfed  purely  in  a  scientific 
view,  is  extremely  remark¬ 
able;  inasmuch  as  the  order 
which  it  assigns  to  the  different 
epochs  of  creation,  is  precisely 
the  same  as  that  which  has 
been  deduced  from  geological 
considerations.” 

This,  then,  is  the  issue,  in 
the  opinion  of  Baron  Cuvier, 
of  that  science  which  has  been 
held  by  many  persons  to  teach 
conclusions  at  variance  with 
the  book  of  Genesis;  when, 
at  last,  more  matured  by  a 
series  of  careful  observations 
and  legitimate  induction,  it 
teaches  us  precisely  what  Mo¬ 
ses  had  taught  more  than  three 
thousand  years  ago. 

And  whence  did  Moses  re¬ 
ceive  the  knowledge  which 
philosophy  has  been  so  long 
In  reaching,  through  the  paths 
of  geology  1  Was  the  genera- 


MOT 

tion  in  which  he  lived,  more 
learned  than  any  which  suc¬ 
ceeded  for  thousands  of  years  1 
There  is  not  the  slightest  sha¬ 
dow  of  evidence  to  sustain  so 
incredible  a  position.  It  could 
not  be  through  the  slow  pro¬ 
cesses  of  geological  investiga¬ 
tion,  either  of  himself  or  his 
contemporaries,  that  Moses 
learned  the  'sublime  truths 
which  were  hidden  from  Aris¬ 
totle  and  Pythagoras.  The 
superior  wisdom  which  dis¬ 
tinguishes  the  Hebrew  prophet 
from  all  his  contemporaries, 
and  renders  his  simple  nar¬ 
rative  a  standard  of  truth  in 
all  ages,  was  from  above.  It 
was  from  Him  who  made  the 
world  that  Moses  learned  the 
history  of  its  creation,  and  in 
no  other  way  could  his  suc¬ 
cessors  on  the  inspired  page 
be  possessed  of  the  truth  and 
wisdom  which  shines  as  bright¬ 
ly  in  their  pages  as  in  his.  (See 
Aaron,  Hebrews;  and  for  a 
full  history  and  character  of 
this  extraordinary  man,  with 
illustrative  maps  and  engrav¬ 
ings,  see  Life  of  Moses,  by 
Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

MOTH.  (Luke  xii,  33.)  A 
well  known  insect,  one  spe¬ 
cies  of  which,  in  its  caterpillar 
state,  is  very  destructive  to 
furs,  woollen  cloths,  Ac.  The 
egg  of  the  moth,  being  depo¬ 
sited  on  the  fur  or  cloth;  pro¬ 
duces  a  very  small  shining 
insect,  which  immediately 
forms  a  house  for  itself  by  cut¬ 
tings  from  the  cloth.  It  eats 
away  the  nap,  weakens  or 
destroys  the  thread, and  finally 
ruins  the  fabric.  There  is  fre¬ 
quent  reference  to  this  weak, 
but  destructive  insect,  in  the 
sacred  Scriptures.  In  Job  iv. 
19,  man  issaid  to  be  crushed  be¬ 
fore  the  moth, where  th  is  animal 
is  the  emblem  of  man’s  weak 
ness  and  defenceless  cond'tjoltt 
In  Job  xiii.  28,  the  Wiwufc<t, 
decaying  life  of  man  ii 
pared  to  a  moth-  eaten  gar***  • 


MOU 

an  d  in  Isa.  li.  6,  the  earth  is 
said  to  way  old  as  a  garment ; 
that  is,  a  moth-eaten  garment, 
as  the  original  imports.  In  Job 
xxvii.  18,  the  man  who  rises 
by  injustice  is  compared  to  the 
moth,  which,  by  eating  into 
the  garment  where  it  dwells, 
after  a  while  destroys  its  own 
habitation.  In  Ps.  vi.  7,  the 
word  rendered  in  our  version 
consumed ,  properly  means 
moth-eaten.  InPs.xxxix.il, 
the  effect  of  God’s  judgments 
on  mankind  is  illustrated  by 
the  consuming  power  of  the 
moth:  and  so  in  Hos.  v.  12. 
The  devastations  of  this  insect 
are  particularly  referred  to  in 
Isa.  1.  9.  As  much  of  the  trea¬ 
sure  of  the  ancients  consisted 
in  costly  garments,  we  may 
readily  understand  why  the 
moth  was  considered  so  noxious 
an  insect ;  and  this  will  teach 
us  the  true  import  of  our  Sa¬ 
viour’s  words.  (Matt.  vi.  19, 20.) 
It  was  common  in  Asia  to  lay 
up  stores  of  precious  garments, 
which  descended  as  an  inherit¬ 
ance  to  children;  for  their 
modes  of  dress  never  changed: 
but  the  moth  was  a  formidable, 
enemy  to  such  treasures,  so  as 
to  render  it  useless  to  take 
much  pains  to  lay  them  up. 
(See,  also,  James  v.  2.) 

MOURN,  MOURNERS. 
(Gen.  xxiii.  2.)  The  Hebrews, 
at  the  death  of  their  friends  and 
relations,  gave  all  possible  de- 
monstrationsofgriefand  mourn¬ 
ing.  (Gen.  1.  10.)  They  wept, 
tore  their  clothes,  smote  their 
breasts,  fasted,  and  lay  upon 
the  ground;  went  barefooted,^ 
pulled  their  hair  and  beards," 
or  cut  them,  and  made  incisions 
on  their  breasts,  or  tore  them 
with  their  nails.  (Lev.  xix.  28; 
xxi.  5.  Deut.  xiv.  1.  Jer.  xvi. 
6.)  The  time  of  mourning  was 
commonly  seven  days ;  but  it 
was  lengthened  or  shortened 
according  to  circumstances. 
That  for  Moses  and  Aaron  was 
prolonged  to  thirty  days.  (Num. 


MOU 

xx.  29.  Deut.  xxxiv.  8.)  They 
mourned  excessively  for  an 
only  son,  as  his  death  cut  off 
the  name  of  the  family.  (Zech. 
xii.  10.) 

The  priest  mourned  only  for 
near  relatives,  but  the  high- 
priest  for  none.  (Lev.  xxi.  I— 
12.) 

During  the  time  of  their 
mourning,  they  continued  sit¬ 
ting  in  their  houses,  and  ate 
on  the  ground.  The  food  they 
took  was  thought  unclean,  and 
even  themselves  were  judged 
impure.  (Hos.  ix.  4.)  Their 
faces  were  covered  ;  and  in  all 
that  time  they  could  not  apply 
themselves  to  any  occupation, 
nor  read  the  book  of  the  law, 
nor  say  their  usual  prayers. 
They  did  not  dress  themselves, 
nor  make  their  beds,  nor  un 
cover  their  heads,  nor  shave, 
nor  cut  their  nails,  nor  go  into 
the  bath,  nor  salute  anybody. 
Nobody  spoke  to  them  unless 
they  spoke  first.  (Job  ii.  11 — 13.) 
Their  friends  commonly  went 
to  visit  and  comfort  them,  bring¬ 
ing  them  food.  They  also  went 
up  to  the  roof,  or  upon  the  plat¬ 
form  of  their  houses,  to  bewail 
their  loss.  (tsa.  xv.  3.) 

It  was  reckoned  a  very  pious 
work locomfort mourners;  and 
when  they  came  to  the  mourn¬ 
ers,  they  stood  around  them, 
ten  in  a  row,  and  approaching 
towards  them,  one  by  one,  wish¬ 
ed  them  comfort  from  heaven. 
If  they  sat,  it  was  on  the  ground, 
and  the  chief  mourner  had  the 
chief  seat.  The  friends  came 
not  to  comfort  them  till  after  the 
'  interment,  and  not  many  till 
the  third  or  fourth  day  after  the 
decease.  (John  xi.  19. 39.)  They 
sometimes  went  to  the  graves 
to  lament  their  dead ;  and  so 
the  Turkish  women  do  to  this 
day.  The  Jews  had  a  kind  of 
prayer, or  rather  benediction,  of 
God,  as  of  Him  who  raises  the 
dead,  which  they  repeated  as 
they  mourned,  or  even  passed 
the  graves  of  their  dead.  The 


MOU 

Jews  in  Chaldea  did  not  mourn 
and  weep,  but  mourned  one 
towards  another  ;  that  is,  they 
durst  not  openly  bewail  their 
misery,  but  did  it  secretly. 
(Ezek.  xxi'v.23; 'See  Evening 
Recreations,  vol.  ii.  pp.  62 — 
73,by  Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

The  mourning  habit  amon^ 
the  Hebrews  was  not  fixed 
either  by  law  or  custom.  An¬ 
ciently,  in  times  of  mourning, 
they  clothed  themselves  in 
sackcloth,  or  hair-cloth ;  that 
is,  in  coarse  or  ill-made  clothes, 
of  brown  or  black  stuff.  2  Sam. 
tii.  31.) 

They  hired  women  to  weep 
and  mourn,  and  also  persons 
to  play  on  instruments,  at  the 
funerals  of  the  Hebrews.  (Jer. 
ix.  17.  Matt.  ix.  23.)  All  that 
met  a  funeral  procession,  or  a 
company  of  mourners,  were  to 
'oin  them,  as  a  matter  of  civi- 
ity,  and  to  mingle  their  tears 
with  those  who  wept.  Some¬ 
thing  like  this  is  still  customary 
in  Turkey  and  Persia,  where  he 
who  meets  the  funeral  takes  the 
place  of  one  of  the  bearers,  and 
assists  in  carrying  the  bier,  un¬ 
til  they  meet  some  one  by 
whom  he  is  relieved. 

The  custom  of  hiring  women 
to  weep  and  mourn  is  common 
at  this  day  in  many  of  the  east¬ 
ern  nations.  (See  Burial.) 

MOUSE.  (Lev.  xi.  29.)  It 
is  supposed  by  some  that  the 
animal  called  the  mouse  in 
our  Bible  was  the  jerboa,  or 
field  mouse,  which  is  larger 
than  the  common  mouse,  and 
entirely  different  in  its  motions 
and  habits.  (For  a  particular 
description  and  cut,  see  art. 
Mouse,  in  Natural  History 
of  the  Bible,  by  Ain.  S.  S. 
Union.)  Others  suppose  that 
some  other  species  oT  tile  com¬ 
mon.  mouse  is  intended,  the 
flesh  of  which  was  forbidden 
to  be  used  for  food.  (Lev.  xi.  29. 
Comp.  Isa.  lxvi.  17.) ,  Common 
field  mice  are  very  destructive 


MUF 

to  the  fruits  of  the  field.  Mice 
made  great  havoc  in  the  fields 
of  the  Philistines,  after  the 
people  had  taken  the  ark  of 
the  Lord.  (1  Sam.  v.  6,  Ac  ; 

vi.  4,  5.)  . 

In  the  twelfth  century,  they 
destroyed  the  young  sprouts  of 
grain  in  some  parts  of  Syria 
for  four  successive  years,  and 
came  near  to  producing  a  gene¬ 
ral  famine;  and  they  abound 
in  those  regions  at  the  present 
day.  A  modern  traveller,  in 
speaking  of  Hamath,  says 
“  The  western  part  of  its  terri¬ 
tory  is  the  granary  of  northern 
Syria;  though  the  harvest  never 
yields  more  than  ten  for  one, 
chiefly  in  consequence  of  the 
immense  numbers  of  mice, 
which  sometimes  wholly  de¬ 
stroy  the  crops.” 

MOWINGS,  kino’s.  (Amos 

vii.  1.)  It  was  the  custom  in 
Judea  to  lead  out  the  cattle  to 
feed  in  the  common  pastures 
in  the  month  of  April.  The 
horses  of  the  kings,  and  those 
designed  for  war,  were  turned 
in  during  the  month  of  March, 
and  of  course  had  the  best 

,of  the  feeding;  and  the  flocks 
and  herds  in  general  were 
not  suffered  to  go  into  the  pas¬ 
tures  until  after  these  horses 
were  taken  out  and  put  to  bar¬ 
ley,  which  was  then  common 
food  during  the  residue  of  the 
year.  The  vision  of  Amos  re¬ 
presents  the  judgment  of  God 
m  sending  locusts  to  eat  off 
and  destroy  the  grass,  which 
had  sprung  up  after  the  king’s 
feedings  had  past,  and  on  which 
the  people  depended  for  the 
sustenance  of  llieir  flocks  and 
herds.  (See  Hay.) 

MUFFLERS,  (Isa.  iii.  19,)  or 
spangled  ornaments,  (as  it  is 
in  the  margin,)  are  suppised 
to  have  been  a  covering  for  the 
face,  sucli  as  is  now  worn  by 
women  of  the  east.  It  is  seen 
on  the  face  of  the  subjoined 
figure. 


450 


MUL 


MUR 


MULBERRY  TREES. 
(2Sam.v.23,24.)  A  common  fruit 
tree,  whose  leaf  affords  the  ap¬ 
propriate  food  of  the  silkworm. 
In  one  of  David’s  campaigns 
against  the  Philistines,  it  be¬ 
came  a  question  whether  he 
should  attack  them  as  they  lay 
encamped  in  the  valley  of 
Rephaim.  He  was  told  to  take 
a  certain  position  over  against 
a  grove  ol  mulberry  trees,  per¬ 
haps  under  a  hill  which  was 
surmounted  by  such  a  grove, 
and  at  a  given  signal,  probably 
a  rushing  of  wind  in  the  top¬ 
most  branches  of  the  trees, 
resembling,  we  may  suppose, 
such  signals  of  God’s  presence 
as  were  given  on  other  occa¬ 
sions,  (Jonah  i.  4.  Acts  ii.2,)  he 
was  to  make  theonset,(lChron. 
xiv.  14, 15 ;)  which  he  did,  and 
was  completely  victorious. 

MULE.  (2 Sam.  xiii.  29.) 
The  name  of  the  offspring  of 
the  horse  and  the  ass.  It  is 
much  smaller  than  the  former, 
and  is  a  remarkably  hardy, 
patient,  obstinate,  sure-footed 
animal,  living  ordinarily  twice 
as  long  as  a  horse.  Mules 
are  much  used  in  Spain  and 
South  America  for  transporting 
goods  across  the  mountains.  So 
also  in  the  Alps,  they  are  used 
by  travellers  among  the  moun-  | 


tains,  where  a  horse  wou.d 
hardly  be  able  to  pass  wi„h 
safety. 

Even  the  kings  and  most  dis¬ 
tinguished  nobles  of  the  Jews 
were  accustomed  to  ride  upon 
mules.  (See  passage  above 
cited,  and  also  2  Sam.  xviii.  9. 
1  Kings  i.  33;  x.  25;  xviii.  5. 
2Chron.  ix.  24.  Esth.  viii.  10. 
14.)  It  is  probable  that  the 
Jews  purchased,  but  did  not 
raise  mules.  (Lev.  xix.  19.) 

The  Hebrew  word  translated 
mules ,  in  Gen.  xxxvi.24,  signi¬ 
fies  more  properly  hot  foun¬ 
tains,  or  baths.  That  these 
places  should  be  discovered  by 
means  of  animals  who  were 
burnt  by  them,  or  refused  to 
drink  of  them,  is  nothing  won¬ 
derful.  This  would  give  a  bet¬ 
ter  meaning  to  this  pasage. 
The  desert  of  Arabia  has  many 
warm  baths.  There  is  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  the  Dead  Sea, 
in  the  ancient  country  of  the 
Edomites,  where  Anah  belong¬ 
ed,  a  famous  bath  of  this  kina, 
known  to  the  Greeks  and  Ro. 
mans  under  the  name  of  Calir- 
rhoe.  This  place  is  mentioned 
by  Josephus  among  others, who, 
in  speaking  of  Herod’s  sick 
ness,  says,  “He  not  only  hoped 
for  restoration,  but  thought  of 
the  means.  He  caused  himseli 
451 


MUR 

to  be  carried  over  the  Jordan, 
and  used  the  warm  baths  at 
Calirrhoe,  which  flow  into  the 
lake  Asphaltites.”  Pliny  also 
says  of  them :  “  U pon  the  south 
side  of  the  lake  Asphaltites  is 
a  warm  fountain  of  great  virtue 
in  restoring  health, whose  name 
indicates  the  fame  of  the  wa¬ 
ter.”  The  Greek  word  Calir¬ 
rhoe  signifies  beautiful  foun¬ 
tain.  The  remarkable  cha¬ 
racter  of  this  water  may  be 
the  reason  why  it  is  introduced 
in  the  narrative  in  so  unusual 
a  manner. 

MURDER.  (Ps.  x.  8.)  The 
Jewish  law  calls  a  murderer 
one  who  slays  another  from 
enmity,  hatred,  or  by  lying  in 
wait.  For  this  crime  there  was 
no  pardon ;  the  city  of  refuge, 
ana  even  the  altar,  furnished 
no  asylum,  nor  might  money  be 
taken  in  satisfaction.  (Ex.  xxi. 
14. 28, 29.  N  um.  xxxv.  30—32. 

1  Kings  ii.  5,  6.  28-34.)  It 
seems  to  have  been  regarded 
as  one  of  the  most  odious  and 
abominable  crimes,  (Deut.  xix. 
13;  xxi. 9.  Num. xxxv.33,34;) 
and  was  a  subject  of  early  and 
severe  legislation.  (Gen.  tx.  6.) 
In  case  of  the  inadvertent  kill¬ 
ing  of  another,  provision  was 
made  for  the  protection  of  the 
offender  by  cities  of  refuge.' 
(See  Cities  op  Refuge.) 

MURRAIN.  (Ex.  ix.  3.) 
This  was  the  fifth  in  order  of 
the  plagues  with  which  the 
Egyptians  were  visited  when 
they  held  the  Israelites  in 
bondage.  The  word  translated 
murrain  signifies  death  ;  and 
may  mean  death  by  plague,  or 
pestilence,  or  any  other  fatal 
disease.  The  term  mortality 
would  be  nearest  in  sense  to 
the  original,  as  no  particular 
disorder  is  specified  by  the 
Hebrew  word. 

This  sudden  and  dreadful 
mortality  was  among  the  cattle 
in  the  field,  including  horses, 
asses,  camels,  oxen,  and  sheep. 
It  was,  however,  confined  to 


MUS 

the  Egyptian  cattle,  and  t« 
those  that  were  in  the  field; 
for  though  the  cattle  of  Israel 
breathed  the  same  air,  and 
drank  the  same  water,  and 
fed  in  the  same  pastures,  not  a 
creature  of  theirs  died.  The 
word  all  is  often  used  in  Scrip¬ 
ture  for  the  mass  or  gTeat  pro¬ 
portion.  It  is  probable  that 
nearly  all  the  cattle  in  the 
field  were  destroyed  by  this 
plague,  and  the  few  that  sur¬ 
vived  oi  were  afterwards  sent 
into  the  field,  were  destroyed 
by  the  succeeding  storm  of  fire 
and  hail.  Many  horses  must 
have  escaped  ;  perhaps  all  the 
war  horses.  (Comp.  Ex.  xiv. 
27,28;  xv.  21.) 

MUSIC.  (1  Sam.  xviii.  6.) 
This  was  an  important  part  of 
the  festivities  and  religious  ser 
vices  of  the  Jews.  In  their 
annual  pilgrimages  to  Jerusa 
lem,  their  march  was  thus  en¬ 
livened.  (Isa.  xxx.  29.)  This 
is  still  the  custom  in  oriental 
pilgrimages.  The  practice  of 
music  was  not  restricted  to  any 
one  class  of  persons.  (1  Chron. 
xiii.  8;  xv.  16.)  Tho  sons  of 
Asaph,  Heman,  and  Jeduthun 
were  set  apart  by  David  for 
the  musical  service,  and  the 
nu  ber  of  them ,  with  their 
brethren,  that  were  instructed 
in  the  songs  of  the  Lord  were 
two  hundred  and  eighty-eight. 
They  were  divided,  like  the 
pri  ests,into  twenty -four  courses, 
which  are  enumerated, IChmn. 
xxv.  Of  the  38,000 Levites^/bwr 
thousand  praised  the  Lord  with 
instruments,  (IChron.  xxiii.  5 ;) 
being  more  than  one  in  ten  of 
the  whole  available  members 
ofthetribeofLevi.  Each  of  the 
courses, or  classes, had  one  hun¬ 
dred  and  fifty-four  musicians 
and  three  leaders,  and  all  were 
under  the  general  direction  of 
Asaph  and his  brethren.  Each 
course  served  for  a  week;  but, 
upon  the  festivals,  all  were  re 
quiredlobe  present.orfourthou- 
sand  musicians.  Heman,  with 


452 


MUS 

one  of  his  leaders,  directed  the 
central  choir,  Asaph  the  right, 
and  Jeduthun  the  left  wing. 
These  several  choirs  answered 
one  another,  as  is  generally 
supposed;  in  that  kind  of  al¬ 
ternate  singing  which  is  call¬ 
ed  antiphonal,  or  responsive. 
The  priests,  in  the  mean  time, 
performed  upon  the  silvertrum- 
pets.  (2Chron.  v.  li— 14.)  It  is 
necessary  to  suppose,  that,  in 
order  to  ensure  harmony  from 
such  a  number  of  voices  as 
this,  some  musical  notes  were 
used.  This  truly  regal  direction 
of  sacred  music  continued  after 
the  death  of  David  until  the 
captivity ;  for  though  under  the 
impious  reign  of  some  kings, 
the  whole  of  these  solemnities 
fell  into  disuse,  they  were  re¬ 
vived  by  Hezekiah  and  Josiah. 
And  although  during  the.  exile 
the  sweet  singers  of  Israel 
hanged  their  harps  upon  the 
willows  by  the  waters  of  Baby¬ 
lon,  yet  two  hundred  musicians 
returned  with  Ezra  to  the  Holy 
Land.  (Ezra  ii.  65.) 

Musical  instruments.(Ecc1. 
ii.  8.)  They  were  invented  by 
Jubal,  the  son  of  Lamech,(Gen. 
iv.  21,)  and  had  appropriate 
names.  (Gen.  xxxi.  27.) ■  They 
may  be  divided  into  three 
Classes :  stringed  instruments, 
wind  instruments,  and  such 
as  gave  their  sounds  on  being 
struck.  Of  stringed  instru¬ 
ments  were  the  harp,  the  in¬ 
strument  of  ten  strings,  the 
sackbut,  and  psaltery.  They 
are  described  under  their  pro¬ 
per  names. 

The  instruments  of  music 
mentioned  in  1  Sam.  xviii.  6, 
as  used  by  women,  are  suppos¬ 
ed  to  have  been  metallic  tri¬ 
angles,  as  the  name  indicates. 

The  instrument  often  strings 
resembled  a  modern  guitar, hav¬ 
ing  its  strings  stretched  over 
something  not  unlike  a  drum; 
and  it  was  played  with  the 
fingers.  (For  description  and 
engravings  of  several  ancient 


MY® 

musical  instruments,  see  He¬ 
brew  Customs,  pp.  79—87,  by 
Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

MUSTARD.  (Matt.  xiii.  31.) 

A  species  of  the  plant  known 
to  us  by  the  same  name,  but 
of  much  larger  size,  and  espe¬ 
cially  in  the  fertile  soil  of  Ju¬ 
dea.  .  With  us  it  is  a  small 
annual  herb,  but  there  it  grew 
to  the  size  of  a  fig  tree,  and  was 
sufficiently  large  to  bear  the  %. 
weight  of  a  man  to  climb  upon 
it.  The  seeds  are  very  small; 
so  that  it  proverbially  express¬ 
ed  the  least  thing,  or  the  mi¬ 
nutest  particle.  It  was  the 
largest  plant  from  the  small¬ 
est  seed  which  was  then  or 
is  now  known.  Hence  the 
figure  used  in  our  Saviour’s 
parable  forcibly  illustrates  the 
contrast  between  the  infancy 
of  his  church  and  its  final  pros¬ 
perity,  as  well  as  between  the 
early  fruits  of  God's  grace  in 
the  soul,  and  the  full  develope- 
ment  of  Christian  character  in 
the  believer. 

MYRA.  (Acts  xxvii.  5.)  A 
seaport  of  Syria,  and  one  of  its 
principal  cities,  was  situated 
near  the  southernmost  cape  of 
Asia  Minor,  where  Paul  em¬ 
barked  for  Rome  in  a  ship  of 
Alexandria. 

The  magnificent  ruins  of 
Myra,  now  Cacamo,  attest  the 
opulence  of  the  age  of  Adrian 
and  Trajan.  The  necropolis , 
or  place  of  interments,  has  of 
itself  the  appearance  of  a  city. 

MYRRH.  (Gen.xliii.il.)  A 
medicinal  gum,  yielded  by  a 
thorny  tree  which  grows  eight 
or  nine  feet  high,  chiefly  im¬ 
ported  from  Arabia  to  the  East 
Indies.  It  was  at  a  very  early 
period  an  article  of  commerce, 
(Gen.  xxxvii.  25,)  and  was  an 
ingredient  of  the  holy  oint¬ 
ment.  (Ex.  xxx.  23,)  and  oi  the 
embalming  substance.  (John 
xix.  39.)  It  was  also  used  as 
an  agreeable  perfume.  (Esth. 
ii.  12.  Ps.  xlv.8.  Prov.  vii.  17.) 

It  was  also  regarded  among 


MYR 

the  valuable  gifts  which  it  was 
customary  to  present  to  kings, 
nobles,  and  others,  as  a  token 
of  respect  in  ancient  times 
and  countries.  (Gen.  xliii.  11. 
Matt.  ii.  1.  11.) 

In  Matt.  xxvii.34,it  is  said, that 
they  gave  Jesus  to  drink  vine¬ 
gar  mixed  with  gall ,  which, 
in  Mark  xv.  23,  is  called  wine 
mingled  with  myrrh.  It  was 
probably  the  sour  wine  which 
the  Roman  soldiers  used  to 
drink,  mingled  with  myrrh 
and  other  bitter  substances: 
very  much  like  the  bitters  of 
modern  times. 

MYRTLE.  (Isa.  xli.  19.)  A 
beautiful,  fragrant,  and  orna¬ 
mental  evergreen.  The  seeds 
of  one  species  of  the  myrtle, 
being  collected  and  dried  be¬ 
fore  they  are  ripe,  are  called 
pimento,  or  allspice.  Groves 
of  the  myrtle  are  still  found  of 
spontaneous  growth  in  Judea 
and  corresponding  latitudes ; 
and  for  the  rich  hue  of  their 
green,  polished  leaves,  their 


NAA 

AAMAN.  (2  Kings  v.  6.)  A 
Syrian  general  of  great 
distinction  and  bravery,  (2 
Kings  v.  1,)  who  applied  to  the 
prophet  Elisha  to  relieve  him 
of  the  leprosy  with  which  he 
was  severely  afflicted.  He  was 
induced  to  make  the  applica¬ 
tion  in  consequence  of  what 
was  said  to  his  wife,  about  the 
rophet,  by  a  little  girl,  who 
ad  been  taken  captive  from 
among  the  Israelites,  and  was 
living  in  the  general’s  family. 
Taking  with  him  a  letter  of 
introduction  from  the  king  of 
Syria  to  the  king  of  Israel, 
(supposing,  perhaps,  that  the 
king  of  Israel  would  know 
What  prophet  was  meant,  and 
would  have  influence  over 
him,)  Naaman  ascended  his 
chariot,  and,  with  much  pomp, 
(2  Kings  v.  9.  13,)  went  to  the 


MYS 

agreeable  fragrance,  and  beau¬ 
tiful  flowers,  are  used  by  the 
sacred  writer,  in  contrast  with 
the  noxious,  useless  brier,  to 
illustrate  the  prosperity  and 
glory  of  the  church.  (Isa.  lv.13. 
See  also  Isa.  xli.  19 ;  and  Zech. 
i.  8—11.) 

The  myrtle  furnished  the 
wreaths  of  ancient  heroes  and 
victors.  Branches  of  the  myrtle 
were  gathered,  among  others, 
to  cover  the  bootiis  ana  tents  ol 
the  Jews  at  the  celebration  of 
the  feast  of  tabernacles.  (Lev. 
xxiii.  40.  Comp.  Neh.  viii.  15.) 

MYSIA.  (Acts  xvi. 7.)  A 
province  of  Asia  Minor,  and  at 
this  day  a  beautiful  and  fertile 
country.  It  has  the  sea  of  Pro¬ 
pontis  on  the  north,  Lydia  on 
the  south,  and  Bythmia  on  the 
east.  In  the  northern  section 
of  Mysia  was  the  province  in 
which  the  ancient  city  of  Troy 
was  situated,  and  not  far  dis¬ 
tant  was  the  Troas  mentioned 
by  Paul.  (Acts  xvi.  8 ;  xx.  6. 
2  Cor.  ii.  12.  2  Tim.  iv.  13.) 


NAA 

king  of  Israel,  who  resided  in 
Samaria. 

The  king  of  Israel  expressed 
his  surprise  and  grief  that  the 
king  of  Syria  should  send  him 
such  a  letter ;  and  it  was  soon 
noised  abroad  that  the  Syrian 
general  was  at  the  palace,  and 
for  what  purpose  he  had  come. 
Elisha  sent  word  to  the  king 
that  he  need  not  be  concerned. 
If  the  leprous  stranger  would 
come  to  him,  he  should  see 
that  there  was  a  prophet  in 
Israel.  So  Naaman  applied 
to  Elisha,  and  was  directed 
merely  to  wash  seven  times  in 
the  river  Jordan.  This  simple 
remedy  seemed  to  Naaman 
altogether  inadequate.  If  the 
mere  washing  of  the  body  would 
suffice,  there  were  waters  in 
Syria  purer  and  more  salutary 
-than  all  the  waters  of  Israel. 

454 


NAB 

Why,  then,  make  a  journey  to 
Samaria  to  wash  in  the  Jordan'! 
He  was  about  to  leave  the  place 
in  indignation,  when  some  of 
his  retinue  very  wisely  sug¬ 
gested  to  him,  that  if  the  pro¬ 
phet  had  proposed  some  ex¬ 
pensive  or  difficult  remedy,  he 
would  have  tried  it  at  once  ; 
and  surely  he  could  not  refuse 
to  try  one’whioh  was  so  simple, 
and  which,  whether  successful 
or  not,  would  cost  neither  toil 
nor  money.  Thus  they  per¬ 
suaded  him  to  follow  the  pro¬ 
phet’s  prescription ;  and,  upon 
washing  in  the  Jordan  seven 
times,  his  flesh  and  health 
were  perfectly  restored. 

Deeply  impressed  with  the 
power  of  the  God  of  Israel,  by 
which  his  loathsome  disease 
was  thus  suddenly  cured,  he 
offered  a  reward  to  Elisha, 
which  he  promptly  declined. 
He  then  voluntarily  renounced 
all  his  idolatrous  practices ; 
and  asked  for  a  quan.ity  of 
earth  from  the  soil  on  which  the 
prophet  and  the  people  of  God 
dwelt,  perhaps  that  he  might 
build  with  it  an  altar  to  the 
God  of  Israel;  and  so  tender 
had  his  conscience  become, 
that  he  feared  even  to  attend 
his  master  the  king  in  his  idol¬ 
atrous  services,  as  his  official 
duty  required,  without  asking 
beforehand  if  such  attendance 
might  be  pardoned.  It  seems 
that  Elisha  was  disposed  to 
trust  him  to  the  dictates  of  his 
awn  conscience,  which  was 
evidently  under  divine  influ¬ 
ence.  We  are  not  informed  of 
his  subsequent  history.  (For 
map,  and  particular  history  of 
this  transaction,  see  Elisha, 
eh.  vi.,  by  Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

NABAL.  (1  Sam.  xxv.  3.)  A 
very  wealthy  citizen  of  Maon. 
When  David  was  in  the  wil¬ 
derness  of  Paran,  Nabal  was 
in  the  vicinity  of  Carmel,  a 
place  west  of  the  Dead  Sea, 
shearing  his  sheep,  of  which 
be  had  no  less  than  three  thou- 


NAB 

sand.  David  sent  ten  of  his 
young  men  to  ask  him  for  sup 
plies  in  the  most  courteous 
manner;  but  Nabal,  who  was 
proverbially  churlish,  refused, 
in  the  most  offensive  terms,  to 
grant  his  request.  David  im¬ 
mediately  ordered  four  hun¬ 
dred  of  his  men  to  arm  them¬ 
selves  and  follow  him  to  the 
place  where  Nabal  lodged,  in¬ 
tending  to  destroy  him  and  all 
that  pertained  to  him.  When 
they  drew  near,  Abigail,  the 
discreet  and  beautiful  wife  of 
this  son  of  Belial,  was  admo¬ 
nished  of  their  purpose.  She 
promptly  made  up  a  sumptuous 
present,  and, without  the  know¬ 
ledge  of  her  husband,  set  forth 
to  meet  David,  with  her  ser¬ 
vants,  and  with  asses  to  bear 
the  gifts.  When  David  met 
her,  she  showed  him  the  most 
profound  reverence,  and  so  en¬ 
tirely  conciliated  him,  that  he 
received  her  present,  and  gave 
her  his  blessing.  WhenjAoi- 
gail  returned,  she  found  her 
husband  at  a  feast  which  he 
had  made  at  his  own  house; 
and  she  deferred  communi¬ 
cating  to  him  the  history  and 
result  of  her  embassy  until  he 
should  recover  from  the  effects 
of  his  indulgence.  He  had  no 
sooner  recei  ved  her  statement, 
than  he  was  seized  with  a  se¬ 
vere  illness, which  proved  fatal 
at  the  end  of  ten  days.  (For  a 
full  and  interesting  account  of 
this  scene,  with  cuts,  &c.,  see 
Life  of  David,  ch.  xv.,by  Am. 
S.  S.  Union.) 

NABOTH.  (1  Kings  xxi.  1.) 
An  Israelite  of  the  town  of 
Jezreel,  who  owned  a  vineyard 
adjoining  the  palace  of  king 
Ahab.  Anxious  to  secure  this 
partioular  spot  that  he  might 
use  it  for  a  garden,  the  king 
proposed  to  buy  it,  or  give  him 
some  other  property  of  equal 
value;  but  Naboth  declined, 
to  the  great  disappointment 
and  mortification  of  the  wick 
ed  monarch.  Jezebel,  his  more 


NAH 

wicked  wife, immediately  form¬ 
ed  a  plan  to  lake  the  life  of 
Naboth,  in  which  she  succeed¬ 
ed;  ana  so  Ahab  obtained  pos¬ 
session  of  his  inheritance.  (See 
Ahab,  Jezebel.) 

N  A  D  A  B,  (1  Kin<m  xv.  525,) 
son  and  successor  of  Jeroboam, 
king  of  Israel,  reigned  two 
years.  His  reign  was  wicked 
and  corrupt,  ana  he  was  finally 
assassinated  while  prosecuting 
the  siege  of  Gibbethon,  a  Phi¬ 
listine  city.  i5ee  Abihu.) 

NAHiSH.  (See Ammon- 

N  A  H  OR,  (Gen.  xi.  23,)  or 
NACHOR,  (Josh.  xxiv.  2,)  was 
the  name  of  Abraham’s  grand¬ 
father,  and  also  the  name  of 
one  of  Abraham’s  brothers, 
(Gen.  xi.  26,)  who  married  Mil- 
cah,  the  daughter  of  Haran. 
(Gen.  xi.  29.)  He  lived  at  Ha¬ 
ran  ;  which  is  thence  called 
the  city  ofNahor.  (Gen.  xxiv. 
10.) 

NAHUM.  (Nah.i.1.)  Ana- 
tive  of  Eli-Koshai,  a  village  of 
Galilee,  the  ruins  of  which 
were  plainly  discernible  as 
lately  as  the  fourth  century. 
There  is  considerable  diversity 
of  opinion  as  to  the  time  in 
which  he  lived. 

Prophecy  op,  is  the  thirty- 
fourth  in  the  order  of  the  books 
of  the  Old  Testament.  Though 
divided  into  three  chapters,  it 
is  a  continuous  poem  of  unri¬ 
valled  spirit  and  sublimity, 
and  admirable  forthe  elegance 
of  its  imagery.  It  relates 
chiefly  to  the  destruction  of 
the  magnificent  city  of  Nine¬ 
veh,  which  had  been  prophe¬ 
sied  by  Jonah  nearly  a  century 
before.  These  predictions  (it 
is  supposed)  were  made  in  the 
reign  of  Hezekiah,  and  have 
been  remarkably  fulfilled, 
both  as  to  the  fact  and  the 
manner  of  their  fulfilment. 
The  city  of  Nineveh  was  de¬ 
stroyed  about  a  century  after 
the  prophecy  of  Nahum  was 
uttered ;  and  so  complete  was 


NAM 

its  overthrow,  that  the  site  on 
which  it  stood  has  been  matter 
of  mere  conjecture  for  nearly 
or  quite  sixteen  centuries. 

NAIL.  (Ezra  ix.  8.)  Travel¬ 
lers  tell  us,  what  we  might 
infer  from  the  frail  materials 
and  weak  construction  of  east¬ 
ern  dwellings,  that  the  nails 
or  spikes  which  are  necessary 
to  hang  up  garments,  curtains, 
and  utensils  of  various  kinds, 
are  not  driven  in,  but  are  built 
in  firmly  with  the  wall,  in  the 
process  of  its  erection.  They 
are  large,  and  being  quite  con¬ 
spicuous,  are  well  finished. 
The  force  of  the  figure  in  the 
above  passage  is  obvious,  inas¬ 
much  as  the  nail  being  not,  like 
ours,  easily  drawn  and  placed 
elsewhere,  was  a  part  of  the 
fabric  itself,  and  could  only  be 
removed  with  the  wall  itself, 
or  some  part  of  it.  Hence  the 
word  in  the  margin  is  ren¬ 
dered  a  constant  and  sure 
abode.  (See,  also,  Zedi.  x.  4.) 
The  nail  with  which  Jael 
killed  Sisera  was  a  tent  pin, 
with  which  the  cords  of  a  tent 
are  fixed  to  the  ground. 

NAIN.  (Lukevii.il.)  Acity 
of  Galilee,  south  of  Mount  Ta¬ 
bor,  and  but  a  little  distance 
from  Capernaum.  It  is  now  a 
Turkish  village,  inhabited  by 
Jews,  Mohammedans,  and  a 
few  Christians.  The  place  is 
distinguished  as  the  scene  of 
one  of  Christ’s  most  remark¬ 
able  and  affecting  miracles. 
(Luke  vii.  11—15.) 

NAIOTH.  (1  Sam.  xix.  22.) 
A  part  of  the  town  of  Ramati, 
(or,  as  the  word  signifies,  the 
meadows  of  Hamah,)  where  a 
school  of  the  prophets  was  es¬ 
tablished. 

NAME.  (Gen.  ii.  19.)  This 
word,  in  some  passages  of 
Scripture,  has  a  peculiar  sig¬ 
nification,  as  in  Prov.  xviii.  10, 
where  the  term  denotes  God 
himself,  with  all  his  attributes 
and  perfections.  (See,  also, 
I  Ps.  xx.  1.  5.  7.)  In  the  New 
456 


NAO 

Testament,  it  usually  means 
the  character,  faith,  or  doctrine 
ot’Christ.  (Acts  v.  41;  viii.  12; 
ix.  15,  and  xxvi.  9.) 

Names  among  the  Jews  were 
often  given,  in  allusion  to  some 
peculiar  circumstances  in  the 
character,  birth,  or  destiny  of 
the  individual,  (Ex.  ii.  10,  and 
xviii.  3,4;)  and  sometimes  it  had 
a  prophetic  meaning.  (Matt.  i. 
21.)  Many  instances  occur  in 
Scripture  of  the  same  person 
having  two  names.  Names 
were  changed,  and  are  stili, 
in  eastern  countries,  for  slight 
reasons.  A  change  of  office 
or  station  often  occasioned  a 
change  ot  lame. 

And  upon  his  thigh  a  name 
written.  (Rev.  xix.  16.)  This 
phrase  alludes  to  an  ancient 
custom  in  the  eastern  nations 
of  adorning  the  images  of  their 
gods  and  the  persons  of  princes 
and  heroes  with  inscriptions 
expressive  of  their  character, 
titles, &c.  They  were  made  on 
the  garment,  or  on  one  of  the 
thighs;  and  several  ancient 
statues  have  been  discovered, 
with  inscriptions  of  one  or  two 
lines,  written  sometimes  hori¬ 
zontally  and  sometimes  per¬ 
pendicularly  both  on  the  inside 
and  outside  of  the  thigh,  and 
sometimes  upon  both  thighs. 
Men  surname  themselves  by 
the  name  of  Israel,  when,  hav¬ 
ing  been  before  Gentiles  and 
sinners,  they  join  themselves 
to  Jesus  and  his  church.  (Isa. 
xliv.  5.  See  Stone,  Thiqh.) 

NAHSHON,  (Num.  vii.  12,) 
son  of  Amminadab,  and  head 
of  the  tribe  of  Judah,  made  the 
first  offering  for  the  tabernacle 
in  the  wilderness.  He  is  the 
only  one  of  the  heads  of  tribes 
who  is  not  called  a  prince  in 
the  history  of  this  transaction. 
Probably  the  omission  was  de¬ 
signed  ;  as,  to  be  the  head  of 
we  tribe  of  Judah  was,  from 
the  pre-eminence  of  that  tribe, 
r  sufficient  honour. 

NAOMI.  (Ruth  i.  2.)  The 
39 


NAT 

wife  of  Elimelech,  and  the 
mother-in-law  of  Ruth,  who 
moved  with  their  two  sons  from 
Judea  to  Moab.  Elimelech 
died,  and  also  his  two  sons, 
each  leaving  a  widow;  and 
Naomi,  having  thus  been  lelt 
alone,  returned  to  her  home  in 
Judea.  So  severe  had  been 
her  afflictions,  that  she  pro¬ 
posed  to  her  friends  on  her  re¬ 
turn  to  call  her  Mara,  (which 
signifies  bitter ,)  rather  than 
Naomi,  (which  signifies  beai»- 
tiful.)  (Ruth  i.  19 — 21.  See 
Ruth.  See  also  Affection¬ 
ate  Daughtek-in-law,  by 
Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

NAPHTALI,  (Gen.  xxx.  8) 
or  NEPHTHALIM.  (Matt.  iv. 
15.)  A  son  of  Jacob  by  Bilhah. 

Tribe  of,  received  their 
portion  of  the  promised  land 
in  the  northern  part,  be¬ 
tween  the  Jordan  on  the  east, 
and  the  possessions  of  Asher 
on  the  west.  It  was  one  of  the 
most  fruitful  sections  of  the 
country,  and  included  the 
sources  of  the  Jordan.  (Josh, 
xxi.  32—39.)  This  tribe  was 
peculiarly  blessed  of  God, 
(Deut.  xxxiii.  23 ;)  and  the  figu¬ 
rative  language  in  which  the 
benediction  of  Jacob  is  ex¬ 
pressed  (Gen.  xlix.  21)  implies 
the  increase,  power,  and  bros- 
perity  of  the  family  of  Naph- 
tali.  The  city  of  Capernaum, 
where  Christ  resided  and 
taught  so  much,  was  situated 
in  the  borders  of  Zebulon 
and  Naphtali,  near  Tiberias. 
Hence  the  language  of  the 
prophet.  (Isa.  ix.  1.  See  Hind. 
See  also  Youth’s  Friend,  for 
December,  1828,  by  Am.  S-  S. 
Union.) 

NATHAN.  (2 Sam.  vii.  2.) 
A  distinguished  prophet  of  Ju¬ 
dea,  who  lived  in  the  reign  of 
David,  and  enjoyed  a  large 
share  of  his  confidence.  To 
him  David  first  intimated  his 
design  to  build  the  temple;  and 
he  was  divinely  instructed  to 
inform  the  king  that  this  ho. 


NAT 

Hour  was  noi  for  him,  but  foi 
his  posterity.  Nathan  was  also 
charged  with  the  divine  mes¬ 
sage  to  David,  upon  the  occa¬ 
sion  of  his  sin  against  Uriah, 
which  he  conveyed  under  a 
most  beautiful  and  significant 
allegory,  by  which  he  made 
the  king  to  condemn  himself. 
Nathan  was  one  of  David’s  bi¬ 
ographers,  (1  Chron.  xxix.  29.) 
There  are  several  others  of 
this  name  mentioned  in  the 
Bible,  of  whose  history  we  are 
uninformed.  (2Sam.v.l4;  xxiii. 
36.  1  Chron.  xi.  38.  Ezraviii. 
16.  Luke  iii,  31.) 

NATHANAEL,  (John  i.  45,) 
one  of  the  twelve  disciples,  is 
supposed  to  be  the  same  with 
Bartholomew.  (See  Bartho¬ 
lomew.)  He  was  called  upon 
by  Philip  to  go  with  him  and 
see  the  Messiah,  who  had  just 
appeared.  Nathanael  seems  to 
have  doubted  his  friend’s  tes¬ 
timony  ;  but,  to  resolve  his 
doubts,  consented  to  accompa¬ 
ny  him.  As  they  approached 
the  Messiah,  he  received  the 
most  emphatic  testimony  to  his 
integrity  that  can  be  found  on 
record.  (John  i.  47.)  Jesus  on 
this  occasion  declared  his  om¬ 
niscience;  for  he  professes  to 
know  his  character  and  heart 
at  their  first  interview,  and 
assures  him  that  his  eye  was 
upon  him  under  a  fig  tree,  be¬ 
neath  the  shade  of  which  he 
had  probably  been  engaged  in 
religious  exercises.  (John  i.  50.) 
Nathanael  was  convinced;  and 
acknowledged  him  as  the  true 
Messiah.  Christ  thereupon  as¬ 
sured  him  in  substance  that 
he  should  see  still  more  con¬ 
vincing  evidences  of  his  mes- 
Biahship  in  the  progress  of  his 
ministry;  in  the  doctrines  he 
should  teach ;  in  the  miracles 
he  should  work;  and  in  the 
peculiar  favour  and  protection 
of  Gud  which  he  should  enjoy. 
Among  those  greater  evidences 
may  have  been  the  events  re¬ 
corded  Matt.  iii.  17;  iv  11; 


NAZ 

xvii.  5.  John  xi.  42;  xii.  28— 
30. 

NAZ'ARENE.  (Matt,  ii.23.) 
An  inhabitant  of  Nazareth. 
The  passage  from  the  prophets, 
to  which  reference  is  here 
made,  is  not  known;  and  the 
probability  is,  that  the  refer¬ 
ence  is  rather  to  the  general 
current  of  prophecy  respecting 
the  humble  and  despised  con¬ 
dition  of  Christ.  To  come  out 
of  Nazareth,  or  to  be  a  Natu¬ 
re  m1.  rendered  one  an  object  of 
reproach  and  contempt.  (See 
Christ.  Comp.  Isa.  liii.  2—12, 
and  John  i.  46;  vii.  52.) 

NAZARETH.  (Malt,  xxi.ll.) 
A  town  in  Galilee,  within  the 
territory  of  Zebulon,  from  fifty 
to  seventy  miles  north  of  Jeru¬ 
salem,  now  known  as  Nasse- 
ra,  or  Naserah.  It  was  noted 
for  its  wickedness.  (John  i. 
46.)  It  occupies  an  elevated 
site  about  midway  between 
mount  Tabor  and  Cana.  Jesus 
spent  much  of  his  time  here ; 
and  hence  the  title  Jesus  of 
Nazareth.  (Mark  xvi.6.  Luke 
xxiv.  19.  Acts  ii.  22.) 

A  precipice  of  fifty  feet, which 
lies  about  a  mile  from  the  vil¬ 
lage,  is  regarded  as  the  place 
to  which  the  people  of  the  town 
carried  Jesus,  with  the  savage 
intention  of  casting  him  o~f£ 
(Luke  iv.  29.)  There  is  a  Ro¬ 
man  Catholic  church  here, 
called  the  Church  of  the  An¬ 
nunciation,  erected,  as  they 
say,  on  the  spot  where  Mary 
the  mother  of  our  Lord  received 
the  divine  message.  It  is  the 
most  magnificent  church  in  the 
land,  except  that  of  the  Holy 
Sepulchre  at  Jerusalem  The 
traditions  of  the  inhabitants  re¬ 
specting  the  fountain  of  Mary, 
the  house  of  Joseph,  and  the 
synagogue  where  Christ,  taught, 
are  not  worthyof remembrance. 

A  modern  traveller  describe* 
Nazareth  as  situated  upon  the 
declivity  of  a  hill,  the  vale 
which  spreads  out  before  it 
resembling  a  circular  basin, 
458 


NA  L 

encompassed  by  mountains. 
Fifteen  mountains  appear  to 
meet  to  form  an  enclosure  for 
this  beautiful  spot,  around 
which  they  tise  like  the  edge 
of  a  shell,  to  guard  it  against 
intrusion.  It  is  a  rich  and 
beautiful  field  in  the  midst  of 
barren  mountains. 

Another  traveller  speaks  of 
the  streets  as  narrow  and 
steep,  the  houses,  which  are 
flat-roofed,  are  about  two  hun¬ 
dred  and  fifty  in  number,  and 
the  inhabitants  he  estimates 
at  2000.  The  population  of 
the  place  is  variously  stated, 
though  the  average  estimate 
is  3000  ;  of  whom  about  five 
hundred  are  Turks,  and  the 
residue  nominal  Christians. 

As  all  testimony  to  the  truth 
and  fidelity  of  the  sacred  nar¬ 
rative  is  important,  we  have 
thought  ourselves  justified  in 
connecting  with  this  article  a 
passage  from  the  journal  of 
Mr.  Jowett,  an  intelligent  mo¬ 
dern  traveller;  especially  as  it 
is  so  fUll  an  illustration  of  the 
passage  of  Luke  already  cited. 

“Nazareth  is  situated  on  the 
side,  and  extends  nearly  to  the 
foot,  of  a  hill,  which,  though 
not  very  high,  is  rather  steep 
and  overhanging.  The  eye  na¬ 
turally  wanders  over  its  sum¬ 
mit,  in  quest  of  some  point  from 
which  it  might  probably  be 
that  the  men  of  this  place  en¬ 
deavoured  to  cast  our  Saviour 
down,  (Luke  iv.  29,)  but  in 
vain  :  no  rock  adapted  to  3uch 
an  object  appears  here.  At  the 
foot  of  the  hill  is  a  modest, 
simple  plain,  surrounded  by 
low  hills,  reaching  in  length 
nearly  a  mile ;  in  breadth,  near 
the  city,  a  hundred  and  fifty 
yards:  butfarthersouth, about 
four  hundred  yards.  On  this 
plain  there  are  a  few  olive  and 
fig  trees,  sufficient,  or  rather 
scarcely  sufficient,  to  make  the 
spot  picturesque.  Then  fol¬ 
lows  a  ravine,  which  gradual¬ 
ly  grows  deeper  and  narrower 


NAZ  . 

towards  the  south  ;  J 
walking  about  anotj 
you  find  yourself  it 
mense  chasm, with  stj 
on  either  side,  from  wu^n™ 
you  behold,  as  it  were  beneath 
your  feet,  and  before  you,  the 
noble  plain  of  Esdraelon.  No¬ 
thing  can  be  finer  than  the  ap¬ 
parently  immeasurable  pros¬ 
pect  of  this  plain,  bounded  on 
the  south  by  the  mountains  of 
Samaria.  The-|‘levation  ofthe 
hills  on  which  the  spectato 
stands  in  this  ravine  is  ver 
great ;  and  the  whole  scene, 
when  we  saw  it,  was  clothed 
in  the  most  rich  mountain-blue 
colour  that  can  be  conceived. 
At  this  spot,  on  the  right  hand 
of  the  ravine,  is  shown  the 
rock  to  which  the  men  of  Na¬ 
zareth  are  supposed  to  have 
conducted  our  Lord,  for  the 
purposeofthrowinghimdown. 
With  the  Testament  in  our 
hands,  we  endeavoured  to  ex¬ 
amine  the  probabilities  of  the 
spot ;  and  I  confess  there  is 
nothing  in  it  which  excites  a 
sciuple  of  incredulity  in  my 
mind.  The  rock  here  is  per¬ 
pendicular  for  about  fifty  feet, 
down  which  space  it  would  be 
easy  to  hurl  a  person  who 
should  be  unawaresbroughtto 
the  summit;  and  his  perishing 
would  be  a  very  certain  conse¬ 
quence.  That  the  spot  might 
be  at  a  considerable  distance 
from  the  city  is  an  idea  not 
inconsistent  with  St.  Luke’s 
account ;  for  the  expression 
thrusting  Jesus  out  of  the  city 
and  leading  him  to  the  brow  of 
the  hill  on  which  their  city  was 
built,  gives  fair  scope  for  ima¬ 
gining,  that  in  their  rage  and 
debate,  the  Nazarenes  might, 
vmthout  originally  intending 
his  murder,  press  upon  him 
for  a  considerable  distance 
after  they  had  quitted  the 
synagogue.  The  distance,  as 
already  noticed,  from  mo¬ 
dern  Nazareth  to  this  spot,  is 
scarcely  two  miles  ;  a  space 


NAZ 

which,  in  the  fury  of  persecu¬ 
tion,  might  soon  be  passed, 
over.  Or,  should  this  appear 
too  considerable,  it  is  by  no 
means  certain  but  that  Naza¬ 
reth  may  at  that  time  have 
extended  through  the  princi- 

Eal  part  of  the  plain,  which  I 
ave  described  as  lying  before 
the  modern  town.  In  this  case, 
the  distance  passed  over  might 
not  exceed  a  mile.  I  can  see, 
therefore,  no  reason  for  think¬ 
ing  otherwise,  than  that  this 
may  be  the  real  scene  where 
our  divine  prophet  Jesus  re¬ 
ceived  so  great  a  dishonour 
from  the  men  of  his  own  coun¬ 
try  and  of  his  own  kindred.” 

Mr.  Fisk,  an  American  mis¬ 
sionary,  was  at  Nazareth  in 
the  autumn  of  1823.  His  de¬ 
scription  corresponds  general¬ 
ly  with  that  of  Mr.  Jowett.  He 
estimates  the  population  to  be 
from  3000  to  5000,  viz.  Greeks, 
three  hundred  or  four  hundred 
families ;  Turks,  two  hundred ; 
Catholics, one  hundred ;  Greek 
Catholics,  forty  or  fifty;  Ma- 
ronites,  twenty  or  thirty;  say 
in  all  seven  hundred  houses. 

(For  a  beautiful  sketch  of 
modern  Nazareth,  and  the  sur¬ 
rounding  country,  with  particu¬ 
lar  descriptions,  see  Views  of 
Palestine,  pp.  23—27,  by  Am. 
S.  S.  Union.) 

NAZARITES.  (Num.  vi.  2, 
See.)  The  term  is  derived  from  a 
Hebrew  word  signifying  to  se¬ 
parate.  A  Nazarite,  under  the 
ancient  law,  was  one  engaged 
by  a  vow  to  abstain  from  wine 
and  all  intoxicating  liquors,  to 
let  the  hair  grow,  not  to  enter 
any  house  polluted  by  having  a 
dead  body  in  it,  nor  to  be  pre¬ 
sent  at  any  funeral.  If,  by 
accident,  any  one  should  have 
died  in  his  or  her  presence,  the 
Nazarite  was  bound  to  recom¬ 
mence  the  whole  term  of  con¬ 
secration  and  Nazariteship. 
This  vow  generally  lasted 
eight  days,  sometimes  a  month, 
and  sometimes  during  life. 


NEA 

When  the  time  of  Nazarite¬ 
ship  had  expired,  the  person 
brought  an  offering  to  the  tem- 
lej'the  priest  then  cut  off  his 
air  and  burnt  it;  after  which 
the  Nazarite  wa3  free  from  his 
vow,  and  might  again  drink 
wine.  (Num.  vi.)  Perpetual 
Nazarites  were  consecrated  as 
such  by  their  parents  from  their 
birth,  and  continued  all  their 
lives  in  this  state,  neither 
drinking  wine  nor  cutting  theii 
hair.  Such  were  Samson  and 
John  the  Baptist.  (Judg.  xiii. 
4,  5.  Luke  i.  15;  vii.  33.) 

Those  who  made  a  vow  of 
Nazariteship  out  of  Palestine, 
and  could  not  come  to  the 
temple  when  their  vow  had 
expired,  contented  themselves 
with  observing  the  abstinence 
required  by  the  law,  and  cut¬ 
ting  off  their  hair  in  the  place 
where  they  were.  The  offer¬ 
ings  and  sacrifices  prescribed 
by  Moses,  to  be  offered  at  the 
temple,  by  themselves,  or  by 
others  for  them,  they  deferred 
till  a  convenient  epportunity. 
Hence  Paul,  being  at  Corinth, 
and  having  made  the  vow  of 
a  Nazarite,  had  his  hair  cut 
off  at  Cenchrea,  but  deferred 
the  complete  fulfilment  of  his 
vow  till  he  came  to  Jerusalem. 
(Acts  xviii.  18.) 

Why  this  vow  was  made  by 
Paul  we  know  not,  unless  it 
was  upon  his  deliverance  from 
some  imminent  danger,  and  to 
conciliate  the  Jews  by  com¬ 
plying  with  a  very  solemn  and 
salutary  requirement  of  their 
ritual.  The  charges  (Acts  xxi. 
24)  were  for  offerings  required 
at  the  completion  of  the  vow. 
The  Nazarites  constituted  a 
sect  or  a  class  by  themselves, 
like  the  prophets,  and  were 
examples  of  self-denial  and 
holy  living.  (Amos  ii.  11. 12.) 

NEAPOLIS.  (Actsxvi.il.) 
A  city  of  Macedonia,  on  the 
Egean  coast,  known  in  modern 
times  as  Napoli.  Paul  visited 
it  on  his  way  to  Phibgpi. 


NEB 

NEBAIOTH,  (Isa.  lx.  7,)  or 
NEBAJOTH.  (Gen.  xxv.  13:) 
A  son  of  Ishmael,  whose  de¬ 
scendants  are  supposed  to  have 
settled  in  Arabia,  and  to  have 
been  the  Nabatheans  of  Greek 
and  Roman  history.  They 
were  probably  rich  in  flocks 
and  herds ;  whence  the  beau¬ 
tiful  figure  of  the  prophet  above 
cited,  respecting  the  gathering 
of  the  Gentile  nations  to  the 
sceptre  of  the  Messiah. 

NE BO.  1.  (Deut.  xxxii.  49.) 
One  of  the  summits  of  the 
mountains  of  Abarim,  the  peak 
of  which  overlooked  the  whole 
length  and  breadth  of  the  pro¬ 
mised  land.  (Deut.  xxxiv.l— 4.) 

2.  (Jer.  xlviii.  1.)  A  town  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  mount 
Nebo,  the  name  of  which  was 
derived  from  an  idol  worship- 

ged  there,  (Isa.  xlvi.  1,)  where 
el  i3  supposed  to  mean  the 
sun,  and  Nebo  the  moon.  The 
possession  of  the  place  was 
contested  by  the  tribe  of  Reu¬ 
ben  and  the  Moabites.  (Num. 
xxxii.  38.  Isa.  xv.  2.  Jer.  xlviii. 
22  ) 

“NEBUCHADNEZZAR, 
(2  Kings  xxiv.  X,)  king  of  Baby¬ 
lon,  was  son  and  successor  of 
Nabopolassar.  He  lived  about 
six  hundred  years  before  the 
birth  of  Christ,  and  shared 
in  the  administration  of  the 
government  about  two  years 
before  his  father’s  decease. 
Hence  there  is  some  diversity 
in  the  chronological  references 
to  his  reighj  some  computing 
it  from  the  time  of  his  associa¬ 
tion  with  his  father,  and  others 
from  the  time  his  sole  reign 
commenced.  (Comp.  Dan.  ii. 
1.  Jer.  xxv.  1.)  We  cannot  but 
advert  here  to  the  casual  evi¬ 
dence  of  the  genuineness  of 
the  sacred  history.  The  Jews 
compute  the  reign  of  Nebu¬ 
chadnezzar  from  the  time  of 
his  association  with  his  father, 
which  makes  the  fourth  year 
of  Jehoiakim,  the  first  ofNebu- 
chadnezzar.  The  Babylonians, 
39* 


NEB 


on  the  other  hand,  begin  his 
reign  at  the  death  of  his  father; 
ana  as  Daniel  wrote  in  Chal¬ 
dea,  he  adopts  the  latter  mode 
of  computation,  rather  than  the 
other. 

The  king  of  Egypt,  having 
subjugated  the  Jews,  and  seem¬ 
ing  inclined  to  extend  his  con¬ 
quests  to  the  Euphrates,  Nebu¬ 
chadnezzar  not  only  checked 
his  advance,  but  entirely  de¬ 
feated  his  army  at  Carchemish, 
dispossessing  him  of  his  newly- 
acquired  dominions,  leaving 
Jehoiakim  at  Jerusalem  in  a 
state  of  vassalage  to  Babylon 
and  taking  with  him,  as  cap¬ 
tives,  Daniel  and  other  princes 
of  Judah.  02  Kings  xxiv.)  In 
the  reign  of  Jehoiachin,  Ne¬ 
buchadnezzar  again  invaded 
Judea,  and  took  several  of  the 
royal  family  and  a  multitude 
of  others  captive,  and  carried 
them,  with  a  part  of  the  sacred 
vessels  of  the  temple,  to  Baby¬ 
lon.  In  the  ninth  year  of  the 
reign  of  Zedekiah,  the  Jews 
attempted  to  throw  off  the 
yoke, but  Nebuchadnezzar  was 
too  powerful  to  be  successfully 
resisted.  The  Egyptians,  6a 
whom  the  Jews  had  relied  for 
succour,  failed  to  assist  them, 
and  were  themselves  defeated. 


The  holy  city  was  besieged, 
captured,  anti  destroyed,  and 
the  magnificent  temple  burn¬ 
ed;  ana  Nebuchadnezzar  car¬ 
ried  their  king  and  a  multitude 
of  his  subjects  as  captives  to 
Babylon.  Elated  by  the  suc¬ 
cess  of  his  expedition,  the 
haughty  king  gloried  in  his 
power,  and  in  the  wealth  and 
magnificence  of  his  capital, 
(Dan.  iv.  30 ;)  but  his  pride  was 
suddenly  humbled  by  a  most 
wonderful  visitation  of  God’s 
hand.  He  was  thrown  into  a 
state  of  delirium,  madness,  or 
idiocy,  in  which  he  continued 
seven  years ;  as  the  compa¬ 
nion  of  the  beasts  of  the  field, 
living  on  grass  or  herbs.  At 
the  end  of  that  term,  his  reason 
461 


NEC 


NEH 


was  restored,  and  he  was  re-in¬ 
stated  upon  the  throne,  though 
in  a  very  different  state  of 
mind  from  that  in  which  he 
was  deposed.  The  whole  peri 
od  of  his  reign  was  thirty-five 
or  forty  years,  as  he  is  sup¬ 
posed  to  have  died  b.  c.  562. 
(See  Babylon,  Daniel.  See 
also  Life  of  Daniel,  ch.  i. — xi., 
Elisama,  ch.  i.  v.,  and  Union 
Questions,  vol.  ix.,  all  by  Am. 
S.  S.  Union.) 

NEBUZAR-ADAN.  (2  Kings 
xxv.  8.)  General  of  the  armies 
of  Nebuchadnezzar.  He  con¬ 
ducted  the  siege  of  Jerusalem 
to  a  successful  issue ;  the  par¬ 
ticulars  of  which  are  given  in 
2  Kings  xxv.  8 — 21. 

NEC  HO.  (2Chron.  xxxv.20.) 
A  king  of  Egypt,  whose  expe¬ 
ditious  are  often  mentioned 


in  profane  history.  As  he  was 
advancing  upon  Carchemish, 
an  Assyrian  city,  he  passed 
through  the  possessions  of  the 
kingof Judah.  Josiah,  regarding 
this  as  an  act  of  hostility,  pre¬ 
pared  to  resist  his  progress.  Ne- 
cho  sent  ambassadors  to  inform 
him  of  the  object  of  his  expe¬ 
dition  ;  but  as  he  was  already 
in  his  kingdom,  and  avowed 
his  hostile  purposes  against  an 
ally  of  the  kingdom  of  Judah, 
Josiah  thought  himself  justified 
in  opposing  him.  There  was 
no  evidence  to  Josiah  that 
Necho  was  under  the  divine 
guidance,  though  he  claimed 
to  be  so.  It  may  be  regarded 
as  precipitate  in  him  to  have 
opposed  such  a  force  upon  such 
grounds;  and  the  issue  was 
fatal.  The  battle  was  fought 
at  Megiddo,  and  Josiah  lost 
his  life.  Necho,  on  his  return 
from  his  expedition  into  As¬ 
syria,  stopped  at  Riblah,  in 
Syria,  and  sent  for  Jehoahaz, 
who  had  succeeded  to  the 
throne  of  Judah  upon  the  death 
of  Josiah,  and  deposed  him. 
loading  him  with  chains,  and 
sending  him  into  Egypt.  He 
then  put  the  land  of  Judah 


under  a  heavy  tribute,  making 
Eliakim  (whose  name  he 
changed  to  Jehoiakim)  king 
in  the  place  of  Jehoahaz. 
(See  Elisama,  by  Am.  S.  S. 
Union,  ch.  i.  ii.  and  iii.) 

NECROMANCER.  (Deut. 
xviii.  11.)  One  who  pretends 
to  divine  future  events  by 
questioning  the  dead.  The 
practice  has  prevailed  from  a 
very  early  period  among  the 
pagan  nations  of  the  east.  It 
was  forbidden  by  the  Levitical 
law. 

NEESINGS.  (Job  xli.  18.) 
By  the  force  with  which  the 
leviathan  breathes  and  throws 
forth  water  (in  a  manner  not 
unlike  sneezing)  a  light  is 
caused.  This  is  not  impossi¬ 
ble  by  the  laws  of  nature,  but 
perhaps  the  expression  is  po¬ 
etical.  Sneezing  is  occasioned 
by  throwing  the  breath  through 
the  nose,  and  hence  was  an 
evidence  of  returning  life.  (2 
Kings  iv.  35.) 

NEHEMIAH,  (Ezra  ii.  2,) 
son  of  Hachaliah,  (Neh.  x.  1,) 
was  a  Jew  of  distinguished 
piety  and  zeal,  born  in  cap¬ 
tivity,  but  raised  to  the  ho¬ 
nourable  post  of  cup-bearer  to 
Artaxerxes,  king  of  Persia. 
He  used  his  influence  with 
that  monarch  in  behalf  of  his 
afflicted  countrymen,  and  be¬ 
came  their  permanent  bene¬ 
factor.  He  was  commissioned, 
at  his  own  request,  to  visit 
Jerusalem,  and  repair  its  ruins, 
which  he  accomplished  under 
the  most  perplexing  difficul¬ 
ties.  Nehemiah,  as  the  tir- 
shatha  or  governor,  and  Ezra 
as  the  priest  and  scribe,  (Neh. 
viii.  9,)  were  instrumental  in 
restoring  the  worship  of  the 
Jews ;  and  the  sacred  books 
were  collected  and  compiled 
under  their  direction. 

Nehemiah  administered  the 
government  of  Jerusalem 
twelve  years  without  salary, 
and  in  a  manner  most  expen¬ 
sive  to  himself,  (Neh.  v.  14-* 
462 


NEH 

19 ,)  and  at  the  end  of  this 
period  he  returned  to  Persia, 
where  he  remained  for  an 
uncertain  period.  (Neh.  xiii. 
6.)  He  was  absent  long  enough 
to  allow  great  abuses  to  arise 
in  Jerusalem,  (Neh. xiii.  comp. 
Mai.  ii.  10-17;  iii.  6-12,) 
which,  on  his  return,  he  made 
it  his  first  business  to  correct, 
especially  the  violation  of  the 
Sabbath.  By  these  means  he 
restored  his  people,  in  some 
degree,  to  their  former  happy 
condition,  and  probably  re¬ 
mained  inpowertill  his  death, 
which  it  is  supposed  took  place 
in  Jerusalem.  (See  Elisama, 
chap.  xii.  and  xiii.,  and  Union 
Questions,  vol.  ix.,  both  by 
Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

Book  of,  is  the  sixteenth 
in  the  order  of  the  books  of  the 
Old  Testament.  It  may  be 
regarded  as  a  continuation 
or  supplement  to  the  book  of 
Ezra,  which  immediately  pre¬ 
cedes  it;  and  in  some  Bibles 
it  is  called  the  second  book 
of  Ezra,  though  it  is  unques¬ 
tionably  the  work  of  Nehe- 
miah. 

This  book  contains  an  ac¬ 
count  of  the  motives  and  de¬ 
signs  of  Nehemiah  in  wishing 
to  restore  Jerusalem,  the  place 
of  his  fathers’  sepulchres;  of 
the  commission  he  received ; 
his  associates  in  the  work ; 
their  various  successes  and 
difficulties;  the  introduction 
of  a  better  order  of  things,  both 
in  the  religious  and  civil  de¬ 
partments  of  the  government ; 
and  a  census  or  register  of  the 
people.  The  Old  Testament 
history  closes  with  this  book 
B.  c.  420.  After  the  death  of 
Nehemiah,  Judea  became  sub- 
iect  to  the  governor  of  Syria. 

NEHILOTH,  a  word  found 
at  the  beginning  of  the  fifth 
Psalm,  and  which  signifies 
probably  the  Jlutes,  or  wind 
instruments.  The  title  of  the 
fifth  Psalm  may  be  thus  trans¬ 
lated  :  1 A  Psalm  of  David, 


NET 

addressed  ,o  the  master  of 
music,  presiding  over  the 
flutes.’ 

NEHUSHTAN,  (2  Kings 
xviii.  4,)  brazen,  a  name  given 
by  Hezekiah  king  of  Judah 
to  the  brazen  serpent  that  Mo¬ 
ses  had  set  up  in  the  wilder¬ 
ness,  (Num.  xxi.8,)  and  which 
had  been  preserved  by  the 
Israelites  to  that  time.  The 
superstitious  people  having 
made  an  idol  of  this  serpent, 
Hezekiah  caused  it  to  be 
burned,  and  in  derision  gave 
it  the  name  of  Nehusitan, 
i.  e.  little  brazen  serpent,  or 
a  piece  of  brass. 

NEIGHBOUR.  (Luke  x.  29.) 
The  Pharisees  restrained  the 
meaning  of  the  word  neigh¬ 
bour  to  those  of  their  own  na¬ 
tion,  or  to  their  own  friends. 
But  our  Saviour  i  nformed  them 
that  all  the  people  of  the  world 
were  neighbours  to  each  other; 
that  they  ought  not  to  do  to 
another  what  they  would  not 
have  done  to  themselves;  and 
that  this  charity  extended  even 
to  enemies. 

NERGAL.  (2 Kings  xvii.  30.) 
One  of  the  gods  of  those  hea¬ 
then  who  were  transplanted 
into  Palestine.  This  idol  pro¬ 
bably  represented  the  planet 
Mars,  which  was  the  emblem 
of  bloodshed.  The  name  Ner- 
gal  appears  also  in  the  proper 
name  Nergalsharezer.  (Jer. 
xxxix  3 ) 

NETHINIMS.  (Ezra  ii.  43. 
58.)  The  word  signifies  given 
or  dedicated  persons.  They 
were  a  remnant  of  the  Gibeon- 
ites,  and  were  given  as  sacred 
servants  or  bondmen  to  the 
priests,  (1  Kings  ix.  20— 22D 
and  were  employed  as  hewers 
of  wood,  and  drawers  of  water 
for  the  house  of  the  Lord. 
(1  Chron.  ix.  2.)  They  were 
not  the  first,  however,  who 
were  set  apart  as  the  Lord’s 
bondmen ;  for  Moses  had  pre¬ 
viously  mentioned  vows,  by 
which  men  devoted  them- 
463 


NIC 

selves  or  others— that  is,  child¬ 
ren  or  servants— to  God,  to 
minister  in  the  sanctuary. 
The  number  of  these  was 
greatly  increased'  in  latertimes 
by  David  and  others.  Their 
condition  appears  to  have  been 
easy.  It  was  not  till  after  the 
cap'tivity  that  they  were  called 
Nethinims.  (Neh.  iii.26;  vii. 
46.  60.  73;  x.28;  xi.  3.  21.) 

The  Nethinims  were  carried 
into  captivity  with  the  tribe 
of  Judah,  and  great  numbers 
were  placed  not  far  from  the 
Caspian  Sea,  whence  Ezra 
Drought  two  hundred  and 
twenty  of  them  into  Judea. 
(Ezra  viii.  17—20.) 

NETTLES.  (Prov.  xxiv.  31 .) 
A  well  known,  wild  plant,  the 
leaves  of  which  are  armed 
with  stings,  connected  with  a 
small  bag  of  poison ;  and  when 
the  leaves  are  pressed  by  the 
hand,  the  stints  penetrate  the 
flesh,  and  produce  a  swelling 
with  a  sharp  burning  pain. 
The  leaf  when  wet  or  dead 
does  not  possess  this  power. 
The  presence  of  nettles  be¬ 
tokens  a  waste  and  neglected 
soil ;  hence  the  figure  in  the 
passage  above  cited,  and  in 
Isa.  xxxiv.  13.  Hos.  ix.  6-  The 
word  rendered  nettles  in  Job 
xxx.  7,  and  Zeph.  ii.  9,  is  sup. 
posed  to  refer  to  different  spe¬ 
cies  of  nettles,  or  to  some  larger 
shrub  of  similar  properties, 
else  it  could  not  afford  shelter. 

NEW  MOON.  (See  Moon, 
Feasts,  Month.) 

NEW  TESTAMENT.  (See 
Scriptures.) 

NIBHAZ.  (2  Kings  xvii.  31.) 
An  idol  godof  theAvites.  The 
signification  of  the  original 
word  is  the  seeing  barker. 
Hence  a  connexion  is  traced 
between  this  idol  and  the 
Anubis  of  the  Egyptians,  repre¬ 
senting  a  dog’s  head  and  a 
man’s  body. 

N1CODEMTJS.  (John  iii.  1.) 
A  ruler  of  the  Jews,  and  a  dis¬ 
tinguished  member  of  the  sect 


NIG 

of  Pharisees,  whose  converse 
tion  with  the  Messiah,  as  re¬ 
corded  in  this  chapter,  reveals 
one  of  the  grand  doctrines  of 
the  Christian  system,  viz.  re- 
GENERATION  BY  THE  SPIRIT  OP 

God.  The  simple  but  pointed 
instruction  he  received  on  this 
occasion  seems  to  have  been 
made  effectual  upon  the  heart 
and  conscience  of  Nicodemus, 
as  we  find  him  afterwards 
evincing  on  more  than  one 
occasion  his  attachment  to  the 
Redeemer.  (John  vii.  45 — 53; 
xix.  39.) 

NICOLAITANS,  or  NICO- 
LAITANES.  (Rev.  ii.  6.  15.) 
An  ancient  sect,  whose  deeds 
are  expressly  and  strongly  re. 
probated.  Some  have  supposed 
that  the  name  is  symbolical— 
Nicolans  corresponding  to  Ba¬ 
laam,  and  that  it  denotes  all 
false  and  seducing  teachers 
like  Balaam.  (See  Nicoi-as.) 

NICOLAS.  (Acts  vi.  5.)  One 
of  the  deacons  of  the  church 
at  Jerusalem  in  the  days  of 
the  apostles.  He  was  a  native 
of  Antioch,  converted  to  Juda¬ 
ism,  and  thence  to  Christianity. 
It  is  supposed  by  some  that  he 
was  the  founder  of  the  sect  of 
Nicolaitans,  but  without  suf¬ 
ficient  warrant.  (See  Nico¬ 
laitans.) 

N1COPOLIS,  (Tit.  iii.  12,) 
the  place  where  Paul  deter¬ 
mined  to  winter,  is  now  called 
Nicopi,  or  Nicopoli,  a  town 
upon  the  river  Nessus,  (now 
Karasa,)  which  divided  Thrace 
from  Macedonia.  (See  the 
subscription  to  the  epistle.) 
Another  town  of  the  same 
name  was  in  Epirus,  opposite 
Actium,  to  which  some  have 
thought  the  apostle  refers  in 
the  above  passage. 

NIGHT-HAWK.  (Dent.  xiv. 

15. )  A  species  of  bird  unclean 
by  the  Levitical  law,  (Lev.  xi. 

16, )  but  not  the  bird  known  to 
us  by  this  name.  Probably  the 
night-owl  is  intended,  which 
is  described  as  of  the  size  oi 

464 


NIN 

the  common  owl,  and  lodges 
j'u  the  large  buildings  or  ruins 
of  Egypt  and  Syria,  and  some¬ 
times  even  in  the  dwelling- 
houses.  It  is  extremely  vo¬ 
racious. 

NIMRIM.  (Isa.  xv.  6.)  A 
stream  in  the  north  part  of 
Moab,  near  to  the  village  of 
Beth-nimrah,  (Num.  xxxii.  36,) 
the  ruins  of  which  now  bear 
the  name  of  Nimrein. 

NIMROD.  (Gen.  x.  8.)  The 
son  of  Cush.  The  Hebrews 
regard  him  as  the  leader  of 
those  who  attempted  to  build 
the  tower  of  Babel ;  and  the 
orientals  make  him  the  author 
of  idolatry.  He  was  princi¬ 
pally  concerned  in  building 
both  Babylon  and  Nineveh. 
(See  Assyria.)  The  expres¬ 
sion  a  mighty  hunter  (or  a 
hunting  giant)  before  the 
Lord  means  that  he  was  re¬ 
markably  skilful  and  powerful 
in  hunting  wild  beasts.  Before 
the  Lord  is  a  figurative  phrase, 
signifyi  ng  very  powerful.  The 
land  of  Nimroa  (Mic.  v.  6)  is 
the  same  with  Babylon. 

NINEVEH,  (Jonah  iii.  6,) 
thecapital  of  Assyria,  (2  Kings 
xix.  33,)  and  rival  of  Babylon, 
was  situated  on  the  Tigris, 
north-east  of  Babylon,  pro¬ 
bably  near  the  modern  village 
of  Nania,  opposite  to  Mosul. 
It  signifies  the  dwelling  of 
Ninas,  and  therefore  we  may 
presume  was  founded  by  Nim¬ 
rod,  also  called  Ninus,  though 
eome  regard  Ashur  as  the 
founder. 

It  was  a  city  of  nineteen 
miles  in  length  and  eleven 
in  breadth,  and  from  forty-eight 
to  sixty  miles  in  circumference, 
(as  may  be  inferred  from  Jo¬ 
nah’s  account,  Jonah  iii.  3, 
confirmed  by  that  of  Strabo.) 
and  contained  a  population 
of  about  six  hundred  thousand. 
(Jonah  iv.  11.)  It  was  sur¬ 
rounded  by  a  wall  one  hun¬ 
dred  feet  high,  and  wide  enough 
for  three  carriages  to  go  abreast, 


NIT 

fortified  by  fifteen  hundred 
towers,  of  two  hundred  feet 
in  height.  For  its  luxury  and 
wickedness  the  judgments  of 
God  fell  upon  it.  (Nah.  iii.  U 
Zeph.  ii.  13—15.) 

Nineveh,  which  had  long 
been  mistress  of  the  east,  was 
first  taken  by  Arbaces  and 
Belesis,  under  the  reign  of 
Sardanapalus,  in  the  time  of 
Ahaz,  king  of  Judah,  about  the 
time  of  the  foundation  of  Rome, 
B.  c.  753.  It  was  taken  a  se¬ 
cond  time  by  Cyaxares  and 
Nabopolassar,  about  B.  c.  632, 
after  which  it  no  more  reco¬ 
vered  its  former  splendour. 
It  was  entirely  ruined  in  the 
time  of  Lucian  of  Samosata, 
who  lived  under  the  emperor 
Adrian.  It  was  rebuilt  under 
the  Persians,  but  was  destroyed 
by  the  Saracens  about  the 
seventh  century. 

NISAN.  (See  Month.) 
NITRE.  (Jer.  ii.  22.)  An 
earthy  alkaline  salt,  resem¬ 
bling  and  used  like  soap,  which 
separates  from  the  bottom  of 
the  lake  Natron,  in  Egypt,  and 
rising  to  the  top,  is  condensed 
by  the  heat  of  the  sun  into  a 
dry  and  hard  substance,  simi¬ 
lar  to  the  Smyrna  soap,  and  is 
the  soda  of  common  earth.  It 
is  found  in  many  other  parts 
of  the  east.  Vinegar  has  no 
effect  upon  common  nitre,  and 
of  course  this  could  not  be 
meant  by  the  wise  man,  who, 
in  Prov.  xxv.  20,  says.  As  lie 
that  taketh  away  'a  garment 
in  cold  weather,  and  as  vine¬ 
gar  to  nitre ,  so  is  he  that  sing- 
elh  songs  to  a  heavy  heart. 
Now  as  vinegar  has  no  effect 
upon  nitre,  but  on  natron  or 
soda  its  action  is  very  obvi¬ 
ous,  it  seems  the  English 
translation  should  have  been 
natron.  In  Jeremiah,  ch.  ii. 
22,  the  same  word  again  is 
improperly  used,  Bor  though 
thou  wash  thee  with  nitre, 
and  take  thee  much  soap,  yet 
thy  iniquity  is  marked  before 


NOA 

me,  saith  the  Lord  God.  The 
alkaline  earth  natron  is  ob¬ 
viously  designed  in  this  pas¬ 
sage.  It  is  found,  as  an  impure 
carbonate  of  soda,  on  the  sur¬ 
face  of  the  earth  in  Egypt  and 
Syria;  and  is,  also,  native  in 
some  parts  of  Africa,  in  hard 
strata  or  masses,  and  is  called 
trona,  being  used  for  the  same 
purposes  as  the  barilla  of  com¬ 
merce. 

NO  (Jer.  xlvi.  25.  Ezek.xxx. 
14)  is  generally  supposed  to  be 
the  famous  city  of  Thebes ,  in 
upper  Egypt,  extending  itself 
on  both  skies  of  the  Nile. 
(Nah.  iii.  8.)  The  fact  is  so 
uncertain,  however  that  we 
should  not  feel  justified  in  in¬ 
troducing  an  article  upon 
Thebes.  Instead  of  No,  in  Jer. 
xlvi.  25,  it  should  be  rendered  . 
Ammon  of  No,  or  the  seat  or 
dwelling  of  the  god  Ammon. 
It  was  probably  applied  to  two 
or  three  places.  A  distinction 
is  sometimes  made  between 
the  No  spoken  of  in  Nahum 
iii.  8—10,  and  the  No  men¬ 
tioned  by  Jeremiah  and  Eze¬ 
kiel.  The  destruction  of  the 
former  (supposed  to  be  Thebes) 
is  described  in  detail  as  already 
past,  while  the  doom  of  the 
other  (which  is  supposed  to 
have  been  in  lower  Egypt)  is 
predicted  by  Jeremiah  and 
Ezekiel  as  a  future  event. 

NOAH,  (Gen.  vi.  8,)  or,  as 
tne  Greeks  write  it,  Noe, 
(Matt.  xxiv.  37,)  the  ninth  in 
descent  from  Adam,  is  de¬ 
scribed  as  a  just  man,  perfect 
(or  upright)  in  his  generations, 
and  walking  with  God.  (Gen. 
vi.  9.)  In  the  midst  of  the 
universal  corruption  which 
overspread  the  earth,  he  found 
grace  in  the  eyes  of  the  Lord, 
and  was  not  only  warned  of 
the  approach  of  the  general 
deluge,  but  instructed  in  the 
means  of  saving  himself,  and 
his  family,  ana  a  sufficient 
number  of  the  animal  creation, 


NOA 

to  preserve  the  several  tribes. 
(See  Ark.)  Believing  the  di¬ 
vine  declaration,  he  prepared 
the  ark,  and  diligently  warned 
the  world  of  the  approaching 
judgment,  but  without  effect. 
In  due  time  it  came.  (See 
Flood.)  Noah,  and  his  wife, 
and  his  three  sons,  and'  their 
wives,  and  the  required  num¬ 
ber  of  beasts  and  fowls,  en¬ 
tered  into  the  ark,  and  wera 
saved.  All  ihe  rest  in  whose 
nostrils  was  the  breath  of 
life,  of  all  that  was  in  the  dry 
land,  died.  When  the  waters 
subsided,  the  ark  rested  on  a 
mountain  of  Armenia.  (See 
Ararat.)  Noah  and  his  fa¬ 
mily  went  forth,  and  the  crea- 
turesthey  had  preserved.  The 
first  act  of  this  new  progenitor 
of  the  human  race  was  to  offer 
a  sacrifice  to  God,  which  was 
acceptable  in  his  sight,  for  he 
immediately  entered  into  a 
covenant  with  him,  that  such 
a  judgment  should  not  again 
visit  the  earth,  nor  should  the 
regular  succession  of  the  sea¬ 
sons  be  again  interrupted  while 
the  earth  remains.  As  a  token 
of  the  covenant  thus  made, 
God  established  the  rainbow. 
He  also  put  the  irrational  cre¬ 
ation  in  subjection  to  Noah,  as 
he  had  origi  nally  done  to  Adam, 
and  enacted  some  general  laws 
for  his  government. 

Noah  became  a  husband¬ 
man,  and  partaking  too  freely 
of  the  fruit  of  the  vine,  exposed 
himself  to  shame.  When  in 
this  state  he  was  treated  inde¬ 
corously  by  one  of  his  sons, 
who,  on  that  account,  was  the 
subject  of  severe  judgments; 
while  his  brothers,  for  an  op¬ 
posite  course  of  conduct,  re¬ 
ceived  _  peculiar  blessings. 
Noah  lived  three  hundred  and 
fifty  years  after  the  flood,  but 
the  place  of  his  residence 
is  matter  of  vain  conjecture. 
(For  a  particular  account  of 
the  settlement  of  Noah’s  fa- 
466 


NOP 

mily,  see  Evening  Recrea¬ 
tions,  by  Am.  S.  S.  Union, 
vol.  ii.  pp.  28-  -50.) 

NOB  (1  Sam.  xxii.  19)  was  a 
city  of  tile  priests,  in  the  ter¬ 
ritory  of  Benjamin,  and  within 
sight  of  J  erusalem  on  the  north. 
To  this  place  David  fled  from 
the  fury  of  Saul,  and  ootained 
from  Ahimelech,  the  high- 
priest,  some  of  the  shew-bread, 
to  satisfy  his  hunger  ;  and  also 
Goliath’s  sword  for  his  defence. 
Bor  this  act  Saul  caused  the 
city  and  all  that  was  in  it  to  be 
destroyed.  (See  Ahimelech.) 

NOD,  land  up,  (Gen.  iv.  16,) 
probably  designates  no  par¬ 
ticular  place.  It  might  be 
literally  rendered  (with  re¬ 
ference  to  the  doom  of  Cain) 
land  of  wandering,  eastward 
of  Eden. 

NOPH.  (Isa.  xix.  13.  Jer.  ii. 
16.  Ezek.  xxx.  13.  16.)  The 
ancient  Memphis ,  in  middle 
Egypt,  on  the  Nile,  fifteen 
miles  south  of  old  Cairo.  It 
was  the  residence  of  the.earlier 
kings  of  Egypt,  and  is  said  to 
have  been  about  twenty  miles 
in  circumference.  In  the  se¬ 
venth  century  it  fell  into  the 
hands  of  the  Saracens ;  and 
the  predicted  judgments  of 
God,  on  account  of  its  idolatry 
and  general  corruption,  gra¬ 
dually  effaced  every  trace 
of  its  ancient  magnificence. 
In  the  time  of  Strabo,  there 
were  many  splendid  remains; 
among  which,  he  describes  a 
temple  of  Vulcan,  of  great 
magnificence ;  another  of  Ve¬ 
nus;  and  a  third  of  Osiris, 
where  the  Apis  or  sacred  ox 
was  worshipped.  He  also 
mentions  a  large  circus ;  but 
he  remarks,  that  many  of  the 

alaces  were  in  ruins ;  and 

escribes  an  immense  colossus 
which  lay  prostrate  in  the  front 
of  the  city  ;  and  among  a  num¬ 
ber  of  sphinxes,  some  were 
buried  in  sand  up  to  the  mid¬ 
dle  of  the  body;  while  of 
others,  only  the  heads  were 


NUR 

visible  above  the  sand.  Some 
monuments  were  to  be  seen  six 
hundred  years  after  the  time 
of  Strabo’s  visit,  when  the  Sa¬ 
racens  had  possession  of  the 
country:  but  at  present  there 
is  scarcely  a  vestige  of  its 
former  grandeur  to  be  found. 
This  has  led  some  to  conjec¬ 
ture  that  its  site  was  over¬ 
flowed  by  the  Nile;  but  it  is 
much  more  probable  that  it 
has  been  covered  by  the  con¬ 
tinual  encroachment  of  the 
sands,  which,  we  see,  were 
advancing  in  the  time  of 
Strabo.  And  it  cannot  be 
doubted,  but  that  a  large  part 
of  ancient  Egypt  has  already 
been  completely  buried  by  the 
sands  from  the  wilderness. 

NORTH.  (Jer.  vi.  1.)  North 
and  south  in  the  Scriptures 
are  used  relatively  to  the  situa¬ 
tion  of  countries  in  regard  to 
Judea.  Thus  Syria  is  north  ; 
Egypt  south;  Babylon  and 
Assyria  lay  to  the  north-east ; 
but  the  Assyrian  army  always 
invaded  Palestine  from  the 
north.  Media  was  still  far¬ 
ther  to  the  north.  (Jer.  iii.  12. 
Dan.  xi.  13,  14.) 

NUMBERS.  This  is  the 
fourth  in  order  of  the  books 
of  the  Old  Testament,  and 
derives  its  name  from  the  cir¬ 
cumstance  that  it  contains  the 
numbers  and  ordering  of  the 
Hebrews  and  Levites,  after  the 
erection  and  consecrationof  the 
tabernacle.  (For  an  account 
of  their  removal  from  Sinai, 
and  their  subsequent  inarches 
in  the  wilderness;  and  of  the 
wonderful  dealings  of  God 
with  them,  until  their  arrival 
on  the  borders  of  Moab,  see 
Union  Questions,  vol.  iv.,  and 
Teachers’  Assistant  in  the 
use  of  the  same.  See,  also, 
Life  of  Moses,  all  by  Am. 
S.  S.  Union.) 

NURSE.  (Gen.  xxiv.  59.) 
This  domestic  relation  was 
and  is  still  one  of  the  most  im¬ 
portant  in  eastern  families.  Ir 

467 


NUR 

Syria  the  nurse  ia  regarded  as  a 
sort  of  second  parent,  always 
accompanying  the  bride  to  the 
husband’s  house,  and  ever 
remaining  there  an  honoured 

giest.  So  it  was  in  ancient 
reece.  And  in  Hindostan, 
the  nurse  passes  her  days 
among  the  children  she  has 
helped  to  rear;  and  in  mosques 
and  mausoleums  are  sometimes 
seen  the  monuments  of  prince¬ 
ly  affection  towards  a  favourite 
nurse;  and  the  relation  on  the 
part  of  the  nurse  must  have 


NUT 

corresponded  in  tenderness 
and  affection ;  and  hence  the 
force  of  the  figurative  expres¬ 
sions,  Isa. xlix. 23.  lThess.ii.7. 

NUTS  (Gen.  xliii.  11)  are 
generally  supposed  to  have 
been  what  are  now  known  as 
pistachio  or  pistaria  nuts, 
which  were  produced  in  great 
perfection  plentifully  in  Syria 
but  not  tn  Egypt.  This"  nut 
is  of  an  oblong  shape,  and,  in 
its  green  state,  ot  exquisite 
taste.  When  dried  for  export¬ 
ation,  they  are  very  inferior. 


OAK 

AK.  (Gen.xxxv.4.8.)  There 
is  a  word  in  the  Hebrew 
Bible  which  is  often  translated 
in  our  version  oak,  but  which 
is  the  name  of  a  tree  peculiar 
to  the  eastern  world.  This  is 
the  terebinth,  or  turpentine 
free,  which  abounds  in"  Syria, 
Mesopotamia,  and  Palestine. 
It  grows  to  a  considerable  size, 
and  has  a  rich  and  luxuriant 
foliage.  From  this  tree  is  ob¬ 
tained  the  genuine  turpentine 
of  the  ancients,  and  a  rich 
and  balsamic  gum,  which 
exudes  from  the  trunk.  It  is 
said  to  live  one  thousand  years, 
and  when  it  dies  the  race  is 
renewed  by  young  shoots  from 
the  root ;  so  that  the  tree  may 
in  a  sense  be  called  perpetual. 
Hence  the  figurative  allusion 
in  Isa.  vi.  13,  where  the  teil  or 
linden  tree  might  as  well  be 
rendered  terebinth. 

For  the  same  reason  It  was 
an  important  landmark,  and 
served  to  fix  the  topography 
of  the  lands,  as  we  find  oaks 
very  often  named  for  the  pur¬ 
pose  of  designati  ng  the  locality 
of  great  events.  (Josh.  xxiv. 
26.  Judg.vi.il.  2  Sam.  xviii. 
9.  1  Kings  xiii.  14.  1  Chron. 
x.  12.) 

The  strength  of  the  oak  is 
alluded  to  by  the  prophet, 
(Amos  ii.  9,)  and  the  district 


OAT 

of  Bashan  is  often  mentioned 
as  peculiarly  favourable  to 
the  growth  of  this  tree.  (Isa. 
ii.  13.  Zech.  xi.  2.) 

The  word  translated  plains 
in  several  passages,  (Gen.  xii. 
6;  xiii.  18;  xiv.  13;  xviii.  1. 
Deut.  xi.  30.  Judg.  ix.  6,)  are 
places  noted  for  clusters  or 
groves  of  the  terebinth  or  oak. 

The  wood  of  the  oak  was 
used  for  idols.  (Isa.  xliv.  14.) 

OATH.  (Heb.  vi.  16.)  To 
take  an  oath  is  solemnly  to 
call  on  God  to  witness  or  take 
notice  of  what  we  affirm.  It 
invokes  the  vengeance,  or 
renounces  the  favour  of  God, 
if  what  is  asserted  is  false,  and 
if  what  is  promised  is  not  per¬ 
formed.  It  has  been  matter  of 
doubt  among  some  Christians, 
in  almost  all  ages,  whether 
the  practice  of  taking  an  oath 
on  any  occasion  is  not  a  vio¬ 
lation  of  the  express  command 
of  our  Saviour,  (Matt.  v.  34;) 
,and  there  is  great  force  in  the 
-arguments  which  are  used  in 
support  of  this  opinion.  Even 
those  who  allow  the  practice, 
require  that  it  never  be  taken 
but  in  matters  pf  importance, 
nor  sworn  by  the  naftte  of  any 
but  the  true  God,  as  it  is  a* 
act  of  solemn  worship,  (Deuf 
vi.  13.  Josh,  xxiii.  7.  Jer.  v. 
Matt.  v.  34,  35.  James  v.  12> 


OAT 

(lor  irreverently,  without  godly 
fear  and  awe  of  the  Most  High ; 
and  he  is  represented  as  a 
wicked  man  who  is  not  deep¬ 
ly  impressed  with  an  oath, 
(Eccles.  ix.  2;)  nor  rashly, 
without  caution,  (Gen.  xxiv. 
2—8.  Lev.  v.  4.  Matt.  xiv.  7;) 
nor  falsely,  nor  deceitfully, 
affirming  what  is  false,  or 
without  a  sincere  intention  to 
perform.  (Lev.  vi.  3;  xix.  12. 
Jer.  xlii.  5.)  But  every  oath 
ought  to  be  sworn,  in  truth, 
and  with  judgment,  having 
respect  to  the  nature  of  an 
oath,  and  of  the  thing  sworn ; 
and  with  fear  of  God,  by  whom 
we  swear;  and  only  in  things 
that  are  good,  and  for  a  good 
end.  (Jer'  iv.  2.  1  Cor.  x.  31. 
Heb.  vi.  17.)  Oaths  may  be 
sinful,  even  when  prescribed 
by  the  law  of  the  land :  they 
may  contain  things  in  them¬ 
selves  unlawful,  which  no  hu¬ 
man  laws  can  render  consist¬ 
ent  with  right;  or  they  may 
be  enjoined  without  necessity, 
and  multiplied  beyond  reason ; 
or  administered  in  a  manner 
so  manifestly  irreverent,  that 
they  are.  rather  an  insult  to 
Jehovah,  than  a  solemn  act 
of  worship.  The  very  nature 
and  terms  of  an  oath  show  that 
atheists,  who  profess  to  believe 
that  there  is  no  God,  and  per¬ 
sons  who  do  not  believe  in  a 
future  state  of  reward  and 
punishment,  cannot  cinsist- 
ently  take  one.  In  their 
mouths  ah  oath  can  be  only 
vain  mockery. 

God  himself  is  represented 
as  confirming  his  promise  by 
oath,  which  is  a  mere  figura¬ 
tive  allusion  to  what  is  prac¬ 
tised  among  men.  (Heb.  vi.  13. 
1G,  17.) 

The  forms  of  swearing  are 
various.  Anciently  the  lifting 
up  of  one' of  the  hands  towards 
heaven,  (Ps.  cxliv.  8.  Rev^x. 
5,)  and  putting  the  hand  under 
the  thigh,  (Gen.  xxiv.  2,)  were 
used.  (See  Right  Hand.) 


ODE 

1  OBADIAH.  (1  Kings  xviii. 
3.)  A  godly  man,  and  prin¬ 
cipal  officer  in  the  household 
of  Ahab,  by  whose  interposition 
one  hundred  prophets  were 
preserved  from  the  murderous 
persecution  of  Jezebel,  and 
supplied  with  food. 

Some  have  supposed  that 
this  was  no  other  than  the 
prophet  of  the  same  name; 
but  there  is  better  reason  to 
suppose  that  Obadiah  the  pro¬ 
phet  lived  at  the  same  period 
with  Jeremiah  and  EzekioL 
There  are  several  oilier  per 
sons  of  this  name  mentioned 
in  the  Old  Testament. 

Prophecy  of,  is  the  thirty- 
first  in  the  order  of  the  liooka 
of  the  Old  Testament.  It  re¬ 
lates  to  the  judgments  im¬ 
pending  over  Edom,  and  to 
the  restoration  and  prosperity 
of  the  Jews.  Some  jionions  of 
this  prophecy  are  supposed  to 
have  relation  to  events  still 
future.  The  similarity  of  a 
portion  of  Obadiaifs  prophecy 
and  that  of  Jeremiah  is  strik¬ 
ing.  (Comp.  Jer.  xlix.  7— lib 
and  14-16.  Obad.  1 — 0.) 

OBED-EDOM.  (1  Chron.  xvi. 
38.)  A  Levite  who  lived  in- 
David’s  time,  and  at  whose 
house  the  ark  was  deposited, 
after  the  dreadful  death  of 
Uzzah.  (2Sam.  vi.  G— 10.)  The 
blessing  which  came  on  the 
house  of  Obed-edom  for  the 
ark’s  sake,  encouraged  David 
to  remove  it  to  Jerusalem. 
(2  Sam.  vi.  10—12.)  Obed- 
edom  and  jiis  sons  were  ap¬ 
pointed  keepers  of  the  deoira 
of  the  tabernacle,  (1  Chson. 
xvi.  38,)  and  of  the  sacre-d 
vessels.  (2Chron.  xxv.  24.) 
OBLATIONS.  (See  Offer 

INGS.) 

ODED.  (2  Chron.  xv.  8.)  A 
prophet,  by  whose  Instruction 
Asa,  king  of  Judah,  was  in¬ 
duced  to  put  away  idols  out 
of  his  kingdom  and  possessions, 
and  to  renew  the  worship  of 
the  true  God.  (2 Chron.  xv.  1— 
463 


OFF 

8.')  Gded  was  at  Samaria,  and 
when  the  Israelites  returned 
from  the  war  .  against  Judah, 
with  their  king  Pekah,  and 
brought  two  hundred  thousand 
captives,  he  wentto  meet  them, 
and  remonstrated  so  effectu¬ 
ally  with  them  that  the  princi¬ 
pal  men  in  Samaria  took  care 
of  them,  gave  them  clothes, 
food,  and  other  assistance,  with 
asses  Lo  ride  upon,  because  the 
greater  part  of  them  were  ex¬ 
hausted,  and  unable  to  walk. 
Thus  they  conducted  them  to 
their  brethren  at  Jericho. 

S  OFFENCE.  (Rom.  ix.  33.) 
This  term  in  the  sacred  writ¬ 
ings  often  means  that  which 
causes  or  is  likely  to  cause  us 
to  sin'.  Thus  in  iMatt.  v.  27, 
the  right  eye  which  would  al¬ 
lure  to  sin  is  said  to  offend ; 
and  in  Matt,  xviii.  7,  causes  of 
sin,  suffering,  or  wo  are  called 
offences:  so  in  Malt.  xvi.  23. 
In  the  same  sense  our  Saviour 
is  called,  in  the  above  passage 
from  Romarfs,  a  rock  of  offence ; 
whereby  we  understand,  that 
to  the  Jews  he  was  offensive  in 
all  the  circumstances  of  his 
birth  and  history.  They  stum¬ 
bled  at  his  word,  and  were  dis¬ 
obedient.  A  reference  to  Lev. 
xix.  14.  Isa.  viii.  14.  Luke  ii. 
34.  Rom.  ix.  32, 33,  will  furnish 
a  sufficient  illustration  of  the 
word  and  its  connexion.  The 
offence  of  the  cross  (Gal.  v. 
11)  is  that,  in  the  doctrines  of 
Christ,  or  the  cross,  which  is 
offensive  to  carnal  men. 

OFFERING,  (Gen.  iv.  3,) 
OBLATION.  (Lev.  ii.  7.)  An 
offering,  in  a  religious  sense, 
is  whatever  one  offers  as  a  gift 
by  way  of  reverence  to  a  su¬ 
perior.  (Matt.ii.il.)  The  Jew¬ 
ish  sacrifices,  and  in  general 
all  the  religious  sacrifices,  are, 
properly  speaking,  oblations. 
Sometimes  they  seem  to  be 
used  indiscriminately,  as  in 
Lev.  iii.  1 ,  if  his  oblation  be  a 
sacrifice  of  peace-offering.  & c. 
The’  word  sacrifice  is  some- 


OFF 

times  used  in  a  sense  so  gene¬ 
ral,  as  to  embrace  whatever  is 
in  any  way  devoted  to  the 
service  of  God ;  but,  strictly 
speaking,  offerings  were  sim¬ 
ple,  bloodless  gifts,  as  all  sorts 
of  tithes,  first-fruits  in  their  na¬ 
tural  state,  meal,  bread,  cakes, 
ears  of  corn,  parched  grain,  Sc c. 
To  these  oil  was  often  added, 
and  sometimes  they  were 
baked  with  oil.  Proper  sacri¬ 
fices  involved  the  destruction 
of  animal  life,  or  the  shedding 
of  blood;  and  also  the  entire  or 
partial  consumption  of  the  vic¬ 
tim  by  fire.  Birds  and  quadru- 
eds  constituted  the  sacrifices , 
ence  their  blood  .was  forbid¬ 
den  to  be  drunk,  but  not  that 
of  fishes,  which  were  not 
allowed  to  be  brought  to  the 
altar.  Probably  all  clean 
birds  might  be  offered,  (Lev. 
xiv.  4—7,)  but  not  all  clean 
beasts.  The  dove  was  the 
most  common  offering  of  birds ; 
and  oxen,  sheep,  and  goats 
from  among  quadrupeds.  No 
wild  beast  could  be  offered, 
and  in  killing  and  eatjng  them 
all  idea  of  sacrifice  was  to  lie 
avoided,  (Deut.  xii.  15.  22 ;  xv. 

22, )  except  that  the  blood  was 
to  be  thrown  away.  (Deut.  xv. 

23. )  Leaven  and  honey  were 
excluded  from  all  offeringf 
made  by  fire,  (Lev.  ii.  11,)  ami 
salt  was  required  in  all.  (Lei . 
ii.  13.) 

Drink-offerings  were  a  kind 
of  accompaniment  to  thebloocU 
and  bloodless  offerings.  They 
consisted  chiefly  of  wine,  part 
of  which  was  poured  on  the  vic¬ 
tim,  and  the  residue  was  given 
to  the  priests.  (Num.  xv.  5.  7.) 
Amongthe  offeringsrequirediby 
the  Jewish  law  were  the  burnt 
offering ,  (Lev.  i.4,)  socalledbe 
cause  the  thing  offered  was  en 
tirely  consumed  ;  th ejtrespass 
offering ,  (Lev.  v.  6,)  in  which 
the  guilt  of  the  offerer  wai 
confessed,  and  an  atonement 
made ;  the  sin-offering,  (Lev. 
I  iv.  3;)  the  meal-offering,  (Lev- 


OFF 

ii.  1,)  which  waa  usually  a 
compound  of  corn,  flour,  oil, 
and  frankincense,  prepared  in 
various  ways,  ana  burnt  on 
the  altar  of  burnt-offering; 
the  peace-offering,  (Lev.  iii.  1.) 
and  the  consecration-offering. 
The  six  foregoing  are  thd 
offerings  by  fire,  as  expressly 
required.  (Lev.  vii.  37.)  The 
drink-offering,  which  always 
attended  the  meat-offering, 
(Ex.  xxix.  40;)  the  heave-offer¬ 
ing,  (Ex.  xxix.  27,)  and  the 
wave-offering ,  (Ex.  xxix.  24 :) 
the  last  two  are  so  called  from 
a  particular  motion  used  in 
tile  presentation  of  them.  The 
oblation  of  the  first-fruits 
(Lev.  ii.  12)  was  regarded  as 
a  meat-offering,  and  was  pre¬ 
sented  before  the  harvest  was 
ripe,  the  fruit  being  dried  or 
parched.  (Lev.  ii.  14.) 

The  Jews  were  required,  as 
a  general  rule, to  bring  all  their 
offerings  to  an  appointedplace, 
first  the  tabernacle,  and  after¬ 
wards  the  temple;  and  the 
manner  of  presenting  them  is 
described  in  most  minute  de¬ 
tails.  .  .  , 

The  burnt-offering  was  to  be 
a  male  without  blemish,  of  (he 
herd  and  of  the  flock  offered 
voluntarily  at  the  door  of  the 
tabernacle,  the  hand  of  the 
offerer  being  upon  the  head  of 
the  victim.  (Lev.  i.  2 — 4.)  The 
animal  was  then  taken  to  the 
altar,  slain  on  the  north  side, 
and  the  blood  sprinkled  about 
the  altar.  (Lev.  i.  5.  Comp. 
Heb.  xii.  24.)  The  east  side  of 
the  altar  was  appropriated  to 
the  ashes,  &c.  (Lev.  i.  16.)  On 
the  south  was  the  ascent  to  the 
altar,  and  on  the  west  was  the 
sanctuary.  The  body  of  the 
victim  was  flayed,  opened,  cut 
in  pieces,  salted,  laid  in  order 
on  the  altar  of  burnt-offering, 
and  consumed  to  ashes.  (Lev. 
i.  5.  8.  Comp.  Heb.  iv.  12.)  So 
of  killing  and  offering  fowls. 
(Lev.  i.  11—17.)  Theendofthe 
burnt-offering  was  an  atone- 


OFF 

ment  for  sin.  (Lev.  i.4.  C  imp 
Heb.  x.  1—3.  II.)  This  off  ring 
constituted  a  morning  and  eve¬ 
ning  sacrifice,  and  was  often 
made  on  other  prescribed  occa¬ 
sions. 

The  meat-offering  consisted 
of  flour  prepared  with  oil  and 
frankincense.  (Lev.  ii.  1.)  It 
was  to  be  free  from  leaven  and 
honey,  but  was  to  have  salt. 
(Lev.  i.  11. 13.)  With  this  was 
connected  the  drink-offering, 
which,  as  before  observed,  was 
never  used  separately,  but  was 
an -appendage  of  wine  to  some 
sacrifices.  Hence  the  con¬ 
demnation  of  their  supersti¬ 
tious  practice  of  using  blood 
for  a  drink-offering.  (Ps.  xvi.4.) 

In  this,  and  other  sacrificial 
observances,  itr  would  appear, 
that  generally  the  offerer  was 
to  kill  the  victim,  take  off  the 
skin,  cut  up  the -body,  and 
wash  the  different  parts.  The 
priest  was  to  sprinkle  the  blood, 
prepare  the  fire,  and  lay  the 
sacrifice  upon  the  altar.  The 
Levites,  and  afterwards  the 
Nethinims,  assisted  in  these 
labours. 

The  meat-offering  was  pre¬ 
sented  on  prescribed  occasions. 
It  always  attended  burnt-offer¬ 
ings  and  peace-offerings,  and 
also  the  sin-offering  and  tres¬ 
pass-offering  of  the  leper.  A 
nandful  of  the  composition  was 
burned  by  the  priest  upon  the 
altar,  (Lev.  ii.  16,)  and  the  re¬ 
sidue  was  for  his  own  and  his 
family’s  use. 

The  peace-offerings  were 
vows  of  thanksgiving,  or  a  sup¬ 
plication  for  mercies,  and  were 
similar  in  kind,  and  manner 
of  presentation,  with  theburnt- 
offexing.  (Lev.  iii.) 

The  sin-offering  had  pecu¬ 
liar  respect  to  sins  committed 
ignorantly,  and  was  modified 
according  to  the  persons  pre¬ 
senting  ii.  (Comp.  Lev.  iv.  3. 
13.22.  27.)  Part  of  the  blood 
of  the  victim  was  poured  out 
at  the  bottom  of  the  altar ;  9 


OIL 

art  was  sprinkled  on  the 
orns  of  the  altar  of  incense ; 
and  a  part  was  carried  by  the 
priest  into  the  most  holy  place. 
(Lev.  xvi.) 

The  trespass  -  offering ,  the 
manner  and  occasion  ofwhich 
are  described,  Lev.  v. — vii., 
seems  to  have  differed  but 
slightly  from  the  last.  It  may 
be’remarked,  that  all  the  blood 
of  the  trespass-offering  appears 
to  have  been  sprinkled  around 
he  altar,  and  tnat  it  was  offered 
only  for  individuals,  and  never 
(as  the  sin-offering)  for  the  con¬ 
gregation.  The  burnt,  sin,  and 
trespass-offering  were  of  a  n  ex¬ 
piatory  character,  though  not 
exclusively  so. 

The  consecration  -  offerings 
were  made  at  the  time  of  con¬ 
secrating  the  priests,  (Lev.  viii. 
22;)  from  which  circumstance 
(and  not  from  any  thing  pecu¬ 
liar  in  the  ceremony)  the  name 
is  derived.  (See  Sacrifices. 
See  also  Biblical  Anticuji- 
ties,  by  Am.  S.  S.  Union,  vol. 

ii.  ch.  v.,  for  a  clear  and  most 
interesting  history  of  the  sub¬ 
ject.) 

OG.  (Deut.  iii.  1.)  A  king 
of  Bashan,  of  gigantic  stature, 
(Deut.  iii.  11,)  who  opposed  the 
assageof  the  Israelites  through 
is  territories.  Moses,  being  di¬ 
vinely  admonished  of  his  suc¬ 
cess,  attempted  to  force  his  way 
through  the  country,  and  suc¬ 
ceeded  in  capturing  the  king, 
and  ultimately  became  master 
of  the  whole  country.  (Deut. 

iii.  3-5.) 

OIL.  (Ps.  xcii.  10.)  Among 
eastern  nations  the  practice 
has  prevailed,  from  the  earliest 
periods,  of  anointing  the  head 
with  oil,  made  fragrant  with 
the  richest  aromatics  of  the 
east, especially  on  festivals  and 
other  joyous  occasions.  The 
Greeks  and  Romans  applied 
oil  to  the  whole  body,  and  the 
modern  orientals  anoint  their 
beards.  Hence  the  use  of  oil 
is  significant  of  joy  and  glad- 


OLI 

ness,  (Ps.  xxiii.  5,)  and  the 
omission  of  it  betokened  sor¬ 
row.  (2  Sam.  xiv.  2.  Alalt.  vi. 
17.  See  Olive.) 

Oil  tree  (Isa.  xli.  19)  is  pro¬ 
bably  the  same  with  the  olive 
tree,  (1  Kings  vi.23;)  but  whe. 
ther  the  olive,  properly  speak¬ 
ing,  is  intended  in  these  pas¬ 
sages,  admits  of  some  doubt. 

OINTMENT.  (See  Anoint.) 

OLIVE.  (Job  xv.  33.)  The 
soil  and  climate  of  Syria  were 
very  favourable  to  the  produc 
tion  of  the  olive.  (Deut.vi.il; 
vii.  13;  viii.  8;  xi.  14;  xxviii. 
40.  lKingsv.il.)  The  frHit 
1  Is  like  a  plum  in  shape  and 
'  colour;  being  first  green,  then 

Cale,  and,  when  ripe,  nearly 
lack.  They  are  sometimes 
I  plucked  in  an  unripe  state, 
and  put  into  some  pickle,  oi 
other  preserving  liquid,  and 
exported.  For  the  most  part, 
however,  they  are  valuable 
for  the  oil  they  produce,  and 
which  is  expressed  from  the 
fruit  in  various  ways,  and  con¬ 
stitutes  an  important  article 
of  commerce  and  luxury.  (Job 
xxiv.  11.  Ezek.  xxvii.  17.)  The 
fruit  is  gathered  by  beating 
(Deut.  xxiv.  20)  or  shaking  the 
tree,  (Isa.  xvii.  6;)  and  glean¬ 
ings  were  to  be  left  for  the  poor. 
A  full-sized  tree  in  its  vigour 
produces  a  thousand  pounds 
of  oil. 

The  olive  is  a  beautiful  and 
durable  tree,  and  the  fruit  rich 
and  valuable;  hence  the  fre¬ 
quent  figurative  allusions  to 
it,  which  are  self-explanato¬ 
ry.  (Judg.  ix.  8,9.  Ps.  Iii.  8; 
cxxviii.  3.  Jer.  xi.  16.  Hos.  xiv. 
6.)  The  olive  branch  is  re¬ 
garded  universally  as  an  em¬ 
blem  of  peace.  (Gen.  viii.  11.) 

The  wild  olive  (Rom.  xi.  17) 
is  smaller,  and  its  fruit,  if  it 
produces  any,  far  inferior  to 
the  cultivated. 

The  olives,  from  which  oil  is 
to  be  expressed,  must  be  ga¬ 
thered  by  the  hands,  or  sottly 
shaken  front  the  trees  before 
472 


OL 

they  are  fully  ripe.  The  best 
oil  is  that  which  comes  from 
the  fruit  with  very  light  pres¬ 
sure.  This  is  sometimes  called 
in  Scripture  green  oil,  not  be¬ 
cause  of  its  colour,  for  it  is 
pellucid,  but  because  it  is  from 
unripe  fruit.  It  is  translated 
in  Ex.  xxvii.  20,  pure  oil-olive 
beaten,  and  was  used  for  the 
golden  candlestick.  For  the 
extraction  of  this  first  oil,  pan¬ 
niers  or  baskets  are  used, which 
are  gently  shaken.  The  second 
and  third  pressing  produces  in¬ 
ferior  oil.  The  best  is  obtained 
from  unripe  fruit;  the  worst, 
from  that  which  is  more  than 
ripe.  The  oil  of  Egypt  is  worth 
little,  because  the  olives  are 
too  fat.  Hence  the  Hebrews 
sent  gifts  of  oil  to  the  Egyptian 
kings.  (Hos.  xii.  1.)  The  in¬ 
ferior  quality  is  used  in  mak¬ 
ing  soap.  But  the  Hebrews 
used  oil  not  merely  in  lamps, 
and  with  salads,  but  in  every 
domestic  employment  in  which 
butter  is  serviceable,  and  inthe 
meat-offerings  of  the  temple. 
It  is  observed  bv  travellers, 
that  the  natives  of  oil  countries 
manifest  more  attachment  to 
this  than  to  any  other  article 
of  food,  and  find  nothing  ade¬ 
quately  to  supply  its  place. 

A  press  was  also  used  for  the 
extraction  of  the  oil,  consist¬ 
ing  of  two  reservoirs,  usually 
eight  feet  square  and  four  feet 
deep,  situated  one  above  the 
other.  The  berries,  being  in 
the  upper  one,  were  trodden 
out  with  the  feet.  Mic.  vi.  15. 

OLIVES,  mount  of,  (Matt, 
xxvi.  30,)  or  OLIVET,  (2  Sam. 
xv.  30,)  or  Mount  of  Corrup¬ 
tion,  (2  Kings  xxiii.  13,)  over¬ 
looks  Jerusalem  on  the  easl,so 
that  every  street,  and  almost 
everyhouse  maybediHinguish- 
ed  from  its  summit.  It  doubtless 
had  its  name  from  the  abun- 
danceofoliveswhichgrewupon 
it;  someof  which, of  remarkable 
a^eand  size,  are  still  standing. 

cAlate  traveller  describes  the 

40* 


0  LI 

mount  of  Olives  as  about  a 
mile  in  length,  and  about  seven 
hundred  feet  in  height.  To  a 
spectator  on  the  west,  it  has  a 
gently  waving  outline,  and 
appears  to  have  itree  summits 
of  nearly  equal  height.  On 
the  top  of  the  centre  "one  is  a 
church,  erected  over  the  spot 
where,  they  inform  us,  our  Sa¬ 
viour  ascended  into  heaven; 
and,  in  confirmation  of  the  tra¬ 
dition,  point  to  a  stone  with  tile 
impressionoftheleftfoot.made, 
as  they  pretend,  when  he  was 
about  leaving  the  earth ;  that  of 
the  right  foot  havimr  been  car¬ 
ried  away  by  the  Turks.  On 
Ascension-day  they  come  up  in 

freat  crowds,  and  have  service 
ere.  The  chapel  had  been 
shaken  down  by  a  recent  earth¬ 
quake,  and  the  floor  was  cover¬ 
ed  by  rubbish,  so  that  he  did 
not  see  the  stone  of  such  sacred 
pretensions.  In  Luke  xxiv 
50,  it  is  very  clearly  stated, 
that  the  ascension  occurred 
near  Bethany,  which  is  on  the 
eastern  side  of  the  mountain, 
more  than  a  mile  from  this. 
(Comp,  this  passage  with  Acts 
i.  12,  where  the  ascension  is 
also  spoken  of.)  There  are 
two  roads  to  Bethany;  one 
around  the  southern  end  of 
the  mount  of  Olives,  and  one 
across  its  summit;  the  latter 
being  considerably  shorter,  but 
more  difficult.  It  was  probably 
on  this  latter  road,  in  the  de¬ 
scent  to  Bethany,  that  the 
Saviour  was  taken  up  from  the 
apostles. 

“  From  this  central  height  a 
ridge  stretches  off  towards  the 
east  for  a  distance  of  three- 
fourths  of  a  mile,  when  it  ter¬ 
minates  by  a  bold  descent.  We 
were  conducted  to  the  end  of 
it  in  order  to  enjoy  the  view 
eastward,  which  is  very  exten¬ 
sive.  The  plain  of  Jordan,  the 
mountain  beyond,  the  Dead 
Sea,  and  the  dark  and  singular 
chain  of  mountains  on  the  east 
of  it,  were  in  full  view,  as  well 


ON 

ns  all  the  country  intermediate  | 
between  them  and  us.  Some 
of  us  thought  that  we  could 
see  the  waters  of  the  Jordan  ; 
hut,  although  this  was  uncer¬ 
tain,  we  could  easily  trace  the 
course  of  the  river,  through 
the  plain,  by  the  verdure;  and, 
where  this  failed,  by  the  bro¬ 
ken  nature  of  the  ground. 
Beyond  it  towered  the  lofty 
mountains  of  Moab,  rising 
peak  above  peak  in  great  ma¬ 
jesty,  including  among  them 
mount  Nebo.” 

(For  a  minute  description  of 
the  geography  and  scenery  of 
mount  Olivet,  see  Selumiel, 
ch.  viii.  pp.  154 — 169,  by  Am. 
8.  S.  Union.) 

OMEGA.  (See  Alpha.) 

OMER.  (See  Measures.) 

OMRI.  (1  Kings  xvi.  16.) 
An  officer  in  the  army  of  Is¬ 
rael.  He  was  engaged  in  the 
siege  of  Gibbethon,  a  Philis¬ 
tine  city,  when  he  received  in¬ 
telligence  that  Zimri,  another 
officer  of  the  army,  had  assas- 
/  sinated  the  king,  and  had 
usurped  the  throne.  The  ar¬ 
my,  by  general  acclamation, 
made  Oinri  king,  and,  raising 
the  siege  of  Gibbethon,  they 
forthwith  marched  to  Tirzah, 
where  Zimri  resided,  and  cap¬ 
tured  it.  Zimri  set  lire  to  the 
house  he  occupied,  and  was 
consumed.  Thelsraeliteswere 
then  divided  into  two  parties; 
but,  after  a  short  struggle, 
Omri  prevailed,  and  took  the 
throne,  which  he  polluted  and 
disgraced  through  a  reign  of 
twelveyears.  OmribuiltSama- 
ria,  which  thereafter  became 
the  capilal  of  the  ten  tribes. 

ON,  (Gen.  xli.45,)  or  AVEN, 
(Ezek.  xxx.  17,)  is  the  same 
with  Bethshemesh,  or  house  of 
the  sun ,  (Jer.  xliii.  13,)  and 
was  called  by  the  Greeks  He¬ 
liopolis,  or  city  of  the  sun. 
These  names  are  given  to  the 
place,  because  it  was  ihe  prin¬ 
cipal  seat  of  the  Egyptian 
worship  of  the  sun.  It  was 


ONE 

one  of  the  oldest  cities  in  the 
world,  and  was  situated  in 
Egypt,  in  the  land  of  Goshen, 
on  the  east  of  the  Nile,  about 
five  miles  above  modern  Cai¬ 
ro,  Eighteen  centuries  ago, 
this  city  was  in  ruins,  when 
visited  by  Strabo. 

According  to  Josephus,  this 
city  was  given  to  the  family 
of  Jacob,  when  they  first  came 
to  sojourn  in  Egypt ;  and  we 
know  that  it  was  a  daughter 
of  the  priest  of  the  temple  si¬ 
tuated  here  who  was  given  in 
marriage  to  Joseph.  Here  also, 
in  the  time  of  Ptolemy  Phila- 
delphus,  Onias,  a  Jew,  obtain¬ 
ed  leave  to  erect  a  temple  si¬ 
milar  to  the  one  at  Jerusalem, 
which  was  for  a  long  time  fre¬ 
quented  by  theHellenist  Jews. 
There  is  an  apparentreference 
to itby  several  oftlieprophets 
(See  passages  above  cited.) 

The  ruins  of  this  ancient 
city  lie  near  the  modern  vil¬ 
lage  Matarea,  about  six  miles 
from  Cairo,  towards  the  north¬ 
east.  Nothingnowremainsbut 
immense  dikes  and  mounds, 
full  of  pieces  of  marble,  gra¬ 
nite,  and  pottery,  some  rem¬ 
nants  of  a  sphinx,  and  an  obe¬ 
lisk,  still  erect,  of  a  single 
block  of  granite,  fifty-eight 
feet  above  ground,  and  co¬ 
vered  with  hieroglyphics. 

ONESIMUS.  (Col.iv.9.)  A 
servant  of  Philemon,  at  Co- 
losse,  who,  having  been  guilty 
of  some  delinquency,  had  fled 
to  Rome ;  and,  being  convert¬ 
ed  under  the  preaching  of 
Paul,  was  sent  back  to  Phile¬ 
mon  with  a  most  affectionate 
letter,  commending  the  peni¬ 
tent,  not  only  to  the  forgive¬ 
ness  ofi' Philemon,  but  to  his 
love  and  confidence  as  a  fel¬ 
low  disciple.  (See  Philemon.) 

ONESIPHORUS.  (2  Tim. i. 
16.)  A  primitive  Christian,  re¬ 
sident  at  Ephesus,  where  he 
ministered  very  seasonably  to 
the  relief  and  comfort  of  Paul. 
(2  Tim.  i.  18.).When  Paul  was 


OPH 

Imprisoned  at  Rome,  Onesi- 
phorus  came  thither,  and  again 
afforded  timely  relief  to  the 
afflicted  apostle;  for  which  he 
expresses  his  gratitude  in  the 
warmest  terms  in  the  passage 
above  cited. 

ONION.  (Num.  xi.  5.)  A 
well  known  garden  vegetable, 
which  grew  in  great  perfection 
jn  Egypt.  The  onions  of  Egypt 
are  described  by  travellers  as 
of  large  size  and  exquisite  fla¬ 
vour  '/differing  (says  one)  from 
■the  onions  of  our  country  as 
much  as  a  bad  turnip  differs 
in  palatableness  from  a  good 
apple. 

ONO.  (Neh.  vi.  2.)  A  city 
and  Us  suburbs,  occupying  a 
Bmall  section  of  the  plain  of 
Sharon.  It  was  about  five 
miles  from  Lod,  or  Lydda, 
(1  Chron.  viii.  12,)  and  is  called 
the  valley  of  Churashim,  or 
the  craftsmen.  (1  Chron.  iv.  14. 
Neh.  xi.  35.) 

ONYCHA.  (Ex.  xxx.  34.)  An 
ingredient  of  the  sacred  in¬ 
cense,  which  was  prepared 
under  divine  direction.  It  was 
probably  an  odoriferous  shell 
or  gum.  A  species  of  muscle  is 
still  found  in  the  Red  Sea,  the 
shell  of  whicn,  when  burnt, 
emits  a  smell  not  unlike  musk. 

ONYX,  (Ex.  xxviii.  20,)  or 
banded  agate.  A  precious  stone. 
(Ex  xxv.  7)  or  gem,  (Ezelt. 
xxviii.  13,)  exhibiting  two  or 
more  colours  disposed  in  paral¬ 
lel  bands  or  zones.  It  was 
obviously  of  hizh  value,  from 
the  uses  made  of  it,  (Ex.  xxviii. 
9—12.  20;  xxxix.  6.  13,)  and 
front  its  being  named  with 
other  highly  valuable  sub¬ 
stances.  (Job xxviii.  16.)  Per¬ 
haps  the  onyx  used  in  the 
construction  of  the  temple 
(1  Chron.  xxix.  2)  was  a  spe¬ 
cies  of  marble  resembling  the 
onyx. 

OPHF.L.  (2Chron.  xxvii.3.) 
lit  the  angle  formed  by  the 
eastern  extremity  of  mount 


OPH 

Zion,  and  the  southern  extre¬ 
mity  of  mount  Moriah,  or,  in 
other  words,  at  the  outlet  of 
the  valley  of  Cheesemongers, 
there  was  a  considerably  ele¬ 
vated  point,  called  Ophel.  It 
was  strongly  defended  by  its 
natural  position,  and  by  a  tow¬ 
er,  and  was  separated  ftom 
mount  Zion  byawall.  (2Chron. 
xxxiii.  14.)  This  tower  is  per¬ 
haps  intended  in  Mic.  iv.  8. 
In  some  modem  maps  this  is 
called  Ophlas. 

OPHIR.  (1  Kings  ix.  23.)  A 
country  of  the  east,  celebrated 
for  its  production  of  gold,  and 
precious  stones.  (1  Kings  x.  II. 
2 Chron.  viii.  18;  ix.  10.)  It  is 
supposed  to  have  been  settled 
by  the  descendants  of  Joktan. 
(Gen.  x.  29.)  It  is  certain  that 
its  gold  was  renowned  in  the 
ti  me  of  Job,  (Job  xxi  i  .24 ;  xxviii. 
16;)  and  that,  from  the  time 
of  David  to  the  time  of  Jeho- 
shaphat,  the  Hebrews  traded 
with  it,  and  that  Uzziah  re¬ 
vived  this  trade  when  he  made 
himself  master  of  Elath,  a 
noted  port  on  the  Red  Sea.  In 
Solomon’s  time,  the  Hebrew 
fleet  look  up  three  years  in 
their  voyage  to  Ophir,  and 
brought  home  gold,  apes,  pea¬ 
cocks,  spices,  ivory,  ebony,  and 
almug  trees. 

The  articles  imported  from 
this  place,  the  port  from  which 
the  ships  sailed  engaged  in  the 
trade,  and  the  time  required 
for  the  performance  of  the  voy¬ 
age,  all  go  to  prove  that  Ophir 
could  not  be  anywhere  in  the 
west  of  Asia,  or  on  the  conti¬ 
nent  of  Europe;  and  some  of 
these  facts  are  also  sufficient  to 
render  it  entirely  improbable 
that  it  was  anywhere  on  the 
coast  of  Arabia,  or  even  any¬ 
where  on  the  coast  of  Africa. 
It  seems  far  more  probable 
that  this  place  was  situated 
somewhere  in  the  East  Indies; 
but  the  precise  spot,  or  even 
district,  cannot  now  be  ascer 


ORI 

tained.  Not  fewer  than  sixteen 
different  countries  have  been 
regarded  as  the  site  ofOphir. 

OPHNI.  (Josh,  xviii.  24.)  A 
city  of  Benjamin,  latterly  call¬ 
ed  Gophna  between  Shechem 
and  Jerusalem.  It  is  men¬ 
tioned  by  profane  historians 
among  the  places  through 
which  Vespasian  and  Titus 
passed  in  their  march  of  con¬ 
quest. 

OPHRAH,  (Judg.  vi.  11,)  or 
APHRAH.  (Mic.  i.  10.)  There 
were  two  cities  of  this  name ; 
one  in  the  territory  of  Benja¬ 
min,  (Josh,  xviii.  23.  1  Sam. 
xiii.  17;)  and  the  other  in  that 
of  Manasseh,  where  Gideon 
was  born.  (Judg.  vi.  11 ;  viii. 
27 ;  ix.  5.) 

ORACLE.  (2  Sam.  xvi.  23.) 
This  term  is  sometimes  applied 
to  the  most  holy  place,  whence 
God  declared  his  will  to  an¬ 
cient  Israel.  (1  Kings  vi.  5. 19— 
23;  viii.  6.)  It  is  also  applied 
to  the  sacred  writings,  which 
were  intrusted  to  the  nation 
of  Israel.  (Acts  vii.  38.  Rom. 
iii.  2.)  It  is  probable  that  the 
oracles  of  the  heathen  world 
were  invented  in  imitation  of 
the  responses  given  by  Jeho¬ 
vah  to  the  patriarchs  and 
priests  of  ancient  days. 

•ORDINANCES.  (Ex.  xviii. 
20.)  As  used  by  the  sacred 
writers,  the  term  generally  de¬ 
notes  established  laws,  rules, 
or  appointments  of  God’s  go¬ 
vernment. 

OREB.  (Judg.  vii.  25.)  A 
prince  of  Midian,  whose  fate 
is  alluded  to,  Ps.  lxxxiii.  11 ; 
and  Isa.  x.  26. 

ORGAN.  (Gen.iv.21.)  The 
organ,  as  it  is  called,  is  thought 
tohave  been  what  the  ancient 
Greeks  called  th  epipe  of  Pan. 
It  consisted  of  seven  or  more 
reeds  of  unequal  length.  These 
are  still  used  by  the  shepherds 
of  the  east,  and,  in  skilful 
bands,  produce  quite  tolerable 
music. 

ORION.  (Job  ix.  9.)  A  con- 


OST 

stellation  of  about  eighty  stars, 
seen  in  the  southern  hemi¬ 
sphere  about  the  middle  of  o- 
vember;  and  hence  associat,^ 
with  cold  and  frost,  figurative, 
ly  represented  as  bands  whic1* 
no  human  power  can  dissolve 
(Job  xxxviii.  31.) 

ORNAN.  (See  Ahaunah.) 

OSEE.  (Rom.  ix.  25.)  The 
Greek  form  of  writing  Hosea 

OSPRAY,  OSSlFRAGE, 
(Lev.  xi.  13,)  are  both  reckoned 
among  unclean  birds,  and  pro¬ 
bably  both  belonged  to  the 
eagle  family.  The  black  eagle, 
of  Egypt  might  have  been  the 
ospray ;  and  the  sea  eagle  of 
modern  science,  the  ossifrage. 

OSTRICH.  (Job  xxxtx.  13.) 
A  remarkable  bird,  of  the  hot 
regions  of  Africa  and  Arabia, 
often  attaining  the  height  of 
seven  feet,  of  which  the  head 
and  neck  make  three.  It  is 
also  seven  feet  from  the  head 
to  the  end  of  the  tail,  when  the 
neck  is  stretched  horizontally 
on  a  line  with  the  body.  It 
loves  solitary  and  desolate 
places;  and  is  the  bird  intend¬ 
ed  in  Job  xxx.  29.  Isa.  xiii.  21  ; 
xxxiv.  13.  Jer.  1.  39,  (though 
called  the  owl,)  and  its  cry  is 
piercing  and  mournful. 

The  plumage  of  the  ostrich 
is  white  and  black.  Its  weight, 
(which  is  often  seventy-five  or 
eighty  pounds,)  and  the  con¬ 
struction  of  its  body,  prevent 
its  flying. 

The  habits  of  this  bird  are 
described  with  scientific  accu¬ 
racy,  Job  xxxix.  13—18.  Its 
timidity  is  such,  that  the  least 
noise  frightens  it  from  the 
nest,  which  is  often  made  on 
the  ground,  and  in  the  most 
exposed  places ;  and  from  the 
same  cause  the  young  of  the 
ostrich  are  often  suddenly 
abandoned.  Hence  she  seems 
to  be  regarded  as  lacking  the 
usual  share  of  instinct  or  na¬ 
tural  affection.  (Lam.  iv.  3.) 
A  modern  traveller  tells  us 
that  the  Arabs  meet  sometime* 
476 


OST 

With  whole  nests  of  these  eggs, 
(containing  from  thirty  to  fifty 
in  number,)  five  inches  in  di¬ 
ameter,  and  weighing  several 
pounds;  some  of  them  are 
sweet  and  -good,  others  are 
addled  and  corrupted  ;  others, 
again,  have  their  young  ones 
of  different  growth,  according 
to  the  time,  it  may  be  pre¬ 
sumed,  since  they  have  been 
forsaken  of  the  dam.  They 
often  meet  with  a  few  of  the 
little  ones  no  bigger  tuan  well- 
grown  pullets,  half  starved, 
straggling  and  moaning  about, 
like  "so  many  distressed  or¬ 
phans,  for  their  mother.  In 
this  manner,  the  ostrich  may 
oe  said  to  be  hardined  against 
her  young  ones,  as  though  they 
were  not  her’s ;  her  labour,  in 
hatching  and  attending  them 
so  far,  being  vain,  without  fear, 
or  the  least  concern  of  what 
becomes  of  them  afterwards. 

The  most  remarkable  cha¬ 
racteristic  of  the  ostrich  is  the 
rapidity  with  which  it  runs, 
and  which  the  fleetest  horse 
cannot  equal.  The  surprising 
swiftness  of  this  bird  is  ex¬ 
pressly  mentioned  by  Xeno¬ 
phon.  Speaking  of  the  desert 
of  Arabia,  he  states  that  the 
ostrich  is  frequently  seen 
there;  that  none  could  take 
them,  the  horsemen  who  pur¬ 
sue  them  soon  giving  it  over; 
for  they  escaped  far  away, 
making  use  both  of  their  feet 
to  run,  and  of  their  wings, 
when  expanded,  as  a  sail  to 
waft  them  along.  This  repre¬ 
sentation  is  confirmed  by  the 
writer  of  a  voyage  to  Senegal, 
who  says,  “  She  sets  off  at  a 
hard  gallop;  but.  after  being 
excited  a  little,  she  expands 
her  wings  as  if  to  catch  the 
wind,  and  abandons  herself  to 
a  speed  so  great,  that  she  seems 
not  to  touch  the  ground.  I 
am  persuaded,”  continues  that 
writer,  “  she  would  leave  far 
behind  the  swiftest  English 
courser.” 


OVE 

The  Persians  call  the  ostrich 
the  camel-bird.  (See  Peacock. 
For  a  full  description  of  the 
ostrich,  and  illustrative  cut, 
see  Youth’s  Friend,  vol.  iv. 
pp.  28—30.  See,  also,  Bedouin 
Arabs,  p.  36,  both  by  Am.  S. 
S.  Union.) 

OTHNIEL.  (Jude.  i.  13.)  The 
son  of  Kenaz,  who  displayed 
his  valour  in  seizing  tne  city, 
of.  Debir,  or  Kirjath-sepher, 
for  which  exploit  he  was  re¬ 
warded  by  the  gift  of  the  daugh¬ 
ter  of’  his  uncle,  Caleb,  in 
marriage.  Afterwards  he  was 
made  the  instrument  of  de¬ 
livering  the  Israelites  from 
the  oppression  of  the  king  of 
Mesopotamia.  (Judg.  iii.  8, 9.) 

OUCHES  (Ex.  xxxix.  6) 
were  probably  sockets  for  fast¬ 
ening  the  precious  stones  into 
the  snoulder-piecesofthe  high- 
priest’s  ephod.  These  ouches, 
with  their  stones,  are  supposed 
to  have  served  for  buttons  to 
confine  the  golden  chains 
whereon  the  breast  plate  was 
hung.  (Ex.  xxviii.  11.  25.) 

OUTER.  (Malt.  viii.  12.) 
This  word,  when  connected 
as  it  frequently  is  with  dark¬ 
ness,  implies  the  uttermost 
degree  or  very  extreme  of 
darkness,  both  as  it  respects 
depth,  or  intensity,  and  dura¬ 
tion. 

.OVENS.  (Ex.  viii.  3.)  In  the 
eastern  cities  the  ovens,  at 
the  present  day,  are  not  mate¬ 
rially  different  from  our  own. 
The  more  common  way  ol 
constructing  them  in  the  coun¬ 
try,  however,  is  to  take  a  jar, 
or  pot,  of  a  cylindrical  shape, 
and  after  having  partly  filled 
it  with  pebbles,  to  apply  heat, 
and  use  it  for  baking.  The 
dough  is  plastered  upon  tho 
outside,  and,  when  baked,  (as 
it  is  almost  instantly,)  comes 
off  in  thin  cakes.  All  eastern 
bread  is  of  this  thin  sort.  The 
bread  made  in  this  way  is 
clean  and  white.  The  Bedouin 
Arabs  use  three  or  four  d  ifferent 
477 


OWL 

ovens,  the  description  of  which 
may  throw  some  light  upon 
the  oven  of  the  Bible. 

1.  The  sand  oven. — This  is 
nothing  more  than  the  sand 
of  the  earth,  upon  which  a  fire 
is  made,  until  it  is  supposed  to 
ue  sufficiently  healed.  The 
fuel  and  fire  are  then  cleared 
away,  and  the  dough  is  laid 
on  the  hut  sand,  in  fiat  pieces, 
about  the  thickness  of  a  plate. 
(Isa.  xliv.  15.  19.)  These  are 
the  ash-cakes.  (Gen.  xviii.  6. 
1  Kings  xvii.  13 ;  xix.  6.  See 
Cake.) 

2.  The  earth  oven  is  a  round 
hole  in  the  earth.  Stones  are 
first  put  into  this,  and  a  fire  is 
kindled  upon  them.  When  the 
stones  have  become  thoroughly 
hot,  the  fire  is  removed,  ^and 
the  dough  spread  in  thin  flakes 
upon  the  heated  stones,  and 
turned  as  often  as  may  be  ne¬ 
cessary.  A  modern  traveller 
tells  us  that  this  kind  of  bread 
.fl  left  all  night  in  the  earth 
*ven;  and  the  ovens  used  in 


OWL 

Persia  are  about  two  and  t 
half  feet  wide,  and  not  less 
than  five  or  six  feel  deep.  Le 
Bruyn  tells  us  that  they  re- 
semble  pits  or  wells,  and  that 
sheep  are  hung,  lengthwise 
in  them,  and  cooked  whole. 
These  may  be  what  are  ren¬ 
dered  in  our  version  ranges 
for  pots.  (Lev.  xi.  35.) 

3.  Portable  oven.— This  is 
an  earthen  vessel,  without  a 
bottom,  about  three  feet  high  ; 
smeared  outside  and  inside 
with  clay,  and  placed  upon  a 
frame,  or  support.  Fire  is  made 
within  it,  or  below  it.  When 
the  sides  are  sufficiently  heau 
ed,  thin  patches  of  dough  are 
spread  on  the  inside,  and  the 
top  is  covered,  without  remov¬ 
ing  the  fire  as  in  the  other 
cases;  and  the  bread  is  quick¬ 
ly  baked.  To  this  we  may 
refer  the  phrase  baken  in  the 
oven.  (Lev.  ii.4.)  The  follow¬ 
ing  representation  of  it  is  taken 
from  Niebuhr. 

Convex  plates  of  iron,  pans 


ir  plates,  flat  stones,  &c.  are 
iften  used  for  baking.  CSee 
Bake.  Bread.) 

OWL.  (Lev.  xi.  16.)  Though 
.lie  owl  is  frequently  men¬ 
tioned,  in  our  Scriptures,  it 
teldom  if  ever  denotes  the 


bird  known  to  us  by  this  nam  ." 
The  allusions  of  the  sacre* 
writers  are  evidently  to  soro- 
bird  that  loves  solitary  an 
desolate  places.  Some  vi¬ 
sions  render  the  original  words 
translated  great  owl  (Lev.  xi. 

478 


ox 

I?)  the  ibis,  and  the  little,  owl  i 
in  the  same  passage  some  kind 
ef  water-hi'rd.  The  screech 
owl  (Isa.  xxxiv.  14,  rendered 
night-monster  in  the  margin) 
must  ha  ve  resembled  the  barn 
owl,  known  to  us  as  the  com¬ 
mon  screecli  or  white  owl.  It 
haunts  deserted  barns,  and 
old  and  decayed  buildings; 
and  in  Europe,  old  lowers  and 
buildings  in  the  vicinity  of 
churchyards.  By  night  it 
seelcs  its  prey,  and  often 
makes  a  doleful  and  even 
frightful  sound,  rendered  more 
so  by  the  surrounding  still¬ 
ness.  (See  Ostrich.) 

OX.  (Isa.  i.3.)  A  well  known 
aomestic  animal,  clean  by  the 
Levitical  law,  strong  and  pa¬ 
tient  of  labour,  of  great  use 


OX 

l  -v  .gricultural  pursuits,  and 
1  SV.  ing  a  large  item  of  the 
wealth  of  the  patriarchs.  (Gen. 

xxiv.  35;  xxx,  43.  Job  i.  3.) 
They  were  used  for  ploughing, 
(Deul.  xxii.  10.  1  Kings  xix,  19. 
Job  i.  14.  Prov.  xiv.  4.  Isa. 
xxx.  24;)  for  drawing,  (Num. 
vii.  3.  7,  8;)  for  threshing 
or  treading  out  gram,  (Deut. 

xxv.  4.  1  Cor.  ix^  9,)  and  for 
food.  (1  Kings  xix.  21 .  I  Chron. 
xii.  39,  40.  Matt.  xxii.  4.) 

The  wild  ox  is  mentioned 
Deut.  xiv.  5,  and  the  wild  bull, 
Isa.  li.  20 ;  the  former  is  thought 
to  be  a  species  of  the  stag  or 
goat;  but  there  is  no  reason  to 
doubt  that  the  animal  might 
be  found  in-  a  wild  state“in 
Judea,  or  some  of  the  moun¬ 
tainous  districts  in  its  vicinity. 


PAL 

ADANARAM,  (Gen.  xxv. 
20,)  or  the  plain  of  Syria , 
one  of  the  Hebrew  names  of 
Mesopotamia.  (See  Mesopo¬ 
tamia.) 

PALESTINA.  (Ex.  xv.  14.) 
The  country  lying  along  the 
Mediterranean  coast,  between 
Joppa  and  Gaza,  was  inhabited 
by  the  Philistines,  and  was 
hence  called  Palestina;  but  in 
the  above  passage,  and  jn  Isa. 
xiv.  29 — 31,  it  seems  to  denote 
the  whole  of  Judea,  as  the  word 
Palestine  does  in  its  modern 
acceptation. 

PALM  TREES.  (Ex.  xv.27.) 
The  palm  tree  abounds  in 
Arabia,  Egypt,  and  the  whole 
of  southern  Asia,  from  the 
Indus  to  the  Nile,  but  is  rare 
in  Palestine.  Yet,  in  ancient 
times,  when  the  land  was  peo¬ 
pled  with  many  industrious 
Inhabitants,  it  was  very  com¬ 
mon.  (Lev.  xxiii.  40.  Deut. 
xxxiv.  3.  Ju(lg.  i.  16;  iii.  13; 
iv.  5.)  Ancient  historians  cor¬ 
roborate  these  statements,  and 
inform  us  that  the  region  of  the 
Dead  Sea  was  noted  for  the 


PAL 

palm,  of  which  there  were 
groves  twelve  miles  in  extent. 

The  palm  tree  is  found  upon 
ancient  Hebrew  coins,  as  the 
symbol  of  Judea;  and  Roman 
coins,  struck  after  the  conquest 
of  Judea,  have  a  palm  with 
an  inscription  commemorating 
that  event. 

The  general  figure  and  ap¬ 
pearance  of  this  tree  is  fami¬ 
liar  to  our  minds,  from  picture* 
and  descriptions.  It  grows  in 
sandy  soils,  in  hot  and  dry 
climates,  but  flourishes  best  in 
the  vicinity  of  streams,  and 
where  it  can  be  watered,  and 
in  valleys  and  plains,  espe¬ 
cially  where  the  water  is 
moderately  salt  or  brackish. 
It  is  always  green,  and  grows 
to  a  great.height,  from  sixty  to 
one  hundred  feet.  Its  straight 
and  slender  trunk  rises  very 
hign  before  it  puts  forth  any 
branches,  and  its  foliage  is  in 
one  mass  at  the  top.  (Sol.  Song 
vii.  7.  Jer.  x- 5.)  This  ever 
green  and  stately  tree  is  the 
emblem  of  the  righteous.  (Ps 
i.  3,  and  xcii.  12.)  The  co- 
47.9 


PAL 

himna  of  costly  edifices  were 
sometimes  hewn  in  imitation 
of  its  trunk,  as  may  be  observed 
in  some  of  the  ruins  of  Egypt. 
Palm  trees  were  carved  upon 


PAL 

the  doors  of  the  temple.  (IKings 
vi.  32.  Comp.  Ezek.  xli.  19.')” 

Strictly  speaking,  the  palm 
has  no  branches;  but  at  the 
summit,  from  forty  to  eighty 


PAL 

twigs,  or  leafstalks,  spring  1 
form,  which  are  intended  in 
Neh.  viii.  15.  The  leaves  are 
set  around  the  trunk  in  circles 
of  about  six.  The  lower  row 
is  of  great  length,  and  the  vast 
leaves  bend  themselves  in  a 
curve  towards  the  earth ;  as 
the  circles  ascend,  the  leaves 
are  shorter.  In  the  month  of 
Februa.y,  there  sprout  from 
between  the  junctures  of  the 
lower  stalks  and  the  trunk 
little  scales,  which  develops 
a  kind  of  bud,  the  germ  of  the 
coming  fruit.  These  germs 
are  contained  in  a  thick  and 
tough  skin,  not  unlike  leather. 
According  to  the  account  of  a 
modern  traveller,  a  single  tree 
in  Barbary  and  Egypt  bears 
from  fifteen  to  twenty  large 
dusters  of  dates,  weighing 
from  fifteen  to  twenty  pounds 
each.  The  palm  tree  lives 
more  than  two  hundred  years, 
and  is  most  productive  from 
the  thirtieth  until  the  eightieth 
year.  The  Arabs  speak  of 
three  hundred  and  sixty  uses 
to  which  the-  different  parts 
of  the  palm  tree  are  applied. 

The  inhabitants  of  Egypt, 
Arabia,  and  Persia  depend 
much  on  the  fruit  of  the  palm 
tree  for  their  subsistence. 
Camels  feed  on  the  seed,  and 
the  leaves,  branches,  fibres, 
and  sap  are  all  very  valuable. 

When  the  dates  are  ripe, 
they  are  plucked  by  the  hand, 
or  are  shaken  into  a  net  which 
is  held  below.  The  person 
who  ascends  the  lofty  trunk  is 
assisted  by  the  ragged  pro¬ 
cesses  or  scales  with  which 
the  body  of  the  tree  is  armed. 
(For  an  illustrative  engraving 
of  the  process  of  gathering 
dates,  see  Hebrew  Customs, 
by  Am.  S.  S.  Union,  pp.  73— 
78.)  The  dates  ripen  at  dif¬ 
ferent  times,  so  that  a  tree  is 
commonly  ascended  two  or 
three  li  mes  i  n  a  season.  When 
gathered,  they  are  spread  upon 
mats  in  the  open  air,  and  after 


PAL 

a  few  days  begin  to  be  used. 
Some  are  eaten  fresh,  and 
some  laid  aside  for  future  use. 
Others  yield  a  rich  syrup, 
which  being  expressed,  the 
remaining  mass  is  steeped  in 
hot  water, 'and,  after  being  ma¬ 
cerated  and  cleansed,  affords 
a  pleasant  drink.  These  dif¬ 
ferent  kinds  of  syrup  are  the 
celebrated  date  wine,  which 
was  greatly  prized  in  ancient 
times  by  the  Orientals.  Some 
suppose  it  to  be  the  strong 
drink  often  named  in  the 
Scriptures;  but  this  term  ra¬ 
ther  designates  all  intoxicating 
liquors  except  wine.  (See 
Wine.) 

The  shoots,  which  are  an¬ 
nually  cut  away  from  the  bot¬ 
tom  of  the  tree,  and  the  leaves 
themselves,  are  used  for  mak¬ 
ing  ropes,  baskets,  sacks,  mats, 
fans,  hats,  and  sandals.  The 
Hebrews  were  accustomed  to 
carry  these  branches  in  the 
solemn  festivities  of  the  feast 
of  tabernacles,  and  to  strew 
them  in  the  way  of  triumphal 
processions.  Thus  branches 
were  strewed  in  the  way  of 
Christ,  upon  his  entry  into 
Jerusalem.  (John  xii.  13.) 

The  branches  of  the  palm 
were  anciently  used  as  a 
symbol  of  victory,  and  car¬ 
ried  before  the  conqueror  in 
triumphal  processions.  Hence 
the  force  and  beauty  of  the 
figure,  Rev.  vii.  9. 

The  word  Tamar,  signify¬ 
ing  a  palm,  was  a  common 
female  name  among  the  He¬ 
brews,  and  was  derived  from 
the  tall,  straight,  and  graceful 
appeararfce  of  the  tree. 

PALMER-WORM.  (Joel  i. 
4.)  A  destructive  insect  of  the 
caterpillar  or  locust  tribe, 
figuratively  spoken  of  in  these 
passages,  as  an  instrument 
employed  to  afflict  the  rebel¬ 
lious  Jews.  (Amos  iv.  9.) 

PALSY.  (Matt.  iv.  24.)  A 
disease  which  deprives  the 
part  affected  of  sensation,  or 
^  481 


PAR 

the  power  of  motion,  or  both. 
As  the  term  is  used  in  the 
New  Testament,  it  imports 
apoplexy,  or  paralysis  of  the 
whole  system ;  paralysis  of 
one  side ;  a  paralysis  affecting 
the  whole  body  below  the  neck, 
and  a  paralysis  caused  by  a 
contraction  of  the  muscles, 
so  that  the  limbs  can  neither 
be  drawn  up  nor  extended, 
and  soon  become  emaciated 
and  dried  up.  (1  Kings  xiii. 
4 — 6.  Matt.  xii.  10 — 13.  Luke 
vi.  6.  John  v.  5—7,) 

A  fearful  disease  called  pal¬ 
sy,  is  known  in  eastern  coun 
tries.  The  limbs  remain  im- 
moveably  fixed  in  the  position 
in  which  they  were  at  the  time 
of  the  attack ;  and  the  suffering 
is  so  exquisitely  severe,  that 
death  is  often  occasioned  in  a 
few  days.  (Matt.  viii.  6.) 

PAMPHYLIA.  (Acts  xiii. 
13.)  A  hilly  province  of  Asia 
Minor,  lying  north  of  the 
Mediterranean,  between  Ci¬ 
licia  and  Lycia.  Perga  was 
once  its  chief  town,  and  was 
twice  visited  by  the  apostle 
Paul. 

PAPER,  PAPER  REEDS. 
(See  Book.) 

PAPHOS.  (Acts  xiii.  6.)  A 
celebrated  maritime  city,  lying 
at  the  western  extremity  of 
the  island  of  Cyprus,  now 
called  Baffa.  It  was  the  place 
where  Barjesus,  or  Elymas 
the  sorcerer,  was  struck  with 
blindness ;  and  where  Sergius 
Paulus  was  converted  to  Chris¬ 
tianity.  (See  Cyprus.) 

PARABLE,  (Num.  xxiii.  7,) 
or  PRO  VERB,  (John  xvi.29,)  is 
a  form  of  speech,  i  n  which  some¬ 
thing  is  presented  to  us  in  lieu 
of  some  other  thing  which  it 
resembles,  and  which- we  wish 
to  illustrate.  (Matt.  xiii.  3 — 52.) 
It  is  derived  from  a  Greek 
word  signifying  to  compare 
together.  Thus  a  narrative  of 
events,  either  real  or  supposed, 
is  made  the  medium  by  which 
the  attention  is  arrested,  of- 


PAR 

fence  is  avoided,  conviction 
is  secured,  and  important  truth 
is  illustrated  and  enforced 
with  great  power  upon  the 
heart  and  conscience.  (Jjdg. 

ix.  7 — 20.  2  Sam.  xii.  1—9. 

2  Kings  xi v.  9.  Eccl.  xii.  1 — 7.) 
Our  Saviour’s  parables  are 
remarkable  for  clearness, 
force,  simplicity,  and  appro¬ 
priateness  ;  and  they  are 
always  employed  to  convey 
truths  of  the  first  importance. 
They  relate  to  daily  objects, 
(Matt.  xx.  1—14.  Mark  iv. 
26 — 29 ;)  to  domestic  labours, 
(Matt.  xiii.  33;)  to  common 
occurrences,  (Luke  vii.36 — 50; 

x.  25—37 ;)  and  to  the  scenery 
by  which  he  and  his  audience 
were  surrounded.  (Matt.  xiii. 
47—50.  Luke  xiii.  6 — 9.  John 
iv.  .35—38.)  Thus  they  were 
especially  adapted  to  his  un¬ 
learned  and  prejudiced  hear¬ 
ers,  and,  being  easily  appre¬ 
hended,  the  force  of  them  was 
instantly  felt  and  acknow¬ 
ledged. 

PARADISE.  (Luke  xxiii.  43. 
Rev.  ii.7.)  This  is  a  word  of 
Persian  origin,  and  means  a 
garden,  orchard,  or  other  en¬ 
closed  place, filled  with  objects 
fitted  to  regale  the  senses. 
Hence  it  is  used  figuratively 
for  any  place  of  peculiar  hap¬ 
piness,  and  particularly  for  the 
kingdom  of  perfect  happiness 
which  is  the  abode  of  the  bless¬ 
ed  beyond  the  grave.  (2  Cor. 
xii.  4.  See  Eden.) 

PARAN,  WILDERNESS  OF. 
(Gen.  xxi.  21,)  was  situated 
south  of  Jordan,  and  extended 
to  the  peninsula  of  Sinai,  and 
from  the  Dead  Sea  to  the  desert 
of  Egypt;  so  that,  in  its  largest 
sense,  it  included  the  deserts 
of  Kadesli  and  Zin.  It  was  in 
this  wilderness  that  Hagar 
dwelt  with  Ishmael,  and  to  this 
place  David  retired  after  the 
death  of  Samuel.  (1  Sam.  xxv. 
1.)  Nearly  all  the  wanderings 
of  the  children  of  Israel  were 
in  the  great  and  terrible  wil 


PAR 

derness  of  Paran.  (Deut.  i.  19. 
Comp.  Num.  x.  12,  and  xii.  16.) 
It  is  now  a  dreary  expanse 
of  calcareous  soil,  covered  with 
black  flints. 

Mount  Paran  was  within 
the  wilderness  of  Paran.  A 
modern  traveller  represents 
its  appearance  as  singular 
and  indescribably  grand.'  Its 
sides  are  formed  of  precipitous 
rocks,  and  three  sharp-pointed 
summits  rise  like  towers. 
When  seen,  as  it  reflects  the 
rich  beams  of  the  rising  or 
declining  sun,  the  sublime  de¬ 
scription  of  the  prophet  forces 
itself  upon  the  mind.  (Deut. 
xxxi-ii.  2.  Hab.  iii.  3.) 

■  PARCHMENTS.  (2Tim.  iv. 
13.)  The  skins  of  beasts  were 
early  and  extensively  used 
for  writing.  Herodotus  says 
that  the  Ionians,  who  received 
the  art  from  the  Phenicians, 
wrote  upon  sheepskins,  which, 
he  adds,  the  barbarians  also 
do,  (b  c.500.)  Very  slight  pre¬ 
paration  was  used,  until  under 
Eumenes ,  a  king  of Pergamus, 
a  modeof  preparing  fine  parch¬ 
ment  was  discovered,  whence 
the  prepared  skins  were  call¬ 
ed  by  the  Latins  pergamena, 
which  is  translated  parch  ment  s. 
(See  Book.)  The  mode  of 
preparing  it  is  to  remove  the 
wool  or  hair  and  every  particle 
of  flesh  from  the  skin;  then 
scrape  it  with  an  iron  instru¬ 
ment  while  wet,  and  stretch  it 
tight  on  a  frame,  and  then  rub 
and  smooth  it  with  a  pumice 
stone ;  after  which  it  is  fit  for 
writing. 

Vellum  is  prepared  in  nearly 
the  same  manner,  from  the 
skins  of  very  young  calves. 
It  is  much  finer  and  whiter, 
and  was  formerly  in  common 
use. 

PARDON.  (Ps.xxv.il.)  The 
scriptural  import  of  this  term 
is  very  imperfectly  indicated 
by  the  common  acceptation  of 
it  among  men.  In  the  dispen¬ 
sation  of  grace,  pardon  is  inse- 


PAR 

pnrably  connected  with  justifi 
cation.  Hence  it  is  spoken  ol 
as  the  covering  of  sin,  (Ps. 
Ixxxv.  2,)  the  non-imputation 
of  it,  (Ps.  xxxii.  2;)  a  blotting 
out,  (Ps.  li.  1.  9.  Isa.  xliii.  25;) 
forgetting  it,  (Heb.  viii.  12;) 
passing  by  it,  or  removing  it  to 
an  immeasurable  d  isiance  from 
us.  (Ps.  ciii.  12.  Mic.  vii.  19.)  ' 

It  is  evident  that  God  only 
has  power  to  bestow  pardon, 
(Mark  ii.  7. 10—12;)  and  that  it 
proceeds  from  free,  sovereign 
grace,  (Eph.  i.  6,7,)  through  the 
mediation  and  atonement  of 
Jesus  Christ.  (Heb.  ix.  9—28. 

1  John  i.  7.) 

Men  are  commissioned  to 
preach  pardon  and  salvation 
through  the  blond  of  Christ; 
but  no  man  can  forgive  sin,  or 
pretend  to  the  right  and  power 
of  absolution,  without  direct 
and  daring  blasphemy. 

PARLOUR.  (See  Dwell 

1NCS.) 

PARTHIANS,  (Actsii.9,)  or 
the  inhabitants  of  Parthia,  ori¬ 
ginally  a  province  of  Media, 
on  its  eastern  side,  situated  be¬ 
tween  the  Persian  Gulf  and  the 
Tigris.  The  Parthians  seem  to 
have  resembled  the  Cossacks 
of  our  day,  and  were  celebrated 
for  their  skill  in  archery,  and 
especially  for  shooting  as  they 
fled,  and  were  a  part  of  the 
Scythian  horde  who  so  long 
disputed  with  Rome  for  the 
dominion  of  the  east.  Parthia 
was  united  to  the  Persian  em¬ 
pire,  a.  n.  226.  The  Persian 
language  was  spoken  there; 
and  indeed  in  Scripture  and 
other  ancient  writings,  Persia 
and  Parthia  are  often  used  as 
synonymous. 

’  PARTITION,  MIDDLE  WALL 
op,  (Eph.  ii.  14,)  is  supposed  to 
have  reference  to  the  wall  in 
the  temple  which  separated 
the  court  of  Israel  from  the 
court  of  the  Gentiles.  In  this 
passage  it  is  figuratively  used 
to  denote  whatever  in  their 
laws  or  customs  separated  the 


PAS 

Jews  from  the  Gentiles,  and 
rendered  the  former  any  more 
the  objects  of  divine  favour 
than  the  latter. 

PARTRIDGE.  (Jer.xvii.il.) 
The  bird  commonly  known 
by  this  name  is  also  known 
in  the  east.  Travellers  tell 
us  that  the  Arabs  esteem 
their  flesh  a  luxury,  and  pur¬ 
sue  them  until  they  are  weary 
with  flying,  when  they  kill 
them  with  the  hand.  The 
Sgurative  allusion  in  1  Sam. 
jtxvi.  20,  may  express  the  labo¬ 
rious  and  persevering  zeal  with 
which  Saul  pursued  David; 
anti  iu  Jer.  xvii.  11,  reference  is 
probably  made  to  the  exposure 
of  the  partridge’s  nest,  which 
is  built  on  the  ground,  and  is 
exposed  to  be  trampled  on  and 
destroyed,  and  from  which  she 
is  also  liable  to  be  driven  sud¬ 
denly  by  similar  causes. 

PAS-DAMMIM.  (1  Chron.xi. 
13.)  A  valley  in  the  north¬ 
west  of  Judah,  the  same  with 
Ephes-dammim,  (1  Sam.  xvii. 
1.) 

Passengers,  valley  op 

the. (Ezek.xxxix.il.)  Aplain 
on  the  east  of  the  Jordan,  at  the 
southern  extremity  of  the  sea 
of  Tiberias,  where  there  is  a 
ford  or  passage  over  the  river. 

PASSION.  (Acts  i.  3.)  The 
word,  in  this  connexion , denotes 
the  last  sufferings  of  Christ,  or 
rather  his  death,  as  the  con¬ 
summation  of  his  sufferings. 
The  expression  in  Acts  xiv. 
15,  and  James  v.  17,  signifies 
like  propensities,  feelings,  and 
susceptibilities. 

PASSOVER.  (Lev.  xxiii.  5.) 
A  Jewish  feast,  appointed  to 
commemorate  the  exemption 
or  passing  over  of  the  families 
of  the  Israelites,  when  the  de¬ 
stroying  angel  smote  the  first¬ 
born  of  Egypt;  and  also  their 
departure  from  the  land  of 
bondage. 

On  the  fourteenth  day  of  the 
first  month,  (Nisan,)  between 
the  evenings,  the  passover  was 


PAS 

to  be  celebrated;  and  on  the 
fifteenth  day  commenced  the 
seven  days’  feast  of  unlea¬ 
vened  bread.  The  term  pass- 
over  is  strictly  applicable  only 
to  the  meal  of  the  oaschal 
lamo,  or  the  fourteenth  day: 
and  the  feast  of  unleavened 
bread  was  celebrated  on  the 
fifteenth  onward,  for  seven 
days,  to  the  twenty-first,  inclu¬ 
sive.  This  order  is  recognised, 
Josh.  v.  10, 11.  But,  in  the  sa¬ 
cred  history,  the  term  passover 
is  used  to  denote  the  whole 
period ;  the  fourteenth  day,  and 
the  festival  of  the  seven  days 
following.  (Luke  ii. 41.  John  li 
13.  23;  vi.  4;  xi.  55.) 

This  mode  of  expression  is 
recognised  by  Jospphus,  the 
Jewish  historian,  who  uses  the 
expression,  “the  festival  of 
unleavened  bread,  which  is 
called  the  passover.”  (Luka 
xxii.  1.) 

As  to  the  time  of  the  cele- 
bration  of  the  passover,  it  is 
expressly  appointed  between 
the  evenings,  or,  as  it  is  else¬ 
where  expressed,  at  even,  at 
the  going  down  of  the  sun. 
(Deut.  xvi.  6.)  This  is  supposed 
to  denote  the  commencement 
of  the  fourteenth  day  of  Nisan, 
or  at  the  moment  when  the 
thirteenth  day  closed,  and  the 
fourteenth  began.  Thetwenty- 
four  hours,  reckoned  from  this 
point  of  time  to  the  same  period 
of  the  next  day,  or  fourteenth, 
was  the  day  of  the  passover. 
At  sunset  of  the  fourteenth 
day,  the  fifteenth  began ;  and 
with  it  the  feast  of  unleavened 
bread.  The  lamb  was  to  be 
selected  on  the  tenth  day,  by 
each  individual  or  family,  and 
kept  up  till  the  fourteenth  day, 
in  the  evening  of  which  day  it 
was  to  be  killed.  (Ex.  xii.  3— 
6.)  Then  followed  the  feast  of 
unleavened  bread,  occupying 
seven  days;  the  first  and  last 
of  which  were  peculiarly  holy, 
like  th  e  Sabbat  n  .(E  x. xii. 15,16.) 

The  preparation  of  the  pass- 


PAS 

over,  (John  six.  14,)  or  the  day 
of  the  preparation,  (Matt.xxvii. 
62,)  was  the  fourteenth  day,  or 
the  day  preceding  thefirstdayof 
unleavened  bread.  At  the  time 
of  our  Saviour’s  passion,  it  so 
happened  that  the  fifteenth  of 
the  month,  or  the  first  day  of 
the  festival,  was  also  the  proper 
Sabbath.  Hence  we  find,  upon 
comparing  the  various  histories 
of  this  event,  and  its  attendant 
circumstances,  that  at  the  close 
of  the  thirteenth  day  of  the 
month,  when  the  feast  of  un¬ 
leavened  bread,  called  in  the 
largest  sense,  the  passover, 
(Luke  xxii.  1,)  approached,  Je¬ 
sus  directed  the  lamb  for  the 
paschal  sacrifice  to  be  pre¬ 
pared  for  himself  and  his  dis¬ 
ciples.  This  being  done  im¬ 
mediately  after  sunset  of  the 
thirteenth,  which  was  the  be¬ 
ginning  of  the  fourteenth,  the 
paschal  supper  was  eaten.  After 
this  supper,  and  in  the  course 
of  that  night,  Christ  was  arrest¬ 
ed,  the  next  morning  was  tried, 
and  in  the  afternoon  was  cru¬ 
cified  and  buried.  This  was 
on  the  eve  of  preparation  for 
the  Sabbath,  and  also  for  the 
festival,  (which  fell  on  the 
same  day,)  towards  the  close 
of  the  fourteenth.  The  whole 
series  of  events  occurred  be¬ 
tween  what  we  should  call 
Thursday  and  Friday  evening. 

The  facts  of  chief  import¬ 
ance  in  reconciling  all  the 
evangelists  are,  that  the  word 
passover  is  applied  sometimes 
strictly  to  the  fourteenth  day, 
and  at  other  times  to  the 
whole  festival  of  unleavened 
bread;  that  the  passover,  or 
paschal  supper,  strictly  speak¬ 
ing,  was  celebrated  at  the  be¬ 
ginning  of  the  fourteenth  day 
of  the  month,  or  immediately 
after  sunset  of  the  thirteenth ; 
and  that  the  fourteenth,  or 
Friday  of  passion  week,  hap¬ 
pened  to  be  the  day  of  pre¬ 
paration  for  the  feast  of  un¬ 
leavened  bread,  and  also  for 
41* 


PAS 

the  Sabbath.  (For  a  particular 
account  of  the  mode  of  cele¬ 
bration,  see  Feasts.  See  also 
Biblical  Antiquities,  vol.  ii. 
ch.  vi.  §4;  SELUMiEL,jip.  72 — 
82.  99 ;  and  Youth’s  Friend, 
1835,  p.  186—188,  all  by  Am.  S. 
S.  Union.) 

PASTOR.  (See  Shepherd.) 

PASTURE.  (Isa.  xxxii.  14.). 
This  word  is  used  by  the 
sacred  writers  chiefly  in  a 
figurative  sense.  The  places 
of  pasturage  in  Canaan  were 
chiefly  those  uninhabited  spots 
which  are  called  deserts,  or 
wildernesses,  in  the  sacred 
writings.  These  were  some¬ 
times  hilly  ranges,  abounding 
in  herbage  and  shrubbery; 
sometimes  sandy  plains,  in 
which,  here  and  there,  in  moist 
places,  a  little  green  grass  is 
found.  These  meagre  spots 
are  better  for  sheep,  goats, 
and  camels,  than  rich  mea¬ 
dows,  which  are  necessary  for 
kine. 

These  tracts  belong  to  no 
persons  in  particular,  but  are 
commons  which  all  may  use  ; 
though  sometimes  they  are  the 
property  of  tribes  of  people,  as 
such.  The  whole  land  of 
Canaan  was  originally  such  a 
possession,  and  as  such  was 
occupied  by  Abraham,  Isaac, 
and  Jacob.  When  the  country 
became  settled  by  the  Israel¬ 
ites,  they  had  particular  pas¬ 
turages  connected  with  their 
farms.  Sharon  and  Achor 
(Isa.  lxv.  10)  are  named  as 
affording  good  pasturage  for 
flocks,  and  Gilead  and  Bashan 
for  neat  cattle.  (Mic.  vii.  14  j 
Among  these  widely  scattered 
and  numerous  pastures,  the 
shepherds  and  herdsmen  of 
Palestine  wandered,  as  their 
descendants  continue  to  do. 
In  summer  they  migrate  north¬ 
ward,  to  the  hill  country ;  in 
winter  southward,  to  the 
plains:  thus  not  only  avoiding 
the  winter’s  cold  and  the  heat 
of  summer,  but  finding  ample 


PAT 

sustenance  for  their  cattle  at 
both  seasons. 

PATARA.  (Acts  xxi.  1.) 

A  large,  rich,  seaport  town 
of  Lycia,  lying  over  against 
Rhodes,  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Aanthus,  called  by  Ptolemy 
Philadelphia,  Arsinoe,  in  ho¬ 
nour  of  his  queen.  Here  Paul 
took  ship  for  Phenicia,  when 
going  from  Philippi  to  Jeru- 

6apATHROS.  (Isa.  xi.  11. 
Comp.  Jer.  xliv.  1.  15.  Ezek. 
xxix.  14 — xxx.  14.)  The  The- 
bais  of  the  Greeks,  and  Said 
of  the  Arabs,  the  same  with 
upper  or  southern  Egypt. 
Some  of  the  Jews  had  with¬ 
drawn  to  this  region,  and 
there  given  themselves  up. 
to  idolatry  ;  but  Jeremiah  fore¬ 
warns  them  of  the  tremendous 
judgments  which  awaited 
them.  The  Pathrusim .,  its 
inhabitants  and  early  settlers, 
were  descendants  of  Mizraim. 
(Gen.  x.  14.) 

PATHRUSIM.  (See  Path- 

B.0S.) 

PATMOS.  (Rev.  i.  9.)  An 
island  in  the  Egean  Sea,  now 
called  Patimo  or  Patmosa, 
situated  near  the  promontory 
of  .Miletus,  between  Samos 
and  Naxos,  about  twenty  or 
twenty-five  miles^hi  circum¬ 
ference.  It  was  used  by  the 
Romans  as  a  place  of  exile 
for  convicts,  and  is  distin- 
uished  as  the  place  to  which 
ohn  the  Evangelist  was  ba¬ 
nished  by  Domitian,  a.  d.  94. 

Its  soil  is  very  thin  and 
sterile,  lying  on  a  rugged  rock, 
probably  of  volcanic  origin. 
About  a  mile  back  from  the 
beach  is  a  chapel,  enclosing 
the  cave  which,  it  is  said,  John 
occupied  when  writing  the 
book  of  Revelation  during  his 
banishment. 

PATRIARCH.  (Acts  ii.  29.) 
In,  the  early  history  of  the 
Jews,  we  find  the  ancestor  or 
'  father  of  a  family  retaining 
authority  over  his  children, 


PAU 

and  hi?  children’s  children,  so 
long  as  he  lived,  whatever 
new  connexions  they  might 
form.  When  the  father  died, 
the  branch-families  did  noi 
break  oflf  and  form  new  com¬ 
munities,  but  usually  united 
under  another  common  head. 
The  eldest  son  was  generally 
invested  with  this  dignity. 
His  authority  was  paternal. 
He  was  honoured  as  the  cen¬ 
tral  point  of  connexion,  and 
as  the  representative  of  the 
whole  kindred.  Thus  each 
great  family  had  its  patriarch 
or  head,  and  each  tribe  its 
prince  selected  from  the  seve¬ 
ral  heads  of  the  families  it 
embraced.  These  princes 
were  called  elders  of  Israel. 
(See  Elders.)  The  word  pa¬ 
triarch  is  also  applied  to  the 
founder  of  a  family,  or  any 
illustrious  ancestor.  (Acts  it. 
29.)  In  later  ages  of  the 
church,  the  same  title  is  found, 
but  is  applied  to  ecclesiastical 
dignitaries,  and  denotes  the 
supposed  paternal  character 
of  their  authority.  The  sons 
of  Jacob,  as  the  progenitors 
of  the  Jewish  nation,  are 
called,  by  way  of  distinction, 
the  ticelve  patriarchs.  (Acts 
vii.  8.) 

PAUL,  or  SAUL,  (Acts  xiii. 
9,)  was  a  native  of  Tarsus,  in 
Cilicia,  and  inherited  the  pri¬ 
vileges  of  a  Roman  citizen. 
(Acts  xxii.  28,29.)  His  descent 
and  education  were  wholly 
Jewish,  and  the  latter  was  of 
the  highest  order.  Under  the 
instruction  of  Gamaliel,  a  dis¬ 
tinguished  Jewish  Rabbi  at 
Jerusalem,  (Acts  v.  34,)  he  be¬ 
came  master  of  the  Jewish 
law,  (Acts  xxii.  3.  Gal.  i.  14;) 
and  was  also  taught  a  useful 
mechanical  trade,  according 
to  the  custom  of  the  nation. 
(Acts  xviii.  3.)  His  residence 
at  Jerusalem  commenced  at 
an  early  period,  (Acib  xxvi.  4,) 
and  he  was  probably  from 
twenty-two  to  twenty- iivey  ears 


PAU 

old  when  Christ  commenced 
his  public  ministry.  He  be¬ 
longed  to  tile  sect  of 'he  Phari¬ 
sees,  as  did  also  nis  father. 
(Acts  xxiii.  6.) 

The  preaching  of  the  gospel 
by  the  apostles,  and  especially 
the  fact  Of  Christ’s  resurrection 
from  the  dead,  on  which  they 
placed  their  chief  stress,  ex¬ 
cited,  of  course,  a  violent  op¬ 
position  among  the  Jews, 
which,  before  long,  broke  out 
in  open  violence.  Stephen, 
an  eloquent  and  powerful  ad¬ 
vocate  of  the  new  religion,  was 
seized  and  stoued  to  death. 
Among  the  spectators,  and 
erhaps  promoters,  of  this 
loody  deed,  was  Paul ;  who, 
we  may  suppose,  from  the 
manner  in  which  he  was  re¬ 
garded  by  the  murderers,  and, 
indeed,  from  his  own  confes¬ 
sion,  was  fully  with  them  in 
the  act.  (Acts  vii.  58.  Comp, 
xxii.  20.)  His  temperament, 
talents,  and  education  fitted 
him  to  become  a  leader  in  the 
persecution  of  the  apostles 
and  their  adherents ;  and  he 
commenced  his  career  with  a 
degree  of  zeal  bordering  on 
madness.  He  even  sought  for 
authority  to  go  to  Damascus, 
whither  many  of  the  disciples 
had  fled  after  the  murder  of 
Stephen,  and  bind  and  drag 
to  Jerusalem,  without  distinc¬ 
tion  of  age  or  sex,  all  the  fol¬ 
lowers  oiChrist  whom  he  could 
find.  Just  before  he  reached 
Damascus,  however,  he  was 
arrested  by  a  miraculous  light, 
bo  intense  as  to  deprive  nim 
of  sight.  (Acts  xxii.  11.)  At 
the  same  time  Christ  revealed 

A.D. 

Paul’s  conversion,  (Actsix.  21st  year 

of  Tiberius)  .  .  . . 36 

He  goes  into  Arabia,  (see  Arabia,) 
and  returns  to  Damascus,  (Gal.  i. 

17  j)  at  the  end  of  three  years  in 
all,  he  escapes  from  Damascus  and 
goes  to  Jerusalem,  (Acts  ix.  23,  &c.)  39 
from  Jerusalem  Paul  goes  to  Cilicia 
and  Syria.  (Acts  ix.  30.  Gal.  i.  21.) 
From  Antioch  he  is  sent  with  Bar- 


PAU 

himself  as  the  real  object  of 
his  persecution.  (Actsxxvi.  15. 
Comp.  1  Cor.  xv.  8.)  From 
this  lime  he  became  a  new 
man,  and  received  from  the 
lips  of  Christ  himself  his  com¬ 
mission  as  an  apostle  to  the 
Gentiles.  (Actsxxvi.  1G.)  The 
miraculous  restoration  of  his 
sight,  his  baptism,  and  the 
gifts  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  fol¬ 
lowed  in  quick  succession :  and 
we  soon  find  him  zealously 
preaching  the  faith  he  had  set 
out  to  subvert.  (Acts  ix.  20, 21. 
Gal.  i.  16.)  To  this  one  pur¬ 
pose  he  thenceforth  gave  all 
the  energies  of  his  mind  and 
all  the  affections  of  his  heart. 
Forsaking,  and  indeed  forget¬ 
ting,  all  other  purposes  and 
pursuits,  he  seems  to  have 
resolved  to  crowd  into  the 
residue  of  his  life  whatever  he 
could  do  to  repair  the  injury 
he  had  done  to  the  cause  of 
Christ,  and  to  show  his  strong 
and  exclusive  attachment  to 
the  interests  of  his  kingdom. 
The  miracles  he  wrought ;  the 
churches  he  gathered  ;  his  ser¬ 
mons,  orations,  and  letters; 
the  extent  and  success  of  his 
missionary  tours;  the  visions 
and  revelations  with  which 
he  was  favoured,  and  the  final 
attestation  which  it  is  gene¬ 
rally  supposed  he  gave  to  the 
faith  he  had  preached,  by  the 
sufferi  ng  of  martyrdom,  (2  Tim. 
iv.  6,  7,)  all  place  him  among 
the  very  chief  of  the  apostles. 

The  following  chronological 
arrangement  vrill  enable  the 
student  to  connect  the  prin. 
cipal  events  in  the  life  of 
Paul. 

A.D. 

nabas  to  Jerusalem  to  carry  alms. 

(Acts  xr.  30.1 . ib 

The  first  missionary  journey  of  Paul 
and  Barnabas  from  Antioch,  con¬ 
tinued  about  two  years,  (Acts  xiii. 
xiv.,)  commencing  ....  15 

After  spending  several  years  in  Anti¬ 
och,  (Acts  xiv.  28,)  Paul  and  Bar¬ 
nabas  are  sent  a  second  time  to  Je¬ 
rusalem,  to  consult  the  aposUes  re- 


PAU 


PAU 


A  D. 

specting  circumcision,  Ac.  (Acta 

xv.  2.) . 52 

The  Jews  expelled  from  Rome,  A.  D. 
52—54 ;  Paul,  on  his  second  mis* 
sionary  journey,  (Acts  xv.  40,) 
after  passing  through  Asia  Minor 
to  Europe,  finds  Aquila  and  Pris* 
cilia  at  Corinth.  (Acts  xviii.  2.)  _.  54 
Paul  remains  eighteen  months  in 
Corinth.  (Acts  xviii.  11.)  After 
being  brought  before  Gallio,  he 
departs  for  Jerusalem  the  fourth 
time,  and  then  goes  to  Antioch. 


(Acts  xviii.  22.)  .  .  .  .  .  .  66 

The  apostle  winters  at  Nicopolis, 
(Tit.  iii.  12,)  and  then  goes  to 
Ephesus.  (Acts  xix.  1.)  .  .  .  .67 


The  places  visited  by  the 
apostle,  in  his  various  jour¬ 
neys,  are  presented  at  one 
view  in  the  following  sketch. 

After  he  was  recognised  as 
a  disciple  by  the  brethren  at 
Jerusalem,  he  became  so  bold 
an  advocate  for  the  truth,  as 
to  excite  the  anger  of  the  Gre¬ 
cians,  who  were  taking  mea¬ 
sures  to  slay  him.  This  led 
to  his  first  journey  from  Jeru¬ 
salem,  in  the  course  of  which 
he  visited  Cesarea,  Tarsus, 
(where  he  continued  four 
yearB,)  Antioch  in  Syria, 
(where  he  tarried  one  year,) 
thence  to  Jerusalem. 

Second  journey. — From  Je¬ 
rusalem  to  Antioch,  Seleucia, 
Salamis,  and  Paphos  in  the 
island  of  Cyprus,  Perga,  An¬ 
tioch  in  Pisidia,  Iconium, 
I.ystra,  Derbe,  Pisidia,  Pam- 
phylia,  Perga,  Attalia.Antioch 
in  Syria,  Phenice,  Samaria, 
and  thence  to  Jerusalem. 

TVlird  journey. — From  Jeru¬ 
salem  to  Antioch,  Syria,  Cili¬ 
cia,  Derbe,  Lystra,  Phrygia, 
Galatia,  Mysia,  Troas,  (where 
he  was  joined  by  Luke,)  Sa- 
mothracia,  Neapolis,  Philippi, 
Amphipolis,  Apollonia,  Thes- 
salonica,  Berea,  Athens,  Co¬ 
rinth,  Cenchrea,  Ephesus,  Ce¬ 
sarea,  and  thence  to  Jeru¬ 
salem. 

Fourth  journey.— Tram  Je¬ 
rusalem  to  Antioch,  Galatia, 
Phrygia,  Ephesus,  Macedonia, 


A.I>. 

After  x  residence  of  two  years  or 


more  at  Ephesus,  Paul  d(  parts  for 
Macedonia.  (Acts  xx.  1.)  .  .  .59 

After  wintering  in  Achaia,  Paul 
goes  the  fifth  time  to  Jerusalem, 
where  he  is  imprisoned.  (Acts 

xx.  xxi.) . .60 

The  apostle  remains  two  years  in 
prison  at  Cesarea,  and  is  then 
sent  to  Rome,  where  he  arrives 
in  the  spring,  after  wintering  in 
Malta.  (Acts  xxiv.  27 ;  xxv. — 

xxviii.) . 63 

The  history  in  Acts  concludes,  and 
Paul  is  supposed  to  have  been  set 

at  liberty . 65 

Probable  martyrdom  .  .  .  ...  65 


Greece,  Philippi,  Troas,  Assos, 
Mitylene,  Chios,  Samos,  Tro- 
gyllium,  Miletus,  Cons,  Rhodes, 
Patara,  Tyre,  Ptolemais,  Cesa¬ 
rea,  and  thence  to  Jerusalem. 

Fifth  journey. — From  Jeru¬ 
salem  to  Antipatris,  Cesarea, 
Sidon,  Myra,  Fair  Haven, 
Melita,  Syracuse,  Rhegium, 
Puteoli,  Appii  Forum,  Three 
Taverns,  Rome,  where  the 
narrative  in  the  Acts  ends. 

Probable  journeys  from  his 
first  to  his  second  imprison¬ 
ment  in  Rome. — Spain, France, 
Britain,  Jerusalem,  Antioch  in 
Syria,  Colosse,  Ephesus,  Phi¬ 
lippi,  Corinth,  Troas,  Miletus, 
Rome,  where  he  suffered  mar¬ 
tyrdom.  (For  a  full  and  com¬ 
plete  biography  of  the  apostle 
Paul,  with  a  map  of  his  tra¬ 
vels,  see  Life  of  Paul,  Union 
Questions,  vol.  v.,  and  Help 
to  the  Acts,  parts  i.  and  ii.; 
see  also  a  large  outline  map 
of  Paul’s  travels,  drawn  on 
muslin;  all  byAm.S.S.Union.) 

Epistles  of.  These  are 
fourteen  in  number,  and  are 
unquestionably  among  the 
most  important  of  the  primi¬ 
tive  documents  of  the  Chris 
tian  religion,  even  apart  from 
their  inspired  character.  Al¬ 
though  they  have  reference 
often  to  transient  circum¬ 
stances  and  temporary  rela¬ 
tions,  yet  they  everywhere 
bear  tne  stamp  of  the  great 
and  original  mind  of  the  apoa- 


21  Colosse 

22  Miletus 


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TEA 


PEA 


tie,  as  pu.’fi.  d,  elevated,  and 
sustained  ly  the  influences 
of  the  Holy  Spirit.  (For  the 
order  in  which  these  letters 
were  written,  and  the  date 
of  them,  see  Epistles.) 

PAVEMENT.  (John  xix.  13.) 
An  area  in  Pilate’s  court-room, 
the  floor  of  which  was  paved 
with  marble  or  other  stones. 
(Eslh.  i.  6.) 

PAVILION.  (Jer.  xliii.  10.) 
A  small  moveable  tabernacle 
or  tent,  chiefly  used  for  a  king, 
prince,  or  zeneral.  (1  Kings 
xx.  12. 16.)  Jahn  thinks  it  was 
the  cloth  used  for  Jewish  meals, 
and  which,  when  done  with, 
was  drawn  up  by  a  cord,  like 
a  wine  skin  or  bottle,  and  hung 
upon  a  nail. 

The  psalmist  sublimely  de¬ 
scribes  Jehovah  as  surrounding 
himself  with  dark  waters,  ana 
thick  clouds  of  the  skies,  as 
with  a  tent  or  pavilion.  (Ps. 
xviii.  11.) 

PEACOCKS.  (IKings  x.  22.) 
This  singular  and  beautiful 
bird  is  mentioned  among  the 
articles  imported  by  Solomon, 
though  some  suppose  the  origi¬ 
nal  word  might  be  more  pro¬ 
perly  rendered  parrots.  In  Job 
xxxix.  13,  also,  the  word  pea¬ 
cocks  would  be  better  rendered 
ostriches ,  and  the  word  ostrich 
should  be  translated  (as  it  is 
elsewhere)  stork.  The  wings 
of  the  ostrich  cannot  raise  it 
from  the  ground;  yet,  in  run¬ 
ning,  it  catches  (or,  as  the 
word  rendered  goodly  imports, 
drinks  in)  the  wind.  The 
construction  of  the  ostrich  and 
the  stork  are  thus  contrasted, 
as  are  also  their  habits ;  for  the 
stork  is  as  proverbial  for  her 
tenderness  to  her  young,  as 
the  ostrich  for  her  seeming 
indifference.  (Job  xxxix.  Il¬ 
ls.  See  Ostrich.  See,  also, 
for  description  and  engravings, 
Youth’s  Friend  for  June,  1829, 
and  Natural  History  op  Bi¬ 
ble,  art.  Peacock,  both  by 
Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 


PEARLS  (Matt.  xiii.  45,  46) 
are  produced  by  a  shell-fish 
of  the  oyster  species.  It  is  a 
malady  of  the  animal,  which 
completely  developes  itself  in 
seven  years.  If  not  secured 
at  or  about  the  end  of  that 
period,  the  animal  dies,  and 
the'  pearl  is  lost.  The  peart 
oysters  are  found  in  clusters 
on  rocks,  (hence  called  pearl 
banks,)  in  the  Persian  Gulf,  on 
the  western  coast  of  Ceylon, 
and  on  the  coasts  of  Java, 
Sumatra,  &c.,  and  in  some 
parts  of  Europe.  The  shells 
are  obtained  by  diving,  and 
this  is  done  by  a  class  of  per¬ 
sons  trained  to  the  business. 
The  Ceylon  pearl-fishery  bank 
is  about  fifteen  miles  from  the  , 
shore,  and  seventy-two  feet 
deep  on  an  average.  Th6 
fishery  begins  in  April,  when 
the  sea  is  most  calm,  and  con¬ 
tinues  five  or  six  weeks.  One 
shell  contains  from  eight  to 
twelve  pearls.  The  largest 
are  of  the  size  of-  a  walnut, 
but  they  are  rarely  as  large 
as  a  cherry-stone.  The  shells 
of  the  pearl  oyster,  or,  more 
properly,  the  interior  coat,  is 
called  mother  of  pearl.  A  sin¬ 
gle  pearl  has  been  valued  at 
3350,000. 

In  our  version  of  the  Old 
Testament,  this  word  occurs 
only  in  Job  xxviii.  18.  In  Prov. 
iii.  15;  viii.  11;  xx.  15;  xxxi. 
10.  Lam.  iv.  7,  the  word  trans¬ 
lated  rubies  some  suppose 
means  coral,  but  it  probably 
means  pearls ;  and  in  the  pas¬ 
sage  last  cited,  reference  is 
probably  had  to  the  beautiful 
red  blush  of  some  species  of 
the  pearl. 

Pearls  were  anciently  used 
in  the  east  as  personal  orna¬ 
ments,  (1  Tim.  ii.  9.  Rev.  xvii, 
4 ;  xviii.  12.  16,)  and  are  ss 
used  now.  From  the  various 
illustrations  in  which  the  pearl 
is  introduced,  it  was  evidently 
regarded  as  among  the  most 
•  precious  substances.  (Matt. 


PEN 

vii.  6;  xiii.  45,  46.  R«  v.  xxi. 

81.) 

PEKAH.  (2  Kings  xv.  25.) 
A  general  of  the  Israelitish 
army.  He  assassinated  the 
king  Pekahiah  in  his  palace, 
and  usurped  the  government. 
His  reign,  which  lasted  twenty 
years,  was  highly  inauspicious ; 
the  country  was  invaded  and 
greatly  harassed  by  the  Assy¬ 
rians,  and  Pekah  himself  was 
the  victim  of  a  conspiracy. 

PEKAHIAH.  (See  Pekah.) 

PELATIAH  (Ezek.  xi.  1) 
was  one  of  the  five-and-twenty 
men  who  withstood  the  pro¬ 
phet,  and  counselled  the  peo¬ 
ple  of  Israel  wickedly.  He 
was  suddenly  struck  dead, 
while  the  prophet  was  utter¬ 
ing  his  prediction.  (Ezek.  xi. 
13.) 

PELETHITES.  (See  Che- 

RETHIMS.) 

PELICAN.  (Deut.  xiv.  17.) 
A  voracious  water  bird,  unclean 
by  the  Lqvitical  law,  (Lev.  xi. 
18,)  of  singular  construction 
and  habits,  resembling  the 
goose,  though  nearly  twice  as 
large.  Its  bill  is  fifteen  inches 
long.  The  female  has  a  large 
pouch,  or  -bag,  capable  of  con¬ 
taining  two  or  three  gallons 
of  water,  and  food  enough  for 
six  common  men.  Out  of  this 
pouch  she  feeds  herself  and 
ner  young,  whence  the  vulgar 
notion  that  she  feeds  them  on 
her  own  blood.  It  is  classed 
with  the  bittern,  and  other 
birds  who  delight  in  solitary 
and  desolate  places,  and  its 
cry  is  harsh  and  melancholy, 
(Job  xxx.  29.  Ps.  cii.  6.  Isa. 
xxxiv.  11.  Zeph.  ii.  14;)  in 
some  of  which  passages  the 
same  word  is  translated  owl, 
cormorant,  or  bittern,  which, 
in  others,  is  translated  pelican. 
(For  description  and  engrav¬ 
ing,  see  Youth’s  Friend  for 
July,  1829,  by  Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

PEN.  (Judg.  v.  14.)  The  in¬ 
struments  with  which  the  cha¬ 
racters  were  formed  in  the 


PEN 

writing  of  the  ancients,  varied 
with  the  materials  upon  which 
the  letters  were  to  be  traced. 
(1.)  Upon  hard  substances,  such 
as  stone  or  metallic  plates,  a 
graver  of  steel  was  used,  the 
same  which  Job  calls  an  iron 
pen.  It  is  possible  that  an 
instrument  pointed  with  dia¬ 
mond,  such  as  glaziers  now 
use,  was  not  unknown,  as  the 
sin  of  Judah  is  written  tcith 
a  pen  of  iron,  and  with  a  point 
of  a  diamond;  it  is  graven 
upon  the  table  of  their  heart, 
and  upon  the  horns  qf  your 
altars.  (Jer.  xvii.  1.)  Pliny 
gives  an  account  of  such  an  in¬ 
strument  as  having  been  long 
in  use.  (2.)Upontabletsofwax 
a  metallic  pen  or  stylus  was 
employed,  having  one  end 
pointed  to  trace  the  letters, 
the  other  broad  and  flat,  to 
erase  any  erroneous  marks  by 
smoothing  the  wax.  We  have 
seen  a  copper  style,  several 
inches  in  length,  now  used  by 
the  natives  of  Ceylon  in  writing 
upon  the  leaves  of  trees. 

Upon  paper,  linen,  cotton, 
skins,  and  parchments,  it  was 
in  very  early  times  common 
to  paint  the  letters  with  a  hair 
pencil,  brought  to  a  fine  point, 
as  the  Chinese  do  at  this  day. 
Afterwards,  however,  the  reed 
pen  was  introduced,  which  was 
at  first  used  without  being  split 
at  the  point.  The  reed  pen  is 
used  by  the  modern  Turks,  Sy¬ 
rians,  Persians,  Abyssinians, 
Arabs,  and  other  orientals,  as 
their  languages  could  not  be 
written  without  difficulty  with 
pens  made,  like  ours,  from 
quills.  A  particular  kind  of 
knife  is  used  to  split  the  reed. 
(Jer.  xxxvi.  23.  See  Book.) 

PENIEL.  (Gen.  xxxii.  30,) 
or  PENUEL.  (Judg.  viii.  9.) 
The  place  at  the  ford  of  the 
Jabbok,  east  of  Jordan,  where 
Jacob  wrestled  with  the  angel 
on  his  return  from  Mesopo¬ 
tamia.  There  was  a  town 
built  here,  the  tower  of  which 


PER 


PER 


was  beaten  down  by  Gideon, 
(Judg.  viii.  17.)  Jeroboam  re¬ 
built  and  fortified  the  place. 
(1  Kings  xii.  25.) 

PENNY.  (See  Measures, 
&  c.) 

PENTECOST.  (See  Feast.) 

PENUEL.  (See  Peniel.) 

PEOR,  mount.  (Num.  xxiii. 
28.)  A  rise  of  ground  east  of 
the  Jordan,  and  part  of  the 
same  chain  with  Nebo  and 
Pisgah.  It  is  supposed  to  have 
been  the  site  of  an  idol  tem¬ 
ple.  (Num.  xxv.  3.  Deut.  iv. 
3.  46.) 

PERAZIM,  mount.  (See 
Baal-perazim.) 

PEREZ.  (See  Mene.) 

PERFECTION.  (Ps.  1.  2.) 
That  which  is  entire  and  com¬ 
plete  in  all  its  parts,  without 
defect, blemish, or  redundancy, 
is  called  perfect.  The  word 
perfection  is  used  in  various 
senses,  which  can  generally 
be  determined  by  the  subject 
and  connexion.  The  most  de¬ 
sirable  things  in  the'  view 
of  worldly  men,  are  honour, 
wealth,  pleasure,  learning; 
and  to  see  an  end  of  these,  is 
to  see  how  insufficient  any 
thing  but  God  himsplf  is,  to 
satisfy  an  immortal  soul.  (Ps. 
cxix.  96.)  The  word  also  means 
the  more  mysterious  principles 
of  the  Christian  faith,  (Heb.  vi. 
1,)  or  the  full  measure  and  de¬ 
gree  of  excellence,  holiness, 
or  happiness.  (2  Cor.  xiii.  9.) 

PERGA.  (See  Pamphylia.) 

PERGAMOS,  (Rev.  i.  11,) 
now  Bergamo.  A  city  of  the 
province  of  Troas,  in  Asia  Mi¬ 
nor,  about  sixty  miles  north 
of  Smyrna.  Here  was  one 
of  the  seven  churches  of  Asia 
addressed  by  John,  from  whose 
language  we  infer  that  the  city 
was  infested  by  false  teach¬ 
ers,  who  grossly  corrupted 
the  people,  and  led  them 
into  many  abominable  errors. 
There  are  still  to  be  seen  evi¬ 
dences  of  the  former  magni¬ 
ficence  of  this  place,  such  as 


granite  walls  and  marble  co¬ 
lumns,  and  the  ruins  of  what 
is  said  to  have  been  the  tem¬ 
ple  of  Esculapius. 

The  population  of  the  mo¬ 
dern  city  is  variously  estimat¬ 
ed  from  15, 000  to  30,000,  and 
among  them  3000  nominal 
Christians.  It  was  the  birth¬ 
place  of  Galen.  There  was 
once  at  Pergamos  a  royal  li¬ 
brary,  containing  200.000  vo¬ 
lumes,  which  were  added  by 
Cleopatra  to  the  Alexandrian 
library.  It  is  said  that  perga- 
mentum,  the  Latin  word  for 
parchment,  is  derived  from 
this  place.  (See  Parchment.) 
Pergamos  was  visited  by 
Messrs.  Fisk  and  Parsons, 
American  missionaries,  in  No¬ 
vember,  1820.  The  people  of 
the  place  pretend  to  show  the 
very  churcn  where  the  disci¬ 
ples  assembled,  to  whom  John’s 
message  was  addressed,  (Rev. 
ii.  12,)  and  also  the  tomb  of 
Antipas.  (Rev.  ii.  13.) 

PERIZZITES,  (Gen.  xxxiv. 
30,)  signifying  lowlanders,  in¬ 
habitants  of  the  plain,  or  of 
unwalled  villages:  a  tribe  of 
the  Canaanite3,  or  a  people 
mingled  with  them,  ana  scat¬ 
tered  over  the  land.  (Gen.  xiii. 
7.  Josh.  xvii.  15.  Judg.  iii.  5. 
1  Kings  ix.  20.  2Chron.  viii.  7. 
Ezra  IX.  1.) 

PERSIA.  (Ezek.  xxvii.  10.) 
Ah  ancient  kingdom  of  Asia, 
whose  limits  have  varied  con¬ 
siderably  at  different  periods. 
The  kingdom  as  such  was 
founded  by  Cyrus,  its  inhabit¬ 
ants  having  been  anciently 
called  Elamites,  from  their 
ancestor  Elam  the  son  of 
Shem,  and  in  later  times 
Parthians.  The  thrones  of 
Media  and  Persia  were  united 
under  Cyrus,  b.  c.  536,  (comp. 
Dan.  vi.  8.  12;)  and  indeed  the 
whole  country,  from  Egypt  to 
the  Ganges,  became  incor¬ 
porated  in  what  was  called 
the  Persian  empire. 

This  empire  was  overthrown 
492 


PES 

by  Alexander’s  invasion,  and 
in  the  seventh  century  fell 
into  tiie  power  of  the  Saracens, 
subject  to  the  caliphs  of  Bag¬ 
dad,  until  the  middle  of  the 
thirteenth  century,  when  it 
was  taken  by  Gengis  Khan, 
and  in  the  close  of  the  four¬ 
teenth  by  Timour,  or  Tamer¬ 
lane. 

Modern  Persia  is  bounded 
north  by  Georgia,  the  Caspian 
Sea,  and  Tartary,  east  by  Af¬ 
ghanistan  and  Beloochistan, 
south  by  the  Persian  Gulf  and 
straits  of  Ormus,  and  west  by 
Turkey.  But  the  district  known 
to  the  Hebrews  as  Persia  is  the 
modern  Parsistan,  bounded  by 
Irak-Adjemi  on  the  north,  Ker¬ 
man  on  the  east,  Saristan  and 
the  gulf  on  the  south,  and 
Khusistan  on  the  west:  and  is 
about  equal  in  extenttoFranoe. 

For  some  time,  the  Persians 
have  been  governed  by  their 
own  k  ings ;  and  no  country  has 
ever  been  the  theatre  of  more 
cruelty  and  confusion ;  but 
still  it  has,  as  a  country,  re¬ 
tained  its  name  and  integrity; 
and  modern  travellers  are  of 
opinion,  that  the  manners  de¬ 
scribed  in  the  Bible  are  no¬ 
where  upon  earth  so  perfectly 
retained  as  in  Persia,  of  which 
they  give  many  illustrations. 

'  An  interesting  American 
mission  is  now  in  successful 
progress  in  Persia.  The  trans¬ 
lation  of  the  Bible  into  the 
language  of  the  Nestoriane 
has  been  commenced,  and 
schools  have  been  opened 
with  flattering  orospects. 

PESTILENCE,  (Jer.  xxi.  6,) 
or  plague,  expresses  all  sorts 
of  distempers  and  calamities. 
The  Hebrew  word,  which  pro¬ 
perly  signifies  the  plague,  is 
applied  to  all  epidemical  and 
contagious  diseases. 

Pestilences  are  still  very 
common  in  Asia  and  Africa. 
It  is  supposed  to  have  been  by 
a  species  of  pestilence  that  the 


PET 

first-born  of  Egypt  were  cut 
off.  (Ps.  lxxviii.  50,51.) 

A  pestilent  fellow  is  one  who 
is  mischievous,  and  disposed 
to  corrupt  and  ruin  a  multi¬ 
tude.  (Acts  xxiv.  5.) 

PETER,  (John  i.  40,)  the  son 
of  Jonas,  or  Jona,  and  brother 
of  Andrew,  was  a  native  of 
Bethsaida.  His  original  name 
was  Simon,  or  Simeon.  Tho 
name  Cephas  (a  Syriac  word 
signifying  a  rock,  and  in  Latin 
Petra,  translated  Peter)  was' 
given  him  when  he  was  called 
to  the  apostleship.  (John  i.  42. 
Comp.  Matt.  xvi.  18.)  He  had 
a  family  resident  at  Caper¬ 
naum,  (Matt.  viii.  14.  Mark  i. 
29.  Luke  iv.  38,)  and  was  by 
occupation  a  fisherman.  (Luko 
v.  1—3.)  The  religious  life 
of  this  apostle,  from  its  com¬ 
mencement  to  its  close,  is  filled 
with  the  most  interesting  inci¬ 
dents.  He  was  with  Christ 
during  his  ministry,  probably, 
more  than  any  other  man. 
He  was  the  most  decided  and 
forward  of  the  disciples,  fol¬ 
lowed  his  Divine  Master  in 
his  most  eventful  journeys, 
and  was  with  him  when  he 
performed  his  most  wonderful 
miracles;  and  though  he  fell 
into  some  dreadful  sins,  he 
probably  did  more  to  extend 
the  religion  of  the  Redeemer 
than  almost  any  other  man  that 
ever  lived. 

From  the  beginning  to  the 
end  of  his  illustrious  course, 
we  are  struck  with  Peter’s  fear¬ 
lessness  and  simplicity;  his 
strong  faith  and  ardent  love;, 
the  promptness  and  decision 
with  which  he  carried  out  his 
Master’s  instructions;  and  the 
distinguished  regard  in  which 
he  was  held  by  his  fellow 
apostles. 

That  Peter  was  too  forward 
and  positive  in  his  professions 
of  attachment  to  Christ  may 
be  admitted,  without  any  im¬ 
peachment  of  his  motives,  ot 


PET 

doubt  ot  his  sincerity,  Cer-  I 
lainly,  we  see  nothing  in  him 
like  cunning  or  hypocrisy. 
The  general  impression  made 
on  the  mind  of  a  superficial 
reader  of  the  Bible  respecting 
Peter’s  character,  might,  how¬ 
ever.  be  unfavourable;  and, 
besides  this  general  impression 
against  him,  which  is  confirm¬ 
ed  and  streng'hened  by  the 
frequent  and  severe  reproofs 
he  received  from  the  lips  of 
Christ,  there  is  the  one  deep 
and  aggravated  sin  of  denying 
him.  Peter  was  alone  in  de¬ 
nying  his  Master;  but  he  was 
not  alone  in  forsaking  and 
fleeing  from  him.  Then  all 
the  disciples  forsook  him,  and 
fled,  is  the  mournful  record 
of  inspiration.  The  fulness  of 
Peter’s  forgiveness  exceeded, 
immeasurably,  all  the  guilt 
and  aggravation  of  his  sin: 
and  the  history  of  his  life  and 
apostleship  is,  of  itself,  an  eter¬ 
nal  monument  of  the  purity, 
consistency,  and  elevation  of 
his  Christian  character. 

It  is  quite  uncertain  when 
or  where  Peter  died.  It  is  sup¬ 
posed  that  he  suffered  martyr¬ 
dom;  and  the  circumstances 
of  his  arrest,  imprisonment, 
and  crucifixion  are  related 
very  particularly  by  some  of 
the  ancient  historians.  There 
is,  however,  so  little  confidence 
to  be  placed  in  these  accounts, 
that  we  shall  present  only  one 
of  them  to  the  reader,  and  that 
rather  as  a  matter  of  curiosity. 

There  is  an  ancient  prison 
in  Rome  called  the  Mamertine 
prison.  It  is  considered  the 
oldest  building  of  any  kind  in 
the  city,  and  derives  its  name 
from  Martius,  or  Mamerlinus, 
the  fourth  king  of  Rome,  by 
whom  it  was  built. 

The  tradition  is,  that  Peter 
and  Paul  were  both  confined 
in  this  prison  bv  order  of  Nero, 
the  Roman  emperor,  and  it  is 
not  improbable  that  they  both 
suffered  martyrdom  here  about 


PHA 

the  year  65.  But  few  can  be 
found  credulous  enough  to  be¬ 
lieve  the  guides  in  the  Mamer- 
line  prison,  when  they  pretend 
to  show  the  very  pillar  to  which 
Peter  was  fastened  when  he 
sealed  his  faithfulness  as  an 
aposile  oi  the  Lord  Jesus  with 
the  blood  of  a  martyr.  (For  a 
full  history  of  Peter,  and  his 
letters,  with  a  beautiful  view 
of  his  birthplace,  and  illus¬ 
trative  maps  and  cuts,  see  Lifb 
of  Peter,  by  Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

Epistles  of.  They  are 
called  epistles  general  be¬ 
cause  they  were  not  addressed 
to  any  particular  church  or 
community  of  believers.  They 
are  supposed  to  have  been 
written  in  a  time  of  violent 
persecution,  by  which  the  con¬ 
verts  were  scattered  abroad. 
(1  Pet.  i.  1  ;  iv.  16-19.)  The 
date  usually  assigned  to  them 
is  between  a.  d.  64  and  66. 
Babylon,  from  which  the  first 
of  these  epistles  was  written, 
(1  Pel.  v.  13,)  is  supposed  to 
be  Babylon  on  the  Euphrates, 
which,  though  in  ruins,  con¬ 
tained  many" thousand  inhabit¬ 
ants,  among  whom  were  very 
many  Jews.  There  is  no  rea¬ 
son  to  believe  that  this  Baby¬ 
lon  is  not  intended;  and,  in 
the  absence  of  all  evidence 
in  favour  of  any  other  place, 
it  is  safest  to  lake  the  place 
which'is  most  generally  known 
and  mentioned  by  that  name. 
Both  the  epistles  of  Peter  ex¬ 
press  the  noble  vehemence 
and  fervour  of  his  spirit;  his 
full  knowledge  of  the  genius 
and  tendency  of  Christianity, 
and  his  strong  assurance  or 
the  truth  and  certainty  of  all 
he  taught.  (See  preface  to  the 
letters  of  Peter  in  Life  op 
Peter,  pp.  213,  214,  by  Am. 
S.  S.  Union.) 

PETHOR.  (Deut.  xxiii.  4.) 
A  city  of  Mesopotamia,  and 
the  residence  of  the  prophet 
Balaam.  (Num.  xxii.  5.) 

PHARAOH.  (Gen.  xii.  15. 

494 


PHA 

An  Egyptian  word  signifying 
king,  adopted  into  the  Hebrew, 
and  applied  to  eight  or  ten 
different  persons  mentioned  in 
the  Bible  as  kings  of  Egypt. 
(Gen.  xii.  17;  xxxix.  1.  Ex. 
i.  8.  11.  1  Kings  iii.  1 ;  xi.  19 
— 21.  2  Kings  xxiii.  29.  Jer. 
xliv.  30.)  After  the  subjuga¬ 
tion  of  Egypt,  the  word  Pto¬ 
lemy  was  substituted.  The 
Pharaoh  who  is  distinguished 
as  the  oppressor  of  Israel,  and 
the  object  of  such  signal  judg¬ 
ments  from  the  Almighty,  is 
supposed  to  have  reigned  from 
a.  c.  1493  to  1473.  It  is  said 
by  the .  sacred  historian  that 
God  hardened  his  heart,  (Ex. 
lv.  21 ;)  by  which  we  are  to 
understand  simply  that  he  did 
not  impose  upon  him  those 
providential  gracious  restraints 
by  which  men  are  often  kept 
from  the  commission  of  crimes, 
but  suffered  him  to  become  the 
elave  of  his  own  heart’s  lusts. 
(Ex.  viii.  15.)  and  to  be  led 
captive  by  Sa*an  at  his  will. 
To  one  thus  abandoned,  all 
the  dealings  and  dispensations 
of  God  serve  only  as  occasions 
of  increasing  obduracy,  and 
pride,  and  obstinacy,  and  pre¬ 
sumption.  In  the  case  of 
Pharaoh,  God  simply  let  him 
alone;  forebore  to  extend  to 
him  the  gracious  influences 
of  his  Spirit,  and  suffered  his 
character  to  develope  itself 
under  the  circumstances  in 
which  he  was  placed. 

PH  ARAOH-HOPHRAH, 
against  whom  several  of  Eze¬ 
kiel’s  prophecies  are  uttered, 
(Ezek.  xxtx.  xxxii.,)  and  with 
whom  Zedekiah  formed  an 
alliance  against  Nebuchad¬ 
nezzar  king  of  Babylon,  reign¬ 
ed  over  Egypt  twenty-five 
ears.  The  prophecy  against 
im  (Jer.  xliv.  30)  was  lite¬ 
rally  fulfilled.  He  was  unfor¬ 
tunate  in  an  expedition  against 
Cyrene,  and  his  army  was  dis¬ 
contented.  Amasis,  one  of  his 
generals,  was  sent  to  suppress 


PHE 

a  rebellion  which  had^Jaroken 
out;  but,  instead  of  submitting 
to  his  expostulations,  the  army 
made  him  king,  and  he  march¬ 
ed  at  their  head  against  Pha¬ 
raoh,  and  finally  took  him  pri¬ 
soner.  Amasis  was  disposed 
to  save  him;  but  the  enraged 
soldiery  forced  the  unhappy 
monarch  from  under  his  pro¬ 
tection,  and  strangled  him. 

PHARISEES.  (Malt,  xxiii. 
26.)  A  famous  sect  which 
arose  among  the  Jews  after 
their  return  from  their  long 
captivity  in  Babylon.  Thei- 
liame  is  derived  from  a'  He¬ 
brew  word  which  signifies  to 
separate;  but  the  history  of 
their  origin  is  buried  in  obscu¬ 
rity.  Pride  and  hypocrisy 
were  their  prominent  cha¬ 
racteristics.  They  affected  un¬ 
common  sanctity,  and  abound¬ 
ed  in  rites  of  purification,  which 
they  received  on  the  authority 
of  tradition,  (Matt.  ix.  11 ;)  but 
in  many  cases  they  made  void 
the  law  of  God  by  their  super¬ 
stitious  observance  of  the  com¬ 
mandments  of  men,  and  were 
the  slaves  of  lust,  and  avarice, 
and  pride.  They  were  re¬ 
proved  by  our  Saviour,  par¬ 
ticularly  for  ostentation  in 
their  prayers  and  alms,  (Matt, 
vi.  2.  5;)  for  pride  in  dress, 
salutations,  titles,  broad  phy¬ 
lacteries,  and  taking  the  hign- 
est  seats  at  feasts  and  in  the 
synagogues.  (Matt,  xxiii.  2— 
3fi.)  On  account  of  the  de¬ 
tection  of  their  hypocrisy 
and  the  open  denunciation  of 
their  crimes,  they  became 
almost  universally  the  bitter 
enemies  of  Christ.  Their  the¬ 
ological  opinions  were  more 
correct  than  those  of  the  Saddu- 
cees ;  as  they  believed  in  the 
resurrection  of  the  body,  and 
in  a  future  state  of  rewards 
and  punishments,  as  also  in 
the  existence  of  angels  and 
spirits.  (Acts  xxiii.  8.) 

PHARPAR.  (See  Abxna.) 

PHeBE.  (Rom.  xvi.  1.)  A 
49a 


PHI 


PHI 


distinguished  member  of  the 
church  at  Cenchrea,  a  city  of 
Corinth.  She  is  called  a  ser¬ 
vant  of  the  church ,  (see  Dea¬ 
con;)  and  the  strong  com¬ 
mendation  of  the  apostle  shows 
her  to  have  been  prominent 
in  works  of  faith  and  labours 
of  love. 

PHE  NICE. (Acts  xxvii,12.)A 
winter  harbouron  the  southern 
shore  of  Crete.  (See  Crete.) 

PHENICTA.  (Acts  xxi.  2.)  A 
province  of  Syria,  and,  in  the 
largest  extent  of  the  term,  em¬ 
bracing  a  strip  of  land  adjoin¬ 
ing  the  eastern  coast  of  the 
Mediterranean,  eighty  miles 
long  and  twelve  broad.  Pro¬ 
perly,  however,  it  included 
only  the  territories  of  Tyre 
anti  Sidon.  The  Phenicians 
were  descendants  of  the  Ca- 
naanites,  and  a  Syro-pheni- 
cian  was  a  Phenician  of  Syria. 
Phenicia  was  also  subject  to 
the  Greek  government  in  the 
time  of  our  Saviour,  and  hence 
Tyre  and  Sidon  might  be  re¬ 
garded  as  Greek  cities.  (Comp. 
Matt.  xv.  22.  Mark  vii.  26.) 
The  Jews  regarded  all  the  rest 
of  the  world  as  Greeks.  (See 
Greece.)  Phenicia  is  now 
subject  to  the  Turks,  and  is 
included  in  the  pashalic  of 
Acre. 

Phenicia  is  considered  as 
the  birthplace  of  commerce, 
if  not  of  letters.  The  soil  is 
still  fertile,  producing  a  rich 
variety  of  grains  and  fruits: 
but  all  the  enterprise  and 
prosperity  of  the  people  is 
blasted  by  the  despotism  of 
the  government. 

Carthage  was  established  by 
a  colony  of  Phenicians;  and 
Cadiz,  in  Spain,  is  also  sup¬ 
posed  to  have  been  settled  by 
the  same  people  about  one 
thousand  years  before  Christ. 

PHILADELPHIA.  (Rev.  iii. 
7—13.)  A  city  of  the  province 
of  Lydia,  in  Asia  Minor,  about 
seventy  miles  east  of  Smyrna. 
Its  modern  name  is  Allah- 


shehr,  or  Alah-sher,  ( city  of 
God.)  It  contains  a  popula¬ 
tion  of  about  fifteen  thousand, 
one-twelfth  of  whom  are  nomi¬ 
nal  Christians.  This  church 
was  highly  commended ;  more 
than  any  of  the  seven  churches 
of  Asia,  and  while  her  sister 
cities  have  fallen  into  decay 
she  still  survives,  with  the 
remains  of  her  Christian  tem¬ 
ples  and  worship.  Her  popu¬ 
lation  is  said  to  be  the  purest 
in  Asia  Minor.  Even  Gibbon 
says  of  her :  “  Among  the  Greek 
colonies  and  churches  of  Asia, 
Philadelphia  is  still  erect— a 
'  column  in  a  scene  of  ruins.” 

This  place  was  visited  by 
Messrs.  Fisk  and  Parsons, 
American  missionaries,  in  the 
autumn  of  1820.  The  inha¬ 
bitants  pretend  to  show  the 
church  in  which  the  disciples, 
to  whom  the  message  of  John 
was  addressed,  formerly  as¬ 
sembled. 


PHILEMON  (Phile.  1)  is 
generally  supposed  to  haye 
been  a  resident  at  Colosse,  and 
a  Christian  of  some  distinction, 
who  was  probably  converted 
under  Paul’s  preaching.  (Phile. 
19.) 


Epistle  to,  was  written  by 
Paul  from  Rome,  where  he 
was  detained  as  a  prisoner. 
Onesimus,  a  servant  of  Phile- 
mon,  had  fled  to  that  city,  and 
was  there  converted  to  the  faith 
of  the  gospel.  Being  about  to 
return  to  Philemon,  Paul  wrote 
this  letter,  chiefly  with  a  d esign 
to  conciliate  the  feelings  of 
Philemon  towards  his  penitent 
servant,  and  now  fellow  dis¬ 
ciple.  The  letter  has  been 
regarded  by  learned  critics  as 
a  master-piece  of  epistolary 
composition.  An  eminent  cri¬ 
tic  of  ancient  days  says  of  it: 
“  The  apostle  craves  pardon 
in  behalf  of  a  fugitive  and  pil¬ 
fering  slave,  whom  he  sends 
back  to  his  master;  but  while 
pleading  his  cause,  he  dis¬ 
courses  with  so  much  weigh* 
496 


PHI 


PHI 


respecting  the  rules  of  Chris¬ 
tian  kindness,  that  he  seems 
to  be  consulting  for  the  whole 
church,  rather  than  managing 
the  business  of  a  particular 
individual.  He  intercedes  for 
the  humble  man  so  modestly 
and  submissively,  as  to  show, 
more  clearly  than  almost  any¬ 
where  else,  the  gentleness  of 
his  nature,  which  is  here 
drawn  to  the  life.” 

PHILIP,  (1.)  THE  APOSTLE, 
(John  i.  43,)  was  a  native  of 
Bethsaida,  and  a  firm  believer 
in  the  messiahship  of  Christ. 
(John  i.  43.) 

(2.)  The  evangelist,  (Acts 
xxi.  8,)  one  of  the  seven  per¬ 
sons  appointed  to  the  office  of 
deacon  in  the  primitive  church 
in  Jerusalem,  (Acts  vi.  3 — 5,) 
and  who  afterwards  went  to 
Samaria,  and  there  preached 
the  gospel  with  great  success. 
(Acts  viii.  6 — 8.)  While  in 

Samaria,  Philip  received  a 
divine  intimation  (comp.  Acts 
viii.  26.  29  and  39)  to  go  south¬ 
ward  from  Samaria,  to  the  road 
leading  from  Jerusalem  to  Ga¬ 
za.  Ia  the  course  of  this  jour¬ 
ney,  lie  found  a  distinguished 
Ethic iiian  traveller,  on  his  way 
home  from  Jerusalem.  He 
was,  .»robably,  either  a  Jew  or 
a  proselyte  to  the  Jewish  reli¬ 
gion;  and  had  been  to  the  city 
of  their  solemnities  to  celebrate 
some  feast.  He  was  an  officer 
of  high  rank,  in  the  court  of 
Candace,  queen  of  Ethiopia; 
and  as  he  was  sitting  in  his 
chariot,  in  the  leisurely  pur¬ 
suit  of  his  journey,  he  read 
aloud  a  portion  of  the  Jewish 
Scriptures.  At  this  time  Phi¬ 
lip  saw  him,  and  was  divinely 
admonished  to  approach  him. 
Philip,  without  hesitation, 
obeyed  the  suggestion,  and 
ran  to  overtake  the  chariot. 
He  overheard  him  reading 
Isa.  liii.  7,  8,  and  immediate.ly 
inquired  of  him  if  he  under¬ 
stood  the  force  and  scope  of 
the  passage.  The  traveller 
42* 


meekly  acknowledged  his 
need  of  instruction,  and  in¬ 
vited  Philip  to  take  a  seat 
with  him  in  the  chariot.  The 
latter  improved'  the  opportu 
nity  to  explain  the  great  sub¬ 
ject  of  redemption,  to  which 
the  passage  so  naturally  led  ; 
and  the  result  was,  that  the 
traveller  became  a  convert  to 
the  faith  of  the  gospel,  and 
was  baptized.  Philip,  again 
divinely  directed,  immediately 
separated  himself  from  the  tra¬ 
veller,  who  pursued  his  jour¬ 
ney  towards  Egypt,  while’he 
himself  proceeded  to  Azotus, 
about  forty  miles  from  Gaza, 
in  the  opposite  direction.  He 
afterwards  settled,  it  is  sup- 

gosed,  in  Cesarea.  (Acts  xxi. 
.)  He  had  four  (laughters, 
who  were  endued  with  gifts 
of  prophecy.  (Acts  xxi.  9.) 

3.  The  tetrarch.  (Luke 
iii.  1.  See  Herod.) 

4.  The  husband  of  Hero- 
dias.  (Matt.  xiv.  3.  See  He¬ 
rod.) 

PHILIPPI.  (Acts  xvi.  12.)  A 
city  of  Macedonia,  formerly 
called  Dalhos ;  but  being  re¬ 
built  and  greatly  magnified  by 
Philip,  father  of  Alexander  the 
Great,  it  took  from  him  the 
name  Philippi.  It  is  at  the 
head  of  the  Egean  Sea,  nine 
or  ten  miles  north-west  of  Ne- 
apolis,  and  its  modern  name 
is  Diliba.  It  is  a  place  of  great 
celebrity  in  profane  history, 
and  is  called  the  chief  or  first 
city  of  that  part  of  Macedonia, 
and  a  colony.  The  latter  ex¬ 
pression  denotes  that  it  enjoyed 
the  privileges  of  a  Roman  co¬ 
lony,  a  fact  established  by 
ancient  medals ;  and  the  for¬ 
mer  may  mean  either  that 
Philippi  was  the  first  city  they 
arrived  at  in  Ihat  part  of  Mace¬ 
donia,  or  that  it  was  the  chief 
city  of  that  district  of  the  coun¬ 
try. 

About  A.  d.  50,  a  church  was 
gathered  in  Philippi  by  Paul 
and  Silas,  the  former  of  whom 
497 


I*  HI 

addressed  to  them  the  affec¬ 
tionate  and  grateful  letter 
called  the  Epistle  to  the  Phi- 
lippians.  This  was  the  first 
apostolic  labour  on  European 
ground. 

At  Pnilippi,  Lydia  was  con¬ 
verted  under  Paul’s  preaching, 
(Acts  xvi.  14—16,)  and  hospita¬ 
bly  entertained  the  apostles 
at  her  house.  The  populace 
became  excited  against  them, 
however,  and  they  suffered 
scourging  and  imprisonment 
in  the  most  cruel  form.  By 
miraculous  power  the  pri¬ 
son  doors  were  all  opened  at 
midnight,  and  the  bands  of 
the  prisoners  were  all  loosed, 
though  none  escaped.  The 
jailer,  fearing  that  the  prison¬ 
ers  had  escaped,  and  knowing 
that  death  might  be  the  pe¬ 
nalty  for  his  seeming  neglect, 
(Acts  xii.  19,)  was  about  to 
commit  suicide.  At  Paul’s 
entreaty  he  desisted,  and  im¬ 
mediately  applied  to  the  apos¬ 
tles  to  teach  him  the  way  of 
salvation.  This  they  did,  and 
their  teaching  being  made 
effectual  by  the  Spirit  of  God, 
he  and  all  his  were  imme¬ 
diately  baptized.  (Acts  xvi. 
22 — 34.)  At  the  solicitation 
of  the  magistrates,  they  soon 
after  left  the  city. 

Two  American  missionaries 
visited  the  site  of  Philippi  in 
May,  1834.  They  describe  some 
of  the  monuments  of  the  for¬ 
mer  magnificence  of  the  city. 
They  saw  the  ruins  of  what 
might  have  been  the  forum  or 
market-place,  where  the  apos¬ 
tles  were  beaten,  (Acts  xvi. 
19;)  and,  also,  the  fragments 
of  a  splendid  palace.  The 
road  by  which  Paul  went  from 
Neapolis  to  Philippi,  they 
think,  is  the  same  that  is 
now  travelled,  as  it  is  cut 
-  through  the  most  difficult 
passes  of  the  mountains,  and 
is  now  raved  throughout. 

PlllLIPPIANS,  EPISTLE  TO, 
is  the  eleventh  in  the  order  of 


PHI 

the  books  of  the  New  Testa¬ 
ment,  and  was  addressed  by 
Paul  to  the  Christians  at  Phi¬ 
lippi.  It  was  probably  writ¬ 
ten  about  A.  D.  62,  when  Paul 
was  a  prisoner  at  Borne.  (Phil, 
iv.  22.)  The  Philippians  had 
kindly  ministered  to  his  ne¬ 
cessities,  by  sending  Epaphro- 
ditus  to  him  with  the  fruits 
of  their  benevolence.  (Phil, 
iv.  18.)  On  his  return  to  Phi¬ 
lippi,  Paul  acknowledged  their 
kindness  ingrateful  and  affect¬ 
ing  terms,  and  mingled  with 
his  thanks  some  of  the  most 
sublime  and  animating  exhi 
bitions  of  divine  truth  that  are 
to  be  found  in  the  sacred  pages 

PH1LISTLA,  (Ps.  lx.  8,)  oi 
the  land  of  the  Philistines, 
(Ex.  xiii.  17,)  was  situated  on 
the  coast  of  the  Mediterra¬ 
nean,  between  Joppa  and  the 
border  of  Egypt.  It  is  sup¬ 
posed  that  the  Philistines  were 
of  Egyptian  origin,  (Gen.  x. 
14,)  and  that  they  came  to 
Canaan  from  Caphtor,  or  Crete, 
(Amos  ix.  7,)  whence  they  are 
called  Caphtorims.  (Deut.  ii. 
23.)  When  the  Hebrews  took 
possession  of  Canaan,  Philislia 
was  divided  into  five  districts, 
or  satrapies.  (Josh.  xiii.  3.)  The 
historical  books  of  tho  Old 
Testament  abound  with  ac. 
counts  of  the  conflicts  of  the 
Philistines  and  the  Hebrews, 
and  their  alternate  victories 
and  defeats.  (1  Sam.  iv.  vii. 
xvii.  2  Sam.  v.  17;  viii.  1; 
xxiii.  9.  2  Kings  xviii.  8. 

2  Chron.  xxi.  16;  xxvi.  6,  7; 
xxviii.  18.  Isa.  xx.  1.)  They  are 
the  subject  of  several  remark¬ 
able  prophecies,  (Jer.  xlvii. 
Ezek.  xxv.  15 — 17.  Amos  i. 
6—8.  Zech.  ix.  5,)  which  were 
fulfilled  to  the  very  letter ;  and 
they  are  scarcely  mentioned 
as  a  distinct  people  after  the 
destruction  of  Gaza  by  Alex¬ 
ander  the  Great. 

Volney  describes  the  former 
land  of  the  Philistines  par¬ 
ticularly,  and  he  says,  that 
498 


PHR 

except  the  immediate  environs  1 
of  a  few  villages,  the  whole 
country  is  a  desert  abandoned 
to  the  Bedouin  Arabs,  who  feed 
their  flocks  on  it.  (Zeph.  ii. 
5,  6.)  Another  traveller  tells 
us,  that  while  Gaza  still  sub¬ 
sists,  and  Ashkelon  and  Ashdod 
retain  their  names  in  their 
ruins,  the  very  name  of  Ekron 
is  missing.  (Zeph.  ii.  4.) 

PHILOSOPHY.  (Col.  ii.  8.) 
This  term  denotes  the  system 
of  opinions  embraced  by  va¬ 
rious  sects,  both  among  Jews 
and  Gentiles,  as  the  Epicu¬ 
reans,  Stoics,  See.,  in  the  apos¬ 
tolic  age.  (Acts  xvii.  18.)  As 
their  system  was  framed  ac¬ 
cording  to  human  traditions 
and  the  principles  of  worldly 
science,  and  not  according  to 
the  doctrine  of  Christ,  it  was 
vain  and  false,  and  therefore 
a  proper  subject  of  caution. 
(1  Tim.  vi.  20.) 

PHINEHAS.  1.(1  Sam.  1.3.) 
A  son  of  Eli,  and  noted  for  his 
wickedness.  (See  Eli.) 

2.  (Ex.  vi.  25.)  A  son  of  Ele- 
azar  and  grandson  of  Aaron. 
He  filled  the  office  of  high- 
priest  of  the  Jews  for  nearly 
twenty  years.  His  zeal  and 
promptitude  in  punishing  t}ie 
sin  of  Zimri,  a  distinguished 
Simeonite,  turned  away  the 
anger  of  the  Lord  against  the 
nation,  and  secured  to  him  and 
his  family  the  right  of  perpe¬ 
tual  succession  in  the  Jewish 
priesthood.  This  promise  was 
fulfilled;  for,  except  the  in¬ 
terval  from  Eli  to  Zadok,  the 
priesthood  contiuued  in  the 
family  of  Phinehas  until  the 
destruction  of  the  temple  and 
the  captivity  of  the  nation. 
Phinehas  was  remarkable  for 
nis  zealous  attachment  to  the 
purity  and  integrity  of  the  Jew¬ 
ish  church.  (Num.  xxv.  7.  Josh, 
xxii.  30,31.  See  Eleazar.) 

PHRYGIA.  (Acts  ii.  10.)  The 
largest  province  of  Asia  Minor) 
having  Bythinia  north,  and 


PHY 

Lycia  south.  Its  chief  towns 
were  Colosse,  Laodicea,  and 
Hierapolis.  Some  of  its  inha¬ 
bitants  were  at  Jerusalem,  and 
among  the  converts,  on  the 
day  of  Pentecost.  The  pro¬ 
vince  was  more  than  once  vi¬ 
sited  by  the  apostle  Paul.  (Acts 
xvi.  6 ;  xviii.  23.) 

PHUT,  (Gen.  x.  6,)  or  PUT, 
(Nah.  iii.  9,)  was  the  third  son 
of  Ham;  and  his  descendants, 
sometimes  called  Libyans ,  are 
supposed  to  be  the  Mauritani¬ 
ans,  or  Moors  of  modern  times. 
They  served  the  Egyptians  and 
Tyrians  as  soldiers.  (Jer.  xlvi. 
9.  Ezek.  xxvii.  10;  xxx.  5; 
xxxviii.  5.) 

PHYLACTERIES.  (Matt, 
xxiii.  5.)  The  original  word 
denotes  preservation;  and  may 
indicate  either  the  preserving 
of  the  words  of  the  law  in  the 
memory,  or  the  preservation 
of  the  person  from  danger,  as 
by  the  amulets  or  charms  of 
modern  superstition. 

The  practice  of  using  phy 
lacteries  was  founded  on  a  lite¬ 
ral  interpretation  of  that  pas¬ 
sage,  where  God  commands 
the  Hebrews  to  have  the  law 
as  a  sign  on  their  foreheads, 
and  as  frontlets  between  their 
eyes.  (Ex.xiii.  16.  Comp.  Prov. 
iii.  1.3;  vi.  21.)  It  is  probable 
that  the  use  of  phylacteries 
came  in  late  with  other  super¬ 
stitions;  but  it  should  be  re¬ 
membered,  that  our  Lord  does 
not  censure  the  Pharisees  for 
wearing  them,  but  for  making 
them  broad,  out  of  ostentation ; 
and  it  is  still  uncertain  whether 
the  words  referred  to  ought  not 
to  be  taken  literally.  One  kind 
of  phylactery  was  called  a 
frontlet,  and  was  composed  of 
four  pieces  of  parchment;  on 
■  the  first  of  which  was  written, 
Ex.  xii.  2—10;  on  the  second, 
Ex.  xiii.  11—21;  on  the  third, 

Deut.vi.4— 9;  and  on  the  fourth, 
Deut.xi.  18—21.  These  pieces 
of  parchment,  thus  inscribed, 
they  enclosed  in  a  piece  ol 
499 


PHY 


P1L 


tough  skin,  making  a  square, 
on  one  side  of  which  is  placed 
the  Hebrew  letter  shin,  if,  and 


bound  them  round  their  fore¬ 
heads  with  a  thong  or  riband, 
when  they  went  to  the  syna¬ 
gogue.  Some  wore  them  eve¬ 
ning  and  morning;  and  others 
only  at  the  morning  prayer. 

As  the  token  upon  the  hand 
was  required,  as  well  as  the 
frontlets  between  the  eyes,  the 
Jews  made  two  rolls  of  parch¬ 
ment,  written  in  square  letters, 
with  an  ink  made  on  purpose, 
and  with  much  care.  They  were 
rolled  up  to  a  point,  and  en¬ 
closed  in  a  sort  of  case  of  black 
calfskin.  They  then  were  put 
upon  a  square  bit  of  the  same 


leather,  whence  hung  a  thong 
of  the  same,  of  about  a  finger 
in  breadth,  and  about  two  met 
long.  These  rolls  were  placed 


at  the  bending  of  the  left  arro, 
and  after  one  end  of  the  thong 
had  been  made  into  a  little 
knot  in  the  form  of  the  Hebrew 
letter  yod,  t ,  it  was  wound 
about  the  arm  in  a  spiral  line, 
which  ended  at  the  top  of  the 
middle  finger.  (See  Omar,  p. 
23.  by  Am.'S.  S.  Union.) 

PHYSICIAN.  (Mark  v.  26.) 
Physicians  are  mentioned  in 
the  time  of  Joseph,  (Gen.  1.2;) 
and  many  suppose  that  medi¬ 
cine  was  among  the  professions 
of  Egypt,  and  that  Moses  was 
learned  in  it.  There  is  abun¬ 
dant  evidence  that  the  healing 
art,  in  some  branches,  was  a 
profession.  (2Chron.  xvi.  12. 
Prov.  xvii.22.  Jer.vjit.22;  xlvi. 
11.  Ezek.xxx.21.  Matt.  ix.  12. 
Luke  iv.  23.  Col.  iv.  14.) 

PIBESETH.  (Ezek.  xxx.  17.) 
The  Bubastis  of  modern  geo¬ 
graphers,  the  ruins  of  which 
are  supposed  to  be  discernible 
between  Cairo  and  Sin,  or  Pe- 
lusium. 

PIGEON.  (See  Dove.) 

PILATE,  (John  xix.  1,)  or 
PONTIUS  PILATE,  (Matt, 
xxvii.  2,)  was  appointed  the  Ro¬ 
man  governor  or  procurator  of 
Judea,  a.  D.  29,  and  was  in  office 
at  the  time  of  Christ’s  trial,  and 
some  years  after.  His  proper 
residence  was  Cesarea;  but  he 
went  up  to  Jerusalem  at  stated 
periods,  and  though  his  chief 
duty  respected  the  revenues, he 
exercised  his  judicial  aulhcrity 
there  (John  xix.  10)  in  a  palace 
or  government  house  provided 
for  the  purpose.  (John  xviii.28.) 
His  administration  was  exceed¬ 
ingly  offensive.  Profane  history 
tells  us  that  he  was  accustomed 
to  sell  justice,  and,  for  money, 
to  pronounce  any  sentence  that 
was  desired.  It  mentions  his 
rapines,  his  injuries,  his  mur¬ 
ders,  the  torments  he  inflicted 
on  the  innocent,  and  the  per¬ 
sons  he  put  to  death  without 
form  or  process.  In  short,  he 
|  seems  to  have  been  a  man 
that  exercised  excessive  cru- 
500 


P1L 

elty  during  all  the  time  of  his 
government.  (Luke  xiii.  1.) 
He  was  finally  recalled,  and 
lanished,  and  died  in  exile, 
probably  by  suicide. 

The  character  of  Pilate  ren¬ 
ders  more  remarkable  the  fact, 
that  when  Jesus  was  arraigned 
before  him,  he  was  not  only 
anxious  to  avoid  trying  him, 
(Luke  xxiii.  4. 7,)  but  he  once 
and  again,  in  the  most  solemn 
and  impressive  manner,  even 
in  presence  of  his  malicious 
and  bloodthirsty  persecutors, 
declared  his  conviction  of  his 
perfect  innocence.  (Luke  xxiii. 
14.  John  xix.  6.)  He  even  re¬ 
monstrated  with  them  on  the 
iniquity  and  unreasonableness 
of  their  conduct,  and  would 
fain  throw  upon  them  the  whole 
responsibility  of  the  deed  they 
were  about  to  perpetrate.  This 
they  assumed  in  the  most  dread¬ 
ful  imprecation  ever  uttered  by 
human  lips.  (Matt,  xxvii.,25.) 
Pilate,  moved  probably  by  a 
fear  of  losing  his  office,  (John 
xix.  12,)  notwithstanding  his 
full  conviction  of  his  inno¬ 
cence,  scourged  him,  and  then 
resigned  him  to  the  hands  of 
the  enraged  multitude  to  be 
crucified. 

He  directed  the  form  of  in¬ 
scription  which  was  placed  on 
the  cross ;  and  when  the  Jews 
would  persuade  him  to  alter 
the  phraseology,  so  as  to  re¬ 
present  him  claiming  to  be 
king  of  the  Jews,  ana  not  as 
being  so  in  fact,  Pilate,  con¬ 
scious  probably  of  having  al¬ 
ready  sacrificed  justice  to  ex¬ 
pediency  or  popularity,  pe¬ 
remptorily  refused  to  do  it. 
(John  xix.  19—22.)  He  gave 
Joseph  the  privilege  of  remov¬ 
ing  the  body  from  the  cross, 
and  placing  it  in  his  own  tomb; 
and,  at  the  solicitation  of  the 
Jews,  he  appointed  a  guard  to 
protect  it  from  violation.  (Matt, 
xxvii.  5 7— 66.) 

PILLAR.  (Ex.  xiii.  21.)  This 
word  is  used  in  the  Bible  for 


PIN 

the  most  part  metaphorically 
Thus  a  pillar  of  fire,  cloud, 
smoke,  &c.,  denote  a  fire,  a 
cloud,  ora  column  of  smoke  in 
the  form  of  a  pillar.  (Ex.  xiii. 
21.  Judg.  xx.  40.)  It  was  com¬ 
mon  to  erect  a  pillar  as  a  mo¬ 
nument  of  some  distinguished 
person  or  event.  (Gen.  xxviii. 
18;  xxxv.  20.  Josh.  xxiv.  26.) 

Pillar  op  salt.  (See  Salt.) 

Pillar  of  Absalom.  (2  Sam. 
xviii.  18.)  This  proud  prince, 
during  his  own  life,  erected  in 
the  valley  of  Jehoshaphat  a 
pillar,  or  column,  as  a  monu¬ 
ment  to  himself,  to  perpetuate 
the  remembrance  of  nis  name ; 
as  at  that  time  he  had  no  chil¬ 
dren  to  preserve  it. 

PILLED.  (Gen.  xxx.  37.) 
The  same  with  peeled. 

PILLOWS.  (Ezek.  xiii.  18.) 
In  this  passage  those  women 
are  intended  who  utter  false 
prophecies,  and  use  every  art 
and  device  to  allure  to  luxury 
and  voluptuousness.  ‘Wo  to 
those  who  sew  or  embroider 
luxurious  cushions  for  all  arms, 
making  pillows,  bolsi ers,  head- 
coverings,  &c.,  for  persons  of 
every  stature,  age,  and  condi¬ 
tions:  so  nicely  adapted  in 
their  dimensions  as  to  suit  all 
leaning  arms,  and  produce 
their  full  voluptuous  effect, 
thus  making  effeminacy  more 
effeminate.  These  are  like 
toils  and  snares,  by  which 
hunters  secure  their  game.’ 
(Comp.  Amos  vi.  4.) 

PINE.  (Neh.  viii.  15.)  The 
original  word  denotes  a  class 
of  oily  or  gummy  plants  or 
trees,  and  probably  means  here 
the  cypress,  or  some  tree  of 
that  family.  The  pine  is  a  state¬ 
ly  and  beautiful  tree,  and  hence 
is  used  as  an  emblem  of  the 
flourishing  state  of  a  churclL 
(Isa.  xli.  19;  lx.  13.) 

PINNACLE.  (Matt.  iv.  5.) 
The  word  translated  pinnacle 
signifies  not  a  summit,  but  a 
wing ;  and  the  part  of  tne  tem- 
601 


PIT 

pie  to  which  our  Lord  wls 
taken  by  Satan,  was  probaUy 
the  elevation  over  the  rorf 
of  Solomon's  porch,  to  whicn 
there  waa  a  passage  by  stairs, 
and  which  overlooked  the  val¬ 
ley  of  the  east,  and  had  be¬ 
neath  a  perpendicular  depth 
of  six  or  seven  hundred  feet; 
for  at  this  part  of.  the  valley  a 
wall  had  been  carried  up  to  & 
level  with  the  ground  on  which 
the  temple  stood,  (some  histo¬ 
rians  say  seven  hundred  and 
ifty  feet.) 

•  PIPE.  (See  Flute.) 

PISGAH.  (See  Abarim.) 

PISIDIA.  (Acts  xiii.  14.)  A 
province  of  Asia  Minor,  north 
ofPamphylia.  Antioch,  though 
within  the  province  of  Phrygia, 
belonged  to  Pisidia,  and  was 
called  Antioch  in  (or  of)  Pi&i- 
dia,  to  distinguish  it  from  Anti¬ 
och  in  Syria.  Paul  laboured  in 
the  gospel  not  only  at  Antioch, 
but  throughout  the  province. 
(Acts  xiv.  24.) 

PIT.  (Gen.  xxxvii.  20.)  This 
is  spoken  of  an  empty  cistern, 
or  a  reservoir,  which  the  east¬ 
ern  people  are  in  the  habit 
of  preparing  in  those  regions 
where  there  are  few  or  no 
springs,  for  the  purpose  of  pre¬ 
serving  rain  water  for  travel¬ 
lers  and  cattle.  These  cisterns 
and  trenches  are  often  without 
water,  no  supply  being  to  be 
bad  for  them,  except  from  the 
rain. 

It  was  in  such  a  dry  cistern 
that  Joseph  was  cast.  In  old 
decayed  cisterns,  the  water 
leaks  out,  or  becomes  slimy. 
(Jer.  ii.  13.)  The  word  is  often 
used  for  the  grave,  (Ps.  xxviii. 
1 ;  xxx.  3.  9 ;  lxxxviii.  4,)  and 
for  the  place  used  to  entrap 
game.  (Ezek.  xix.  8.)  The 
pit  here  spoken  of  is  used  at 
this  day  in  all  wild  countries. 
A  deep  hole  in  the  earth 
is  covered  very  slightly  with 
boughs  or  shrubs,  upon  which 
is  placed  a  living  lamb,  which 
by  its  cries  allures  the  lion  or 


PIT 

wolf;  and  when  the  beast 
makes  a  sudden  spring  upon 
his  prey,  he  is  caught  in  the 
pit  below.  This  affords  a  sig¬ 
nificant  figure  of  the  devices 
of  crafty  men  and  devils.  (Ps. 
cxix.  85.  Prov.  xxvi.  27.  Ezek. 
xix.  4.  See  Biblical  Antiq.., 
ch.  vii.  §  2,  by  Am.  S.  Union.) 

PITCH.  (See  after  Pitcher.) 

PITCHER.  (Gen.  xxiv.  14.) 
The  custom  of  drawing  water 
in  pitchers  still  prevails  in  the 
east,  an  earthen  vessel  with 
two  handles  being  used  for  the 
purpose ;  and  the  letting  down 
of  the  pitcher  upon  the  hand 
(Gen.  xxiv.  18)  justifies  the  in¬ 
ference  that  it  was  carried 
upon  the  head,  or  left  shoulder, 


502 


PLA 

and  balanced  with  the  right 
hand,  and,  when  presented, 
was  rested  on  the  left  hand. 
The  preceding  cut  of  an  an¬ 
cient  pitcher  shows  their  size, 
shape,  and  beauty  of  workman- 

8  Fitch.  (Gen.  vi.  14.)  This 

word  is  supposed  to  be  used  in 
the  above  passage,  and  in  Ex. 
ii.  3,  for  a  sort  of  bitumen  or 
asphaltum,  elsewhere  called 
slime.  (Gen.  xi.  3;  xiv.  10.) 
It  is  obtained  in  a  soft  or  liquid 
6tate,  in  pits,  and  on  the  sur¬ 
face  of  the  Dead  Sea,  (hence 
called  the  lake  of  Asphedtites,) 
and  becomes  dry  and  hard, 
like  mortar,  when  exposed  to 
the  weather.  It  is  found  at 
this  day  in  masses  of  wall  and 
other  ruins  on  the  supposed 
site  of  Babylon,  and  is  now 
employed  for  the  like  purpose 
in  that  part  of  the  world. 

F1THOM.  (Ex.  i.  11.)  One 
of  Pharaoh’s  treasure  -  cities, 
public  granaries,  or  places  for 
the  storage  of  grain.  It  is  sup¬ 
posed,  from  its  relative  situa¬ 
tion,  to  be  the  Patoumos  of  the 
Greeks,  inasmuch  as  the  faci¬ 
lities  of  access  to  it,  and  trans¬ 
portation  from  it,  would  lead 
to  its  selection  for  this  purpose. 

PLAGUE.  (Ex.  xi.  1.)  An 
eminently  contagious  and  de¬ 
structive  disease,  prevalent  in 
the  east  from  the  earliest  ages. 
It  has  ranged  over  the  princi¬ 
pal  parts  of the  habitable  world, 
and  sometimes  for  many  suc¬ 
cessive  years.  The  sacred 
writers  employ  the  word  to 
express  any  terrific  and  deso¬ 
lating  disease,  (Lev.  xiii.  3. 
1  Kings  viii.  37 ;)  and  not  un- 
frequently  as  a  general  term 
for  the  judgment  of  God.  (Ex. 
ix.  14.)  It  is  also  used  to  denote 
any  severe  calamity  or  scourge. 
(Mark  v.  29.  34.  Luke  vii.  21.) 
The  judgments  of  God  on  Pha¬ 
raoh  are”called  plagues.  (See 
Pharaoh.  See  also  Biblical 
Antkluities,  ch.  vii.  §  6,  by 
Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 


PLO 

PLAIN.  (Deut.  i.  1;  ii.  8.) 
This  word  is  often  used  alone> 
leaving  the  particular  plain 
intended  to  be  inferred,  as  in 
the  above  passages,  from  the 
connexion.  So  of  Gen.  xiii.  12. 
2  Kings  xxv.  4,  &c.,  where  the 
plain  of  Jordan  is  obviously  in¬ 
tended. 

PLAITING*.  (IPet.  iii.  3.) 
Weaving  or  braiding  the  hair. 
The  business  of  dressing  the 
hair  is  mentioned  oy  lewish 
writers  as  an  art  by  itself,  prac 
Used  by  women.  It  was  folded, 
up  in  curls,  tied  up  in  knots, 
and  put  into  the  form  of  horns 
and  towers,  made  by  their 
crisping-pins,  with  their  cauls 
and  round  tires,  like  the  moon, 
(Isa.  iii.  18—22,)  as  was  the 
custom  of  those  times,  and 
still  is. 

PLANETS.  (See  Stars.) 

PLATTED.  (Matt,  xxvii. 
29.)  Woven  together. 

PLEDGE.  (Ezek.  xxxiii.  15.) 
That  which  is  given  as  security 
for  the  performance  of  a  con 
tract.  The  Jewish  law  con¬ 
tained  many  wise  and  beuevo. 
lent  provisions  on  this  subject, 
(Ex.  xxii.  25,26.  Deut.  xxiv.  6. 
10. 12. 17 ;)  and  any  thing  like 
oppression  in  respect  to  pledges 
was  severely  reprobated.  (Job 
xxii.  6;  xxiv.  3.  7.)  For  a  Jew 
to  be  obliged  to  give  these 
pledges,  and  then  to  see  them 
used  by  idolaters  in  their  vain 
worship,  was  a  sore  grief  to 
him.  (Amos  ii.  8.) 

PLEIADES.  (Job  ix.  9; 
xxxviii.  31.)  A  cluster  of  stars, 
placed  in  modern  limes  in  the 
neck  or  near  the  shoulder  of 
the  constellation  Taurus.  They 
appear  about  the  middle  of 
April,  and  hence  are  associated 
with  the  return  of  spring,  the 
season  of  sweet  influences. 

PLOUGH.  (Luke  ix.  62.)  The 
process  of  ploughing  is  men¬ 
tioned  so  early  as  the  time  of 
Job.  It  is  also  mentioned  in 
Gen.  xlv.  6 ;  for  earing  proper, 
ly  means  ploughing,  and  the 


FOE 

original  word  is  elsewhere 
translated  so.  (1  Sam.  viii. 
120 

Considering  the  shape  of  the 
share  and  coulter,  we  may  Bee 
that  the  prophecy,  Isa.  ii.  4, 
and  Joel  iii.  10,  might  well 
have  been  literally  fulfilled. 
Tile  proper  direction  of  so  light 
a  plough  requires  constant  and 
close  attention;  and  the  least 
diversion  of  the  husbandman 
from  his  work  would  not  only 
make  a  crooked  furrow,  but 
probably  his  whole  weight  was 
required  to  secure  the  entrance 
ef  so  light  an  implement  into 
the  soil.  Hence  the  figure  in 
tile  above  passage  from  Luke. 

In  the  first  instance  the 
Olough  was  probably  nothing 
more  than  the  bough  of  a  tree, 
from  which  another  limb  or 
piece  projected,  which  was 


POM 

sharpened,  and  tore  up  the 
earth  in  a  rude  manner.  At  the 
present  day  they  have  in  east¬ 
ern  countries  ploughs  which 
are  entirely  wooden.  Travel¬ 
lers  describe  ploughs  of  the 
former  construction  as  usual  i  n 
Syria.  They  are  drawn  chiefly 
by  cows  and  asses.  In  Persia 
one  ox  or  one  ass  is  used.  The 
next  improvement  was  the  ad¬ 
dition  of  handles  or  stilts,  by 
which  it  might  be  more  easily 
directed.  In  process  of  time, 
the  various  forms  of  the  imple¬ 
ment,  as  known  among  our¬ 
selves,  were  added;  though  it 
is  probable  that  the  best  of  an¬ 
cient  ploughs  was  inferior  to 
the  worst  which  we  have  ever 
seen. 

The  following  cut  represents 
the  form,  &c.  of  the  eastern 
plough. 


PLUMB-LINE,  (Amosvii.7, 
b,)  PLUMMET.  (Isa.  xxviii. 
17.)  A  line  by  which  a  plum¬ 
met  or  leaden  weight  hangs, 
and  by  the  application  of 
winch,  the  exactness  of  perpen¬ 
dicularity  may  be  ascertained. 

POETS.  (Acts  xvii.  28.) 
The  poet  referred  to  in  this 
verse  is  supposed  to  be  Aratus, 
a  citizen  of  Cilicia,  and  of 
course  a  townsman  of  Paul. 
Aratus  was  speaking  of  a  hea¬ 
then  deity  as  the  author  and 
upholder  of  all  things  ;  and 
Paul  attempts  to  persuade  them 
that,  if  this  sentiment  is  true, 
(as  it  emphatically  is  when  ap¬ 
plied  to  the  true  God,)  we 
should  worship  him,  and  not  a 


senseless  image,  graven  by  art 
and  man’s  device^ 

POLL,  POLLED.  (Num.  iii, 
47.)  When  used  as  a  noun, poll 
means  a  head ;  and  when  used 
as  a  verb,  it  means  to  cut  the 
hair  from  the  head.  (2  Sam. 
xiv.  26.) 

POLLUX.  (See  Castor.) 

POMEGRANATE,  (Num. 
xiii.  23,)  or  granule  apple., 
grows  wild  in  Palestine,  (Num. 
xx.  5.  Deut.  viii.  8.  ISam.xiv. 
2,)  and  Syria,  as  well  as  in 
Persia,  Arabia,  Egypt,  and 
some  parts  of  Europe.  Africa, 
and  theU niled  States.  The  fruit 
is  of  the  size  of  an  orange,  flat¬ 
tened  at  the  ends  like  an  ap¬ 
ple;  and  when  cultivate^  is 


POO 

<>f  a  beautiful  colour,  (Sol.  Song 
iv.  3;  vi.  7,)  and  of  a  highly 
grateful  flavour.  (Sol.  Song  iv. 
13.)  It  was  sometimes  used, 
perhaps,  as  lemon-juice  is  at 
the  present  day,  to  which  re¬ 
ference  may  be  had  in  Sol. 
Song  viii.  2.  The  rind  is  at 
first  green ;  but,  in  August  and 
September,  when  the  fruit  is 
ripe,  it  assumes  a  brownish-red 
colour,  becomes  thick  and  hard, 
yet  easily  broken.  The  inside 
of  the  pomegranate  is  of  a  bright 

fiink,  with  skinny  partitions 
ike  those  of  the  orange;  abounds 
with  a  juice  which  is  both 
sweet  and  acid,  and  a  great 
multitude  of  little  white  and 
purplish-red  seeds.  Henry  IV. 
of  Spain  chose  this  fruit  for  his 
■royal  arms,  with  the  motto, 
“  Sour,  yet  sweet;”  intimating 
that  in  a  good  king  severity 
Bhould  be  thus  tempered  with 
mildness. 

Figures  resembling  the  pome¬ 
granate  in  appearance  were 
worked  into  the  high-priest’s 
robe,  (Ex.  xxviii.  33,)  and  were 
also  used  in  the  ornamental 
work  of  architecture.  (1  Kings 
vii.  18.  For  a  full  description 
and  beautiful  engraving  of  the 
pomegranate,  see  Youth’s 
Friend  for  Nov.  1829,  by  Am. 
S.  S.  Union.) 

PONTUS.  (1  Pet.  i.  1.)  The 
north-eastern  province  of  Asia 
Minor,  lying  along  the  Black 
Sea,  having  Colchis  on  the  east, 
Cappadocia  south,  and  Paphla- 
goniawest.  Many  Jews  resided 
here  in  the  time  of  Christ,  (Acts 
ii.  9,)  and  the  gospel  was  early 
Introduced  and  entertained  by 
many,  whom  Peter  addresses 
In  his  first  epistle. 

Aquila,  Paul’s  companion, 
was  of  this  province.  (Acts 
xviii.2.)  It  became  a  province 
of  Rome  in  the  time  of  Pompey. 

POOLS  OF  WATER.  (Eccl. 
li.  G.  See  Cisterns,  Water.) 

POOLS  OF  SOLOMON.  (See 
Solomon.) 


POR 

POOR.  (Matt.  xxvi.  11.)  Un¬ 
der  the  Jewish  dispensation, 
God  accommodated  almost 
every  kind  of  offering  to  the 
case  of  the  poor;  he  seems 
to  take  special  notice  of  them ; 
he  appointed  the  gleanings  of 
fields  and  vineyards,  and  the 
increase  of  the  seventh  year, 
and  part  of  the  third  lithe,  to 
be  their’s.  (Lev.  xix,  10;  xxv. 
25 — 47.)  Christians  are  also 
charged  to  provide  for  them; 
and  a  blessing  is  promised  on 
such  as  wisely  consider  their 
case  and  help  them.  (Ps.  xli. 
1—3.  Gal.  ii.  10.)  Judges  are 
charged  to  do  them  justice,  but 
not  unjustly  to  favour  them 
for  their  poverty.  (Ex.  xxiii.  6. 
Lev.  xix.  15.  Ps.  lxxxii.  4.) 
God  claims  to  be  the  special 
protector  of  them.  (Prov.  xiv. 
31.) 

POPLAR.  (Hos.  iv.  13.)  Pro¬ 
bably  the  white  poplar,  com¬ 
mon  in  the  south  of  Europe,  is 
here  meant,  as  it  is  a  hand¬ 
some  shade-tree;  and  hence 
might  be  chosen  for  idolatrous 
worship. 

PORCH.  (See  Dwellings.) 

Solomon’s  porch.  (Seei 
Temple.) 

PORTERS.  (1  Chron.  xvi. 
42.)  Such  as  attend  the  gate 
of  a  city  or  house,  to  open  am <i 
shut  it.  (2  Sam.  xviii.  26.  2 
Kings  vii.  10.)  The  temple 
had  four  thousand  of  them. 
(1  Chron.  xxiii.  5.)  They  were 
classified,  and  had  leaders  or 
directors.  (1  Chron.  xxvi.  1 — 
13.  2  Chron.  viii.  14.) 

'  PORTION.  (Neh.  viii.  10.) 
Among  the  Egyptians,  Greeks, 
and  Hebrews  of  ancient  times, 
the  portion  of  food  intended  for 
every  guest  was  set  before  him 
separately.  Something  of  the 
same  kind  is  common  at  the 
court  of  Persia.  When  it  wa3 
intended  to  confer  special 
honour  upon  any  one,  a  por¬ 
tion  much  greater  than  com¬ 
mon  was  given  to  him.  (Gen. 


43 


POS 

jtllil.  34.)  A  worthy  portion 
ii  Sam.  i.  5)  means,  literally, 
&  double  portion. 

POSSESSED.  (Malt.  iv.  24.) 
The  possession  of  devils,  which 
is  often  mentioned  in  the  sa¬ 
cred  Scriptures,  is  generally 
regarded  as  an  actual  and 
complete  possession  of  the 
faculties,  held  by  one  or  more 
evil  spirits,  and  manifesting 
itself  in  various  diseases  of  the 
mind  and  body,  such  as  melan¬ 
choly,  madness,  epilepsy,  &c. 
They  are  represented  as  going 
out  of  persons,  and  entering 
into  them.  They  speak  and 
are  spoken  to,  ask  and  answer 
questions,  express  their  know¬ 
ledge  and  fear  of  Christ,  are 
Threatened  and  commanded, 
and,  indeed,  are  always  treated 
and  regarded  as  living,  active, 
sensible  beings.  The  same 
degree  of  power  which  was 
given  to  Satan  in  the  case 
of  Job,  'may  be  exercised  in 
various  forms,  and. with  greater 
or  less  malignity,  on  others. 
Nor  is  there  any  thing  more 
irrational  or  anomalous  (so  far 
as  we  know)  in  ithe  fact  that 
evil  spirits  should  have  power, 
under  the  government  of  God, 
to  execute  his  will  in  one  form, 
than  that  holy  angels  should 
be  employed  to  minister  to  his 
purposes  in  another.  (Heb.  i. 
14.)  It  is  much  more  difficult 
to  reconcile  the  language  of 
the  sacred  writers  with  the 
idea  that  possessions  so  called 
were  merely  bodily  diseases 
affecting  the  mind,  and  lead¬ 
ing  the  sufferer  to  suppose 
himself  possessed,  than  it  is 
to  admit  that  the  possession 
was  real ;  though  an  entire 
ignorance  of  the  nature  of  spi¬ 
ritual  existences  prevents  us 
from  understanding  how  it 
could  be.  (Comp.  Matt.  x.  1. 
Mark  vi.  12, 13.  Luke  ix.  38— 
4z  x.  17—20.  See  Biblibal 
Ant.^hities,  vol.  i.  ch.  vii. 
5  1,  by  Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

POST.  (Job  ix.  25.)  A  naes- 


POT 

senger  or  bearer  of  tidings 
(2  Sam.  xviii.  27.  Jer  li.  31.) 
There  is  reason  to  believe  that 
persons,  fleet  of  foot,  were 
trained  to  the  business  of  run¬ 
ning;  and  we  are  told,  by  pro¬ 
fane  historians,  of  those  who 
travelled  from  Tyre  to  Jerusa¬ 
lem,  a  distance  of  one  hundred 
miles,  in  twenty-four  succes¬ 
sive  hours.  To  convey  intel¬ 
ligence  quickly,  the  Persian 
kings  had  sentinels  placed  at 
proper  distances,  who,  by  cry¬ 
ing  one  to  another,  gave  notice 
of  public  occurrences.  This 
method,  however,  was  imprac¬ 
ticable  for  secret  intelligence. 
Cyrus  therefore  settled  posts 
that  rode  night  and  day,  in  the 
manner  of  our  expresses.  (Estb. 
iii.  13.)  Nothing  swifter  was 
known  for  a  journey  by  land. 

The  expression  (Ezek.  xliii. 
8)  that  the  Jews  set  up  their 
posts  bu  God's  post,  figurative¬ 
ly  alludes  to  their  valuing  and 
observing  their  idolatries  and 
traditions  equally  with  his 
statutes  and  worship. 

POT.  (Job  xli .  20.)  The  word 
here  translated  pot  is  trans¬ 
lated  basket,  (Jer.  xxiv.  2;) 
kettle,  (1  Sam.  ii.  14,)  and  cal¬ 
dron.  (2Chron.  xxxv.  13.)  In 
Ps.  Ixxxi.  6,  reference  is  pro¬ 
bably  had  to  the  close-wrought 
baskets  which  the  eastern 
labourers  now  use  as  we  do 
the  hod  for  carrying  mortar. 
The  same  vessel  is  probably 
intendedin  Judg. vi.  19.  2Kingj 
x.  7.  Jer.  vi.  9. 

Ranges  for  pots  (Lev.  xi 
35)  probably  means  the  ex¬ 
cavations  for  the  fire  over  which 
the  pois  were  placed.  Such 
excavations  are  still  found  in 
Persia  and  Arabia,  and  are 
used  in  like  man  ner.  (See  Oven.) 

POTIPHAR.  (Gen.  xxxvii. 
36.)  A  distinguished  officer  in 
Pharaoh’s  court,  who  elevated 
Joseph  to  a  place  of  trusl,  and 
committed  to  him  the  charge 
of  the  household. 

POTI-PHERAH.  (Gen.  xli 
506 


PRA 

45.)  A  priest  or  prince  of  On, 
and  father-in-law  of  Joseph. 

POTSHERD.  (Isi.  xlv.  9.) 
The  fragment  of  an  earthen 
vessel.  (Job  ii.  8.)  When  such 
fragments  are  brought  into  col¬ 
lision,  being  alike  brittle,  each 
breaks  the  other  into  pieces. 
Not  so  in  the  unequal  contest 
between  man  and  his  Maker. 

POTTAGE.  (Gen,  xxv.  29.) 
At  this  day,  in  many  parts  of 
the  east,  lentiles  are  boiled  or 
stewed  like  beans  with  oil  and 
garlic,  and  make  a  dish  of  a 
chocolate  colour,  which  is  eaten 
as  pottage.  Other  ingredients 
were  used,  as  in  soups  of  mo¬ 
dern  times.  (2  Kings  tv.  39.) 

POTTER.  (Rom.  ix.  21.)  A 
manufacturer  of  earthen  ware. 
The  manner  of  working  the 
clay  into  shape  is  alluded  to 
by  the  prophet,  (Jer.  xviii.  3,) 
and  may  be  seen  in  some 
branches  of  the  modern  manu¬ 
facture.  The  freedom  of  the 
potter  to  make  what  sort  of 
vessel  he  chooses,  and  to  mould 
or  mar  it  at  his  pleasure,  is 
used  as  an  illustration  of  God’s 
dominion  over  the  works  of  his 
hands.  (Ps.  ii.  9.  See  also 
the  passages  before  cited  from 
Jeremiah  and  Romans.) 

POTTER’S  FIELD.  (See 
Aceldama.  See  also  Selu- 
miel,  pp.  187 — 194,  by  Am.  S. 
S.  Union.) 

POUND.  (See  Measures.) 

PRAISE.  (Ps.  xxxiii.  1.)  In 
the  ordinary  Scripture  use  of 
the  term,  it  denotes  an  act  of 
worship,  and  is  often  used 
synonymously  with  thanks¬ 
giving.  It  is  called  forth  by 
the  contemplation  of  the  cha¬ 
racter  and  attributes  of  God, 
however  they  are  displayed; 
and  it  implies  a  grateful  sense 
and  acknowledgment  of  past 
mercies.  Expressions  of  praise 
abound  in  the  Psalms  of  David,- 
in  almost  every  variety  of  force 
and  beauty;  and  the  nature 
of  the  duty,  as  well  as  the  pro¬ 
per  manner  of  its  performance. 


PRE 

may  be  :est  ascertained  by  a 
diligent  study  of  his  language 
and  spirit. 

PRAYER  (2  Sam.  vii.  27)  is 
the  expression  of  our  desires 
unto  God.  It  is  a  privilege 
with  which  our  Maker  has 
favoured  us,  and  a  necessary 
art  of  that  obedience  which 
e  has  required  of  us,  to  pray 
without  ceasing;  in  everything, 
by  prayer  and  supplication, 
with  thanksgiving,  letting  our 
requests  be  made  known  unto 
God  ;  praying  always  with  all 
prayer  and  supplication.  (Eph. 
vi.  18.  Phil.  iv.  6.  IThess.  v. 
17.)  Considered  as  a  duty  of 
worship,  prayer  has  been  re¬ 
garded  as  consisting  of  invocar 
tion,  (Ps.  v.  2 ;)  adoration ,  (2 
Chron.  xx.  G ;)  confession,  (Ezra 
ix.  G;)  petition,  (Ps.  vii.  1 ;) 
pleading,  (Jer.  xii.  1 ;),  profes¬ 
sion  or  self-dedication,  (Ps. 
lxxiii.  25;)  thanksgiving,  (Ps. 
cxlvii.  1  Tim.  ii.  1;)  blessing. 
(Ps.  ciii.  20 — 22.) 

God  is  (he  only  object  of 
prayer.  His  throne  of  grace  is 
to  be  approached  by  sinful  and 
dying  men,  through  Christ  the 
one  Mediator  between  God  and 
man,  and  in  entire  dependence 
on  the  Holy  Spirit  to  help  our 
infirmities.  This  is  not  the 
place  to  enter  upon  the  con¬ 
sideration  of  the  kinds,  forms, 
and  postures  of  prayer.  (For 
postures  in  prayer,  with  illus¬ 
trative  cuts,  see  Youth’s 
.  Friend  for  Aug.  1836,  by  Am. 
S.  S.  Union.) 

PREACH.  (Isa.  lxi.  1.)  To 
preach  is  to  discourse  publicly 
on  religious  subjects.  From 
the  earliest  period  of  associa¬ 
tions  for  the  worship  of  God, 
preaching  has  been  the  chief 
inst/umentby  which  theknow- 
ledge  of  the  truth  has  been 
spread,  (2Pet.  ii.  5.  Jude  IT, 
15 ;)  and  is  still  to  be  so.  (1  Cor. 
i.  21.)  We  have  a  beautiful 
account  of  the  ancient  mode 
of  preaching  in  Neh.  viii.,  from 
which  time  till  the  appearance 


PRE 

ef  Christ, public  preaching  was 
universal ;  synagogues  were 
multiplied  and  well  attended, 
and  officers  were  duly  appoint¬ 
ed  for  the  purpose  of  order  and 
instruction.  John  the  Baptist 
was  especially  commissioned 
to  preach  the  coming  of  Christ, 
the  great  teacher  sent  from 
God.  Since  the  introduction 
of  the  gospel,  the  preaching 
of  it  has  been  generally  re¬ 
garded  as  a  sacred  profession, 
and  has,  for  the  most  part,  been 
confined  to  an  appointed  order 
of  men. 

PREPARATION.  (Matt, 
xxvii.  62.)  The  first  day  of 
the  feast  of  the  passover  was 
called  the  day  of  preparation, 
because  all  things  were  on  that 
day  made  ready  for  the  solem¬ 
nities  of  the  paschal  week. 
(See  Passover.) 

PRESfiYTERY.  (1  Tim.  iv. 
14.)  A  court  or  council  of  ec¬ 
clesiastics,  for  ordaining  offi¬ 
cers,  and  governing  the  church. 

PRESENTS.  (1  Sam.  ix.  7.) 
Gifts  or  offerings  with  which 
men  in  authority  or  high 
esteem  are  approached.  In 
many  eastern  countries  at  this 
day,  even  the  common  people, 
in  their  familiar  visits,  take  a 
flower,  or  an  orange,  or  some 
other  token  of  respect,  to  the 
person  visited. 

PRESSES,  (Isa.  xvi.  10,)  or 
FRESSFATS,  (Hag.  ii.  16,) 
were  vessels  or  cisterns  placed 
in  the  side  of  a  hill,  into  which 
the  juice  of  grapes  flowed 
when  it  was  pressed  out  by 
treading  them  with  the  feet, 
or  by  pressing  them  with  a 
machine.  (Prov.  iii.  10.  Matt, 
xxi.  33.)  Such  are  now  used  in 
Persia.  The  upper  vessel,  being 
eight  feet  square  and  four  deep, 
is  used  to  press  out  the  juice, 
which  runs  into  another  cistern 
below.  (See  Wine.) 

PRETORIUM.  (Mark  xv. 
16.)  The  palace  in  Jerusalem 
where  the  pretor  or  Roman 
governor  resided,  and  in  the 


PRI 

hall  of  which  he  sat  to  admi¬ 
nister  justice.  (Comp.  Malt, 
xxvii.  27.  *  John  xviii.  28.  33.) 
There  was  a  similar  place  at 
Cesarea.  (Acts  xxiii.  35.) 

PRICKS,  (Acts  ix.  5,)'  or. 
goads.  Long,  sharp-pointed 
sticks,  which  were  used  to 
drive  cattle,  &c.,  by  pricking 
them.  The  expression  in  this 
passage  was  a  proverb,  and 
originated  in  this,  that  restive 
oxen  often  push  themselves 
or  kick  back  against  the  goads, 
and  thus  wound  themselves 
the  more  deeply:  Hence  the 
the  proverb  is  used  to  denote 
the  folly  and  madness  of  resist¬ 
ing  lawful  authority.  A  great 
number  of  heathen  writers  use 
the  proverb  familiarly,  and 
always  to  signify  the  absurdity 
of  such  rebellion. 

PRIEST.  (Gen.  xiv.  18.)  This 
is  the  general  name  for  minis¬ 
ters  of  religion  in  all  ages  and 
countries.  In  the  sacred  Scrip¬ 
tures  it  denotes  one  who  offers 
sacrifice.  Previous  to  the  Mo¬ 
saic  ritual,  the  offering  of  sacri¬ 
fices  pertained  to  private  indi¬ 
viduals.  Fathers  were  the 
priests  of  their  own  families. 
Perhaps  a  more  general  priestly 
office  existed,  such  as  that  ex¬ 
ercised  by  Melchizedek.  But 
when  the  dispensation  by  Mo¬ 
ses  was  introduced,  a  particu¬ 
lar  order  of  men  were  appoi  nted 
to  that  special  service,  (Ex. 
xxviii.)  with  very  solemn  and 
imposing  ceremonies ;  and  from 
that  time  the  offering  of  sacri¬ 
fices  was  chiefly  restricted  to 
those  who  were  duly  invested 
with  the  priestly  office.  (2 
Chron.  xxvi.  18.)  All  the  male 
descendants  of  Aaron  were 
priests;  and  the  first-born  of 
every  family  of  his  descend¬ 
ants  in  succession  sustained 
the  dignified  and  important 
office  of  high-priest.  (See  High 
priest.*  The  principal  em 
ployments  of  the  priests,  next 
io  attendii^g  on  the  sacrifices 
and  the  temple  service,  con 


PRO 

PRO 

sisted  in  the  instruction  of  the 
people  and  the  deciding  of 
controversies  and  questions 
arising  under  the  administra¬ 
tion  of  the  Jewish  law,  which 
were  very  numerous.  Intime 
of  war  their  duty  was  to  carry 
the  ark  of  the  covenant;  to 
consult  the  Lord ;  to  sound  the 
holy  trumpets,  and  to  encourage 
the  army.  (Num.  x.  8, 9.  Deut. 
xx.  2.  For  a  full  account  of 
the  manner  of  their  consecra¬ 
tion,  dress,  duties,  See.  see  Ex. 
xxix.  1—35.  Lev.  viii.  1— 36. 
See  also  Biblical  Antiqui¬ 
ties,  ch.  iv.  §  ii.  and  iii.,  and 
Evening  Recreations,  vol. 
iv.  pp.  26 — 13,  bath  by  Am.  S. 
S.  Union.) 

PROPHECY,  (Matt.  xiii.  14,) 
PROPHETS,  (1  Sam.  x.  5,)  or 
SEERS.  (1  Sam.  ix.  9.)  To 
prophesy  is  to  foretell,  under 
divine  inspiration,  certain 
things  which  are  to  happen. 
Of  course  prophecy  is  a  reve¬ 
lation  from  God,  made  through 
man  to  man,  respecting  future 
events.  (2Pet.  i.  2i.)'  In  a 
strict  sense,  a  prophet  is  one 
to  whom  the  knowledge  of 
secret  things  is  revealed,  whe¬ 
ther  past,  (Jbhniv,  19,)  present, 
<2  Kings  v.  26,)  or  to  come. 
(Luke  i.  76 — 79.) 

Different  modes  seem  to  have 
been  employed  to  convey  to 
the  prophets  the  knowledge 
of  future  events.  Some,  sup¬ 
pose  that  the  events  passed 
before  their  minds  like  a  pic¬ 
ture  or  panorama,  and  that 
they  describe  its  parts  in  suc¬ 
cession,  as  one  would  an  ex¬ 
tended  landscape.  This,  it  is 
supposed,  will  account  for  their 
often  speaking  of  the  occur¬ 
rences  which  they  predict  as 
passing  at  the  moment,  or  al¬ 
ready  passed :  as,  for  instance, 
in  the  liii.  chapter  of  Isaiah. 
Objects  and  symbols  were  pre¬ 
sented  to  the  prophetic  eye 
waking  and  sleeping,  and 
sometimes  there  wai^pfbbabty 
an  articulate  audible  voice; 

43* 

but  in  whatever  form  the  com 
municalion  Was  made,  the  im¬ 
pression  was  doubtless  as  dis¬ 
tinct  and  vivid  as  were  objects 
of  ocular  vision.  The  spirit 
of  prophecy,  seating  itself  in 
the  rational  powers,  informed, 
enlightened,  and  employed 
them  to  understand  and  de¬ 
clare  to  others  the  will  of  God. 

Some  think  it  uncertain 
whether  the  prophets  always 
or  even  generally  knew  the 
time  of  the  future  events,  or 
the  meaning  of  what  was  com¬ 
municated  to  them.  Hence  it 
is  said  that  Daniel  and  John 
made  inquiries  as  to  the  mean¬ 
ing  of  certain  portions  of  their 
revelations,  -and  they  were 
distinctly  explained  to  them. 

(Dan.  viii.  15,  &c.  Rev.  xvii. 

7,  See.  Comp.  Dan.  xii.  8,  9. 

1  Pet.  i.  11.) 

Others,  on  the  contrary, 
maintain  that  there  is  no 
sufficient  ground  for  this  opi¬ 
nion,  and  that  there  is  every 
reason  to  believe  that  the  fa¬ 
culties  of  the  prophets  were 
purified,  strengthened,  and  ele¬ 
vated,  in  a  supernatural  de¬ 
gree;  that  they  understood  dis¬ 
tinctly  the  subject  of  prophetic 
revelation;  and  that  the  ob¬ 
scurity  in  which  the  prophetic 
writings  are  involved  in  our 
view,  arises  from  our  imperfect 
conceptions,  and  not  from  any 
want  of  clearness  in  the  pro¬ 
phecies  themselves.  * 

The  predictions  were  some¬ 
times  announced  by  the  pro¬ 
phets  to  the  people,  both  in 
assemblies  and  by  writing. 

(Isa.  viii.  2;  lviii.  1,  &c.  Jer. 
vri.  2.)  Sometimes  they  were 
posted  up  on  the  public 
gates,  and  sometimes  an-  N*- 
nounced  with  the  most  affect¬ 
ing  tokens  upon  the  persons 
or  in  the  conduct  of  the  pro¬ 
phets,  that  the  pr edict ions.tltcy  ..* 
uttered  were  by5k*-tfSa.  xx. 

Jer.  xix.  and  xxvti.) 

The  heathen  poets  are  called 
prophets,  because  it  was  sup-. 

...  6(19  ?Y  ' 

PRO 

posed  they  wrote  under  the 
influence  of  the  gods.  (Tit.  i. 
12.)  Aaron  is  called  the  pro- 
het  of  Moses,  (Ex.  vii.  1,) 
ecause  he  declared  the  com¬ 
munications  of  Moses  to  the 
people. 

The  term  prophesy  is  also 
used  analogically,  (1  Cor.  xi.  4, 
5;  xiv.  l,&c.,)  probably  because 
those  who  exercised  thesefunc- 
tions  were  regarded  as  under 
the  direction  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 
So  it  is  said  that  Judas  and 
Silas  were  prophets;  and  in 
Acts  xiii.  1,  that  there  were  in 
the  church  at  Antioch  cer¬ 
tain  prophets  and  teachers ; 
that  is,  official  instructers. 
(Comp.  1  Cor.  xii.  28.  See  also 
Acts  xxi.  9.  Eph.  ii.  20.  Rev. 
xviii.  20.)  It  is  also  applied  to 
ihe  sacred  musicians.  (IChron. 
xxv.  1.)  It  may  be  only  because 
Miriam  led  the  concert  (Ex. 
xv.  20, 21)  that  she  is  reckoned 
as  a  prophetess. 

Isaiah,  Jeremiah,  Ezekiel, 
and  Daniel  are  called  the 
greater  prophets  from  the  size 
of  their  books,  and  the  extent 
and  importance  of  their  prophe¬ 
cies.  The  others  are  called  the 
minor  or  lesser  prophets. 

The  supposed  chronological 
arrangement  of  the  prophe¬ 
cies,  and  the  order  in  which 
they  may  be  most  intelligibly 
read,  is  as  follows. 


Jonah  - 

-  B.C. 

856—784 

Amos  • 

• 

810—785 

Hosea- 

-  • 

810 — 725 

Isaiah  • 

. 

810—698 

Joel 

•  • 

810—660 

Micah  • 

•  • 

758—699 

Nahum 

• 

720—698 

Zephnniah 

•  • 

640—609 

Jeremiah 

•  • 

628—586 

Habakk.uk 

•  . 

612—598 

Daniel 

•  . 

606—534 

Obadiah  - 

•  • 

588—583 

Ezekiel 

•  • 

695—536 

Haggai  - 

•  • 

620—518 

Zechariah 

.  . 

520—518 

Malachi  - 

- 

436—420 

A  useful  classification  of  the 

ahets  assigns  the  first  eight 
e  period  before  the  Baby¬ 
lonian  captivity ;  the  five  next 


PRO 

to  a  period  near  to  and  during 
the  captivity ;  and  the  three 
last  after  the  return  of  the  Jews 
from  Babylon.  The  historical 
books  of  these  three  periods  il¬ 
lustrate  the  prophetical.  They 
were  all  uttered  within  a  pe¬ 
riod  of  about  four  hundred 
years. 

The  prophets  were  the  di¬ 
vines,  the  philosophers,  the  in¬ 
structers,  and  the  guides  of  the 
Hebrews  in  piety  and  virtue. 
They  generally  lived  retired. 
Their  habitations  and  mode  of 
life  were  plain,  and  simple, 
and  consistent. 

Sons  of  the  prophetsl 
(2  Kings  ii.  3.  5.)  Probably  pu¬ 
pils  of  the  prophets,  trained  up 
by  them  in  a  knowledge  of  re¬ 
ligion,  and  in  habits  of  devotion 
and  piety.  Perhaps  they  were 
employed  as  assistants  to  the 
prophets,  and  stood  in  the  rela¬ 
tion  which  evangelists  are  sup¬ 
posed  by  some  to  have  borne 
to  the  apostles. 

The  phrase,  that  it  might 
be  fulfilled  which  was  spoken, 
&c.,  (Matt.  i.  22,)  does  not  al¬ 
ways  mean  that  the  event  hap¬ 
pened,  or  was  brought  about,  in 
order  to  make  good  the  predic¬ 
tion;  but  often  merely  that 
thus,  or  in  this  manner,  a 
certain  prophecy  was  accom¬ 
plished.  (See  Fclfilleii.) 

PROPHETESS.  (Ex.xv.20.) 
Prophetess  signifies  not  only 
the  wife  of  a  prophet,  (Isa.  viii. 
3,)  but  also  a  woman  that  has 
the  gift  of  prophecy.  Among 
these  were  Miriam,  Deborah, 
Hannah,  and  Anna. 

PROPITIATION.  (Rom.  iii. 
25.)  The  word,  wherever  it  oc¬ 
curs  in  our  Scriptures,  (1  John 
ii.  2;  iv.  10,)  is  of  like  deriva¬ 
tion,  and  denotes,  in  the  origi- 
nal  use  of  it,  the  action  of  a 
person  who  in  some  appointed 
way  averts  the  wrath  of  a  de¬ 
ity,  or  pacifies  an  offended 
party.  A  word  of  kindred  ori¬ 
gin  is  elsewhere  translated 
sin-offering ,  (Ezek.  xliv.  27. 


PRO 

and  xlv.  19 ;)  and  atonement ,  | 
Num.  v.  8;)  the  mercy-seat , 
rHeb.  ix.  5;)  or  the  place 
or  instrument  of  pr'-pitiatiom 
where  the  blood  of  the  sin-of¬ 
fering  was  sprinked  by  the 
high-priest  to  make  an  atone¬ 
ment  for  sin.  (Lev.  xvi.  14.) 

PROSELYTE.  (Matt,  xxiii. 
15.)  A  name  given  by  the  Jews 
to  such  as  were  converted  from 
heathenism  to  the  Jewish  faith. 
The  Jewish  Rabbins  mention 
at  least  two  classes.  Proselytes 
of  righteousness,  who  fully  em¬ 
braced  the  Jewish  religion, 
were  admitted  to  the  enjoy¬ 
ments  of  all  its  rites  and  ordi¬ 
nances;  (proselytes  of  this 
class  are  described  in  Ezra  vi. 
21 ;)  and  proselytes  of  the 
gate,  who  renounced  heathen¬ 
ism,  and  conformed  in  some 
respects  to  the  Jewish  religion, 
and  were  allowed  only  limited 
privileges.  (See  Biblical  An- 
TiauiTiEs,  vol.  ii.  ch.  vii.,  by 
Am.  S.  S.  Union.)  It  seems  to 
be  the  better  opinion,  however, 
that  this  distinction  is  without 
authority,  and  that  the  only 
roselytes  were  such  as  em- 
raceu  the  whole  system  of 
Jewish  worship. 

PROVERB.  (1  Sam.  x.  12.) 
This  word  is  sometimes  used 
as  synonymous  with  parable. 
(John  xvi.  29.)  Strictly  speak¬ 
ing,  a  proverb  is  a  short  moral 
sentence,  expressing  an  im¬ 
portant  principle  in  a  striking 
and  forcible  manner. 

The  Proverbs  of  Solomon 
constitute  an  important  por¬ 
tion  (and  the  twentieth  in 
order  of  the  books)  of  the  Old 
Testament.  It  is  a  collection 
of  wise  maxims  or  sayings, 
chiefly  of  Solomon,  concern¬ 
ing  almost  every  duty  and  re¬ 
lation  of  life.  It  is  indeed 
a  storehouse  of  wisdom,  and 
abounds  with  the  most  plain 
and  practical  rules  for  the  re¬ 
gulation  of  the  life  and  heart. 

The  first  ten  chapters  con¬ 
tain  cautions  and  exhortations 


PSA 

on  a  variety  of  subjects.  P  roar 
ch.  x.  to  ch.  xxii.  16,  we  fino 
what  are,  strictly  speaking,  pro¬ 
verbs.  From  ch.  xxii.  17,  to 
ch.  xxiii.  we  have  important 
instruction  addressed  in  a  con¬ 
nected  form  to  a  pupil  supposed 
to  be  present.  Ch.  xxiii. — xxix. 
constitute  a  collection  of  in¬ 
spired  proverbs,  which  there 
is  some  reason  to  believe  were 
derived  not  exclusively  from 
the  lips  of  Solomon.  Ch,  xxx. 
contains  the  admonitions  of 
Agur,  and  ch.  xxxi.  the  coun¬ 
sels  given  to  king  Lemuel  by 
his  mother.  The  general  simi¬ 
larity  of  the  matter  which  con¬ 
stitutes  the  book  of  Proverbs 
may  well  account  for  the 
mingling  of  authors,  without 
resorting  to  the  presumption 
that  Agur  and  Lemuel  were 
none  other  than  Solomon  him¬ 
self,  under  a  fictitious  name. 
It  is  said  by  judicious  critics 
that  the  canonical  authority  of 
no  part  of  the  Old  Testament 
is  better  ratified  by  the  evi¬ 
dence  of  apostolic  quotations 
than  the  book  of  Proverbs. 

PSALMS,  (Luke  xxiv.  44,) 
or  holy  songs.  A  psalm  is  a 
poetic  composition  adapted  to 
music,  vocal  or  instrumental, 
but  especially  the  latter.  When 
psalms,  hymns ,  and  spiritual 
songs  are  mentioned  together, 
psalms  may  denote  such  as 
were  sung  on  instruments ; 
hymns ,  such  as  contain  only 
matter  of  praise  ;  and  spiritual 
songs ,  such  as  contain  doc¬ 
trines,  ^history,  and  prophecy 
for  men’s  instruction.  (Eph. 
v.  19.) 

The  Psalms  of  David  con¬ 
stitute  the  nineteenth  in  the 
.  order  'of  the  books  of  the  Old 
Testament,  and  their  right  to  a 
place  in  the  canon  has  never 
been  disputed.  They  consist 
of  inspired  hymns  and  songs, 
meditations  and  prayers,  chief- 
1  ly  of  David.  It  is  supposed 
they  were  collected  into  one 
book  by  Ezra,  though  without 


PSA 

any  regard  to  chronological 
order.  They  are  a  complete 
and  perfect  manual  of  devo¬ 
tional  exercises;  and  there  is 
scarcely  a  grief  or  disease  of 
the  soul,  for  which  there  is  not 
in  this  divine  book  a  present 
comfortable  remedy  always  to 
be  found  by  those  who  rightly 
seek  it. 

They  are  sometimes  called 
The  Psalter ,  from  the  psaltery, 
a  musical  instrument  used  to 
accompany  them  when  sung. 

The  titles  of  the  Psalms 
sometimes  have  reference  to  a 
choiceof  tunes,  or  instruments, 
or  contain  some  directions  to 
persons  appointed  to  set  them 
to  music,  or  to  the  leaders  of 
the  choir,  or  something  pecu¬ 
liar  in  the  subject,  season,  or 
style  of  the  composition.  The 
conjectures  as  to  their  meaning 
are  various. 

This  book  was  once  publish¬ 
ed  in  five  parts,  each  conclud¬ 
ing  with  a  doxology,  viz.i. — xli.; 
xlii. — lxxii. ;  lxxiii.— lxxxix. ; 
xc.— cvi;  cvii.— cl. ;  but  it  is 
cited  as  one  book,  Luke  xx. 
42. 

The  original  collection  would 
seem  to  have  comprised  psalms 
i.— lxxii.  (Seethe  subscription, 
Ps.  lxxii.  20.  And  for  a  chro¬ 
nological  arrangement  of  the 
Psalms,  with  the  occasion 
which  led  to  the  composition 
of  them,  see  Life  of  David,  by 
Am.  S.  S.  Union,  pp.  273—275.) 

PSALTERY  (Ps.  xxxiii.  2) 
was  a  Babylonish  instrument. 
In  our  version  of  the  Bible  the 
name  is  given  to  other  instru¬ 
ments  :  but  the  genuine  psal¬ 
tery  was  a  stringed  instrument, 
as  far  as  we  can  learn,  like  the 
ten-stringed  lyre,  or  harp.'  (See 
Harp.) 

The  modern  instrument  call¬ 
ed  psaltery  is  flat,  and  in  the 
form  of  a  trapezium,  or  triangle 
cut  off  at  the  top,  and  is  strung 
with  thirteen  strings.  It  is 
struck  with  a  plectrum,  or 
small  iron  rod. 


PUR 

PTOLEMAIS.  (SeeAcOHO.) 

PUBLICAN.  (Matt.  xviiC 
17.)  An  inferior  collector  a. 
the  Roman  tribute.  The  prin¬ 
cipal  farmers  of  this  revenue 
were  men  of  great  credit  and 
influence ;  but  the  under-farm¬ 
ers,  or  publicans,  were  remark¬ 
able  for  their  rapacity  and  ex¬ 
tortion,  and  were  accounted  as 
oppressive  thieves  and  pick¬ 
pockets.  Hence  it  is  even  said 
that  the  Jews  would  not  allow 
them  to  enter  the  temple,  or 
the  synagogues ;  to  partake  of 
the  public  prayers,  or  offices 
of  judicature;  or  to  give  testi¬ 
mony  in  a  court  of  justice. 

There  were  many  publicans 
in  Judea  in  the  time  of  our  Sa¬ 
viour.  Zaccheus,  probably,  was 
one  of  the  principal  receivers, 
since  he  is  called  chief  among 
the  publicans,  (Luke  xix.  2 ;) 
but  Matthew  was  only  an  in¬ 
ferior  publican.  (Luke  v.  27.) 
The  Jews  reproached  Jesus 
with  being  a  friend  of  publi¬ 
cans  and  sinners,  and  eating 
with  them.  (Luke  vii.  34.) 

PUL.  (2  Kings  xv.  19.)  The 
first  king  of  Assyria,  who  in¬ 
vaded  Canaan,  and  by  a  pre¬ 
sent  of  one  thousand  talents  of 
silver,  (equivalent  to  nearly 
two  millions  of  dollars  in  our 
day,)  was  prevailed  on  by  Me- 
nahem  to  withdraw  his  troops, 
and  recognise  the  title  of  that 
wicked  usurper.  This  is  the 
first  mention  of  Assyria  in  the 
sacred  history  after  the  days  of 
Nimrod,  and  Pul  was  the  first 
Assyrian  invader  of  Judea.  A 
town  of  this  name  is  mentioned 
Isa.  lxvi.  19 ;  which  is  sup¬ 
posed,  without  authority,  to  be 
the  island  of  Philos,  in  the  Nile, 
not  far  from  Syene,  where  are 
found  magnificent  ruins. 

PULSE.  (2  Sam.  xvii.  28.) 
Coarse  grain,  as  peas,  beaus, 
and  the  like.  (Dan.  i.  12. 16.) 

PUR,  or  PURIM,  feast  of. 
(See  Feasts.) 

PURPLE.  (Ex.  xxv.  4.)  The 
purple  dye,  so  famous  among 
512 


FTJR 

the  orientals  in  ancient  days, 
was  much  used  by  the  Babylo¬ 
nians.  (Jer.  x.  9.  Ezek.  xxiii. 
15 ;  xxvii.  16.)  The  hangings 
of  the  temple  and  some  of  the 
priests’  garments  were  of  this 
colour.  “(Ex.  xxv.  4 ;  xxxv.  6 ; 
xxxix.  29.  2Chron.  iii.  14.)  It 
was  imported  from  some  coun¬ 
try  beyond  Persia,  and  there 
is  gooil  reason  to  believe  that 
it  was  obtained  from  the  body  of 
an  insect.  The  robes  of  royalty 
and  distinction  were  of  purple, 
and  hence  the  intended  gross¬ 
ness  of  the  insult  and  mockery 
of  our  Saviour.  (John  xix.  2. 5.) 
The  colour  called  purple  was 
probably  scarlet.  The  term 
purple  was  applied  to  any  co¬ 
lour  into  which  red  entered. 

PURSE.  (Mark  vi.  8.)  A 
sort  of  girdle,  such  as  is  often 
found  at  the  present  day  in 
eastern  countries.  A  part  of 
the  girdle,  sufficient  to  encom¬ 
pass  the  body,  is  sewed  double, 
and  fastened  with  a  buckle. 
The  residue  is  wound  around 
above  or  below  the  first  fold, 
and  tucked  under.  The  first 
fold  has  an  opening,  closed 
with  a  leathern  cover  and  strap, 
through  which  the  contents  of 
the  puree  are  passed.  (See 
Clothes.) 

A  modern  traveller  says— 
“  I  bought  to-day  in  the  bazaar 
a  woollen  girdle,  whose  con¬ 
struction  amply  explaids  the 


PYG 

phrase  so  often  occurring  in  ori¬ 
ental  tales,  of  “  carrying  mo¬ 
ney  in  the  belt .”  On  one  end 
being  passed  once  round  the 
waist,  it  is  fastened  byabuckle; 
and  this  entire  portion,  being 
sewed  double  all  round,  con¬ 
tains  the  money,  which  is 
extracted  by  means  of  a  small 
opening  in  the  front,  closed 
with  a  leathern  cover  and 
strap.  This  being  secured,  the 
remainder  of  the  zone  is  foldetl 
around  the  body  till  the  suc¬ 
cessive  envelopementstake  up 
all  the  cloth,  the  end  of  whicn 
is  then  tucked  in  at  the  side  so 
as  to  secure  Xhe  folds.” 

The  word  translated  purses, 
in  Matt.  x.  9,  signifies  literally 
girdles ;  and  from  their  adap¬ 
tation  to  the  use  pointed  out  by. 
our  Saviour,  were  undoubtedly 
of  the  same  fashion  with  that 
which  is  above  described. 

PUTEOLI,  (Acts  xxviii.  13,) 
or  the  wells,  now  Pozzuoli ,  a 
city  eight  miles  north-west 
front  Naples,  containing  about 
ten  thousand  inhabitants,  for¬ 
merly  celebrated  for  its  warm 
baths  and  springs.  The  har¬ 
bour  was  once  regarded  as  the 
best  in  Italy. 

FYGARG  (Deut.  xiv.  5)  is 
the  name  of  a  bird  of  the  eagle 
kind ;  but  here,  probably,  de¬ 
notes  a  beautiful  species  of  the 
gazelle,  or  the  mountain  goat, 
found  in  Africa  and  Asia. 


QUA 

/~y  UAILS,  (Ex.  xvi.  13,)  or 
vi  partridges,  as  they  are 
caUed  in  some  parts  of  the 
United  Stales,  were  a  part  of 
the  food  miraculously  supplied 
to  the  Israelites  in  the  wilder¬ 
ness.  (Ps.  lxxviii.  27.)  Quails 
are  still  common  in  the  deserts 
of  Arabia,  and  are  brought  to 
the  market  at  Jerusalem  by 
thousands.  The  supply  to  the 
Israelites  was  furnished  on  two 
occasions.  (Ex.  xvi.  13.  Num. 


QUA 

xi.  31.)  Both  were  at  the  sea¬ 
son  when  the  quails  pass  from 
Asia  into  Europe,  and  are 
found  in  immense  flocks  on 
the  coast  of  the  Mediterranean 
and  Red  Sea.  That  they  were 
thrown  in  such  vast  quantities 
into  the  camp  of  the  Israelites 
as  to  suffice  for  the  food  of 
perhaps  a  million  of  persons 
for  more  than  a  month,  is  cer 
tainly  supernatural.  The  de¬ 
scription  of  the  quantity  is  lia 


QUA 


qui 


ble  to  misapprehension.  The 
original  does  not  represent  the 
exact  height,  as  our  translation 
does ;  and  some  suppose  it  has 
no  reference  at  all  to  quantity ; 
nor  does  it  mean  that  the  least 
amount  gathered  was  exactly 
a  homer.  In  the  latter  instance 
a  large  but  indefinite  quantity 
is  intended.  They  were  proba¬ 
bly  dried  in  the  sun  and  salted, 
as  many  kinds  of  provisions 
are  at  this  day.  Hence  the  ex¬ 
pression,  they  spread  them 
abroad  for  themselves  round 
about  the  camp.  (Num.  xi.  32.) 

QUATERNION.  (Acts  xii. 
4.)  When  Peter  is  said  to  have 
been  delivered  to  four  quater¬ 
nions  of  soldiers,  it  is  to  be  un¬ 
derstood  that  he  was  guarded 
by  four  men  at  a  time,  viz.  two 
in  the  prison  with  him,(ver.  G,) 
and  two  before  the  doors,  and 
that  they  were  relieved  every 
three  hours,  or  at  each  suc¬ 
cessive  watch  of  the  night,  by 
four  others ;  making  in  all  six¬ 
teen  men.  (See  Life  of  Pe¬ 
tek,  pp.  194—196,  by  Am.  S.  S. 
Union.) 


'vSpTO®1®...  _ 

The.  Common  Quail 


QUEEN  OF  HEAVEN 
(Jer.  vii.  18.)  The  title  under 
which  the  moon  was  worship¬ 
ped  by  the  heathens.  Cakes 
having  the  image  of  the  moon 
stamped  on  them  are  supposed 
to  have  been  presented  i  n  sa¬ 
crifice,  as  a  part  of  their  idola¬ 
trous  worship. 

QUICKSANDS.  (Actsxxvii. 
17)  Reference  is  had  in  this 
passage  (as  it  is  supposed)  to 
two  very  dangerous  sandbars 
on  the  coast  of  Africa,  over 
against  Sicily,  which  were  con¬ 
tinually  shifting  their  position, 
and  forming  powerful  currents, 
by  which  ships  were  drawn 
from  theft  course. 

QUIVER.  (Ps.  cxxvii.  5.) 
The  box  or  case  for  arrows. 
The  word  is  often  used  figura¬ 
tively.  (Isa.  xlix.  2.  Lam.  iii. 
2.)  In,  Jer.  v.  16,  the  slaugh¬ 
ter  and  desolation  which  should 
be  brought  upon  the  Israelites 
by  the  invasion  of  the  Chal¬ 
deans,  is  expressed  by  calling 
their  quivers  an  open  sepul¬ 
chre,  or  their  arrows  certain 
(See  Armour.) 


RAA 

RAAMAH.  (Ezek.  xxvii.22.) 

A  country  or  district  of 
Arabia,  trading  with  Tyre  in 
spices,  stones,  and  gold ;  and  is 
supposed  to  have  been  settled 
by  the  descendants  of  Raamah, 
grandson  of  Ham.  (Gen.  x.  7.) 


RAA 

RAAMSES  or  R AMESES- 
(Gen.  xlvii.  11.  Ex;  xii.  37 
Num.  xxxiii.  3.)  One  of 
Pharaoh’s  treasure-cities,  or 
public  granaries,  probably  for¬ 
tified  for  the  security  of  the 
stores.  Travellers  tell  us  of  a 
514 


RAC 

mass  of  ruins  found  at  the  mo¬ 
dern  village  of  Aben-keyshid, 
about  forty  miles  from  Suez, 
and  near  the  canal  connecting 
that  city  with  the  Nile.  The 
central  and  convenient  loca¬ 
tion  of  this  place  points  it  out 
as  the  probable  site  of  the  an¬ 
cient  city.  (See  Pithom.) 

RABBATH,  of  the  children 
<f  Ammon,  (Deut.  iii.  11,)  was 
the  chief  city  of  the  land  of  the 
Ammonites,  and  was  situated 
in  the  mountains  of  Gilead,  not 
far  from  the  source  of  the  Ar- 
non.  It  was  here  that  Uriah 
lost  his  life  in  the  siege  of  the 
city  by  Joab,  (2  Sam.  xi.  17:) 
and  afterwards  it  was  captured, 
David  himself  taking  the  head 
of  the  army.  (2  Sam.  xii.  29.) 
As  the  capital  of  the  Ammon¬ 
ites,  the  severest  judgments 
are  denounced  against  it  in 
several  prophecies.  (Jer.  xlix. 
1—3.  Ezek.  xxi.  20;  xxv.  5.) 
Its  modern  name  is  Ammon , 
about  twenty  miles  south-east 
of  Szalt,  where  extensive  ruins 
arenowfound.  (See  Ammonites.) 

RA  BB  ATH-MOAB.  (SeeAm) 

RABBI.  (Watt,  xxiii.  7.)  A 
title  of  dignity,  literally  signi¬ 
fying  great  or  chief.  It  was 
given  by  the  Jews  to  distin¬ 
guished  teachers  of  their  law. 

RABBONI.  (John  xx.  16.)  A 
Hebrew  word  signifying  my 
master,  and  regarded  as  the 
highest  title  of  honour  among 

tlio  Ipwo 

RABSHAKEH,  (2  Kings 
xviii.  17,)  or  the  chief  butler  or 
cup-bearer,  was  sent  with  Rab- 
Baris,  or  the  chief  of  the  eu¬ 
nuchs,  and  Tartan,  messengers 
of  the  king  of  Assyria,  to  Heze- 
kiah,  summoning  him,  in  the 
most  indecent  and  olasphe- 
mous  manner,  to  surrender  his 
capital.  The  history  is  record¬ 
ed  in  2  Kings  xviii.  17 — 3/. 

RACA.  (Matt.  v.  22.)  A  Sy¬ 
riac  term  denoting  perfect  con¬ 
tempt  of  the  individual  to 
Whom  it  is  applied. 

RACE.  (1  Cor.  ix.  24.)  The 


RAC 

word  which  is  rendered  race 
(Ps.  xix.  6)  signifies  way,  road, 
or  path.  Races  were  known 
to  the  Hebrews.  (Eccl.  ix.  11.) 
The  eastern  couriers  are  usu¬ 
ally  taken  from  among  the 
strong  or  distinguished  officers 
of  the  king's  forces.  Hence 
the  sun, in  the  above  passage 
from  Psalms,  is  represented  as 
an  officer  honoured  by  the  Al¬ 
mighty  to  bear  Lhe  announce¬ 
ment  of  his  power  through 
every  clime  of  his  dominion, 
in  language  silent,  but  expres¬ 
sive,  and  equally  intelligible 
to  all. 

When  the  word  occurs  in 
the  New  Testament,  it  alludes 
to  the  Grecian  games  for  the 
trial  of  strength  and  skill  in 
running  on  foot  or  horseback, 
or  in  chariots.  To  win  a  prize 
at  these  games  was  considered 
as  the  highest  honour  to  be  at¬ 
tained  on  earth.  The  most 
strict  and  laborious  preparation 
was  made  for  it,  (1  Cor.  ix.  24 — 
27,)  and  the  contest  was  go¬ 
verned  by  established  rules. 
(2  Tim.  ii.  5.)  Those  who  con¬ 
tended  for  the  prize  were  di¬ 
vested  of  clothing;  every  im¬ 
pediment  was  removed;  the 
prize  was  in  full  view ;  and  the 
crown  was  placed  upon  the 
conqueror’s  head  the  moment 
the  issue  wasproclaimed.  (Phil, 
iii.  12—14.  2Tim.  iv.6-8.  Eeb. 
xii.  1.) 

RACHEL.  (Gen.  xxix.  6.) 
The  daughter  of  Laban,  the 
wife  of  the  patriarch  Jacob, 
and  the  mother  of  Joseph  and 
Benjamin.  (See  Jacob.)  The 
name  of  Rachel  is  used  by  the 
prophet  (Jer.  xxxi.  15)  figura¬ 
tively,  as  the  maternal  ancestor 
of  the  tribes  of  Ephraim  and 
Manasseh;  and  the  prophecy 
he  uttered  is  supposed  to  have 
been  fulfilled  when  those  tribes 
were  carried  into  captivity  be¬ 
yond  the  Euphrates.  A  similar 
use  is  made  of  her  name  by  the 
evangelist,  (Matt.  ii.  18,)  where 
Rachel,  who  was  buried  in  that 


rai 

vicinity,  ia  supposed  to  renew 
her  lamentations  at  the  slaugh¬ 
ter  of  so  many  of  her  descend¬ 
ants  as  fell  under  the  barbarous 
edict  of  Herod.  (See  Rama.) 

RAGUEL.  (See  Jethro.) 

RAHAB.  (Josh.  ii.  1.)  A  wo¬ 
man  of  Jericho,  who  kept  a 
public  house,  and,  as  some  sup¬ 
pose,  was  of  depraved  charac¬ 
ter.  She  had  heard  of  the  Israel¬ 
ites,  and  of  the  favour  of  God 
towards  them,  (Josh.  ii.  8—11 ;) 
and  when  the  two  spies  sent 
out  by  Joshua  came  to  Jericho 
to  explore  the  land  of  promise, 
she  concealed  them  from  the 
officers  who  were  sent  in  search 
of  them,  and  at  a  convenient 
lime  let  them  down  by  a  cord, 
upon  the  outside  of  the  city 
wall,  to  which  her  house-joined ; 
and  following  her  directions, 
they  escaped.  It  was  agreed 
between  ner  and  the  spies, 
that  she  should  take  a  scarlet 
thread  and  fasten  it  in  the 
window  or  aperture  through 
which  they  had  escaped;  and 
when  the  city  was  destroyed, 
her  house  ana  all  that  were  in 
it  should  be  protected.  (Josh, 
ii.  17—23.)  The  intelligence 
received  from  Rahab  induced 
Joshua  to  go  forward  at  once  to 
the  siege  of  Jericho ;  and  when 
the  city  was  taken  and  burnt, 
Rahab  and  her  family  were 
rescued  and  preserved,  accord¬ 
ing  to  the  promise  of  the  spies. 
(Josh.  vi.  17—25.)  The  faith 
of  Rahab  is  commended,  (Heb. 
xi.  31.  James  ii.  25 ;)  and  it  is 
supposed  she  married  into  a 
nobis  family  of  the  tribe  of 
Judah.  (Matt.  i.  5.)  The  term 
Rahab  is  used  poetically  as 
descriptive  of  Egypt,  in  Ps. 
lxxxvii.  4 ;  lxxxix.  10.  Isa.  Ii.  9. 
(See  Egypt.) 

RAIMENT.  (See  Clothes.) 

RAIN.  (Gen.  ii.  5.)  The 
force  of  the  various  allusions  to 
this  subject  cannot  be  appre¬ 
hended  without  some  know¬ 
ledge  of  the  seasons  in  Judea. 
(See  Seasons.)  Rain  falls 


RAT 

very  frequently  during  what 
we  call  tne  cold  months,  from 
November  to  April.  Sometimes 
it  rains  powerfully  for  several 
days,  with  thunder  and  light¬ 
ning,  and  a  strong  wind.  In 
the  summer  season,  from  May 
to  October,  the  earth  is  parched, 
verdure  is  destroyed,  and  vege¬ 
tation  languishes.  The  first 
rain  after  the  summer  drought 
usually  falls  in  October,  and 
is  called  the  former  or  au¬ 
tumnal  rain,  because  it  pre¬ 
ceded  seed-time,  and  prepares 
the  earth  for  cultivation.  The 
latter  rain  falls  in  April,  just 
before  harvest,  and  perfects 
the  fruits  of  the  earth.  (Hot. 
vi.  3.  Joel  ii.  23.  See  Evening 
Recreations,  vol.  i.  p.  82,  and 
Bedouin  Arabs,  ch.  i. ;  both 
by  Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

RAINBOW.  (Rev.iv.3.)  A 
natural  phenomenon  which 
consists  of  two  arches,  and  is 
always  formed  in  the  part  of 
the  sky  which  is  opposite  to 
the  sun.  It  is  never  seen  ex¬ 
cept  when  the  sun  shines  while 
rain  is  falling,  through  which 
the  rays  of  the  sun  pass,  and 
are  so  reflected  as  to  produce 
the  rainbow.  The  same  phe¬ 
nomenon  is  produced  by  the 
spray  of  a  water-fall,  and  even 
by  throwing  water  up  from  a 
brush  or  syringe,  when  the 
sun’s  rays  can  pass  through, 
and  be  reflected  on  an  opposite 
surface.  The  same  laws  by 
which  this  effect  is  produced 
were  probably  in  operation  be¬ 
fore  the  deluge,  and  we  may 
suppose,  therefore,  that  the  bow 
was  then  employed  or  appoint¬ 
ed  as  a  sign  of  the  covenant 
that  the  earth  should  not  be 
again  destroyed  by  a  flood. 
The  phrase,  I  do  set  my  bow 
in  the  clouds,  (Gen.  ix.  13,) 
might  with  equal  propriety  be 
translated,  I  have  set,  Ac. 
The  language  of  the  covenant 
would  be  in  substance,  ‘As 
surely  as  that  bow  is  the  result 
of  established  laws  which  must 
516 


RAM 

continue  as  long  as  the  sun 
and  atmosph  ere  endure,  so  sure¬ 
ly  shall  the  world  be  preserved 
from  destruction  by  a  deluge. 
Its  preservation  shall  be  as  ne¬ 
cessary  an  effect  of  my  promise 
as  that  bow  is  the  necessary 
effect  of  the  shining  of  the  sun 
upon  the  falling  drops  of  rain.’ 

RAISINS.  (See  Grapes.) 

RAM.  (Mic.  vi.  7.)  A  clean 
animal  by  the  ceremonial  law, 
and  used  for  sacrifice.  (Gen. 
xv.  9.)  In  prophetic  language 
the  ram  denotes  power  and 
wealth,  and  also  cruelty  and 
ression. 

he  ram  of  consecration, 
(Ex,  xxix.  26,)  was  sacrificed 
when  the  priests  were  invested 
with  their  office ;  and  the  put¬ 
ting  of  part  of  the  blood  of  this 
sacrifice  on  the  three  extremi¬ 
ties  of  the  body,  aptly  denoted 
the  consecration  of  the  whole 
body  to  the  service  of  the  Lord. 

RAM  SKINS.  (Ex.  xxv.  5.) 
Probably  the  beautiful  article 
common  at  this  day  in  Asiatic 
Turkey  and  Morocco,  made 
of  goat  skins  and  dyed  red. 
(Comp.  2Kings  iii.  4.) 

RAM,  battering.  (See 
Battering  Ram.) 

RAMA,  (Matt.  ii.  18,)  or  RA- 
MAH,  (1  Sam.  i.  19,)  was  a 
small  town,  situated  on  an 
eminence  in  the  territory  of 
Benjamin,  (Josh. xviii.  25,)  and 
about  six  miles  north  of  Jeru¬ 
salem,  on  the  way  to  Bethel. 
The  name  Rama,  or  Ramoth, 
signifies  an  eminence ,  and 
hence  is  a  constituent  part  of 
the  names  of  several  places, 
and  is  sometimes  used  gene¬ 
rally  for  any  high  place.  It 
was  here  that  the  Jews  were 
assembled  after  the  destruction 
of  Jerusalem  by  Nebuzara- 
dan,  (Jer.  xl.  1,)  to  take  their 
departure  from  their  beloved 
country,  and  to  go  as  captives 
into  a  land  of  strangers,  if  not 
of  tyrants.  It  was  “this  place 
that  Baasha,  king  of  Israel, 
once  possessed  and  fortified; 


RAM 

but  the  king  of  Judah  by  stra¬ 
tagem  wrested  it  from  him.  (1 
Kings  xv.  17.)  Near  to  Ha¬ 
mah  Rachel  was  buried  ;  and 
she  is  represented  by  the  pro¬ 
phet  (Jer.  xxxi.  15)  as  weep¬ 
ing  over  the  loss  of  her  chil¬ 
dren,  and  refusing  to  be  com¬ 
forted  because  of  their  ca;>- 
tivity.  This,  though  called 
Ramathaim-zophim,  was  also 
the  place  of  Samuel’s  birth, 
residence,  death,  and  burial, 
and  where  he  anointed  Saul  as 
king.  (1  Sam.  i.  1.  19 ;  ii.  11 ; 
vii.  17;  viii.  4;  xix.  18;  xxv. 
1.)  Ramah,  or  Ramathaim,  or 
Ramathaim-zophim  of  the  Old, 
is  the  Arimathea  of  the  New 
Testament,  where  dwelt  Jo¬ 
seph,  in  whose  tomb  the  body 
of  Christ  was  buried.  (John 
xix.  38.)  There  is  now  a  vil¬ 
lage  on  the  hill  which  was  the 
site  of  Ramah,  called  Sacnuele 
by  the  Arabs.  Jerusalem  is 
easily  seen  from  this  height. 

There  was  another  Rama  in 
Naphlali.  (Josh.  xix.  36.)  Mr. 
King,  an  American  missionary, 
was  at  Arimathea,  now  Romba, 
in  February,  1824,  and  sdid  to 
the  Arabs  several  copies  of  the 
Bible  in  Arabic ;  and  Mr.  Whit¬ 
ing,  another  American  mission- 
ary,was  there  in  April,  1835.  He 
says, “The  situation  is  exceed¬ 
ingly  beautiful.  It  is  about 
two  hours  distant  from  Jerusa¬ 
lem,  to  the  north-west,  on  an 
eminence  commanding  a  view 
of  a  wide  extent  of  beautifully 
diversified  country.  Hills, 
plains,  and  valleys,  highly 
cultivated  fields  of  wheat  and 
barley,  vineyards  and  olive- 
yards,  are  spread  out  before 
you  as  on  a  map ;  and  nume¬ 
rous  villages  are  scattered  here 
and  there  over  the  whole  view. 
To  the  west  and  north-west, 
beyond  the  hill-country,  ap¬ 
pears  the  vast  plain  of  Sharon, 
and  farther  still  you  look  out 
upon  the  great  and  wide  sea . 
It  occurred  to  me  as  not  impro¬ 
bable  that  in  the  days  of  David 


KAM 

and  Solomon,  this  place  may 
have  been  a  favourite  retreat 
during  the  heat  of  summer; 
nd  that  here  the  former  may 
ave  often  struck  his  sacred 
lyre.  Some  of  the  psalms,  or 
at  least  one  of  them,  (see  Ps. 
civ.  25,)  seem  to  have  been 
composed  in  some  place  which 
commanded  a  view  of  the  Me¬ 
diterranean;  and  this  is  the 
only  place,  I  believe,  in  the 
vicinity  of  Jerusalem,  that  af¬ 
fords  such  a  view.” 

Ramah  was  once  a  strongly 
fortified  city,  but  there  is  no 
qity  here  at  present.  A  half- 
ruined  Mohammedan  mosque, 
which  was  originally  a  Chris¬ 
tian  church,  stands  over  the 
tomb  bf  the  prophet;  besides 
which,  a  feSv  miserable  dwell¬ 
ings  are  the  only  buildings  that 
remain  on  this  once  celebrated 
spot. 

There  is  a  town  about  thirty 
miles  north-west  of  Jerusalem, 
on  the  road  to  Joppa, now  called 
Ramla ,  or  Ramie,  which  is  de¬ 
scribed  by  many  geographers, 
and  some  of  the  best  maps,  as 
the  Rama  of  Samuel,  and  the 
Arimathea  of  Joseph.  It  com¬ 
manded  a  view  of  the  whole 
valley  of  Sharon,  from  the 
mountains  of  Jerusalem  to  the 
sea,  and  from  the  foot  of  Car¬ 
mel  to  the  hills  of  Gaza. 

RAMATHAIM-ZOPHIM. 
(See  Rama.) 

RAMESES.  (SeeRAAMSES.) 

RAMOTH,  (Josh.  xx.  8,)  or 
RAMOTH-GILEAD,  (1  Kings 
xxii.  29,)  or  RAMATH  MlZ- 
PEH,  (Josh.  xiii.  26,)  or  watch- 
tower.  It  was  a  famous  city 
in  the  mountains  of  Gilead, 
within  the  territory  of  Gad, 
about  fifteen  miles  from  Rab- 
bah.  It  was  appointed  for  one 
of  the  cities  of  refuge.  (Deut. 
iv.  43.)  During  the  reigns  of 
the  later  kings  of  Israel,  this 
place  wan  the  occasion  of  seve¬ 
ral  wars  between  them  and  the 
kings  of  Damascus,  who  had 
conquered  it,  and  from  whom 


RA  V 

the  kings  of  Israel  endeavoured 
to  regain  it.  (1  Kings  xvii.  2 
Kings  viii.  28,  29.  See  Omar, 
p.  137,  by  Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

South  Ramoth  (1  Sam.  m, 
27)  is  probably  so  called  to  dis¬ 
tinguish  it  from  Ramoth  beyond 
Jordan. 

RANSOM.  (Matt.  xx.  28. 
Mark  x.  45.)  The  price  paid 
to  purchase  the  freedom  of  a 
captive  or  slave.  (1  Cor.  vi.  19, 
20.  1  Tim.  ii.  6.)  Under  the 
Levitical  law,  an  offering  was 
required  of  every  Israelite  over 
twenty  years  of  age,  at  the  time 
the  census  was  taken.  This 
offering  is  called  a  ransom,  or 
atonement  money.  (Ex.  xxx.  12 
—16.)  It  amounted  to  half  a  she 
kel,  or  about  twenty-five  cents 
It  was  to  be  made  upon  penalty 
of  the  plague ;  and  every  per¬ 
son,  rich  or  poor,  was  required 
to  give  that  sum,  and  neither 
more  or  less.  (1  Pet.  i.  18,  19.) 

RAVEN.  (Gen.  viii.  7.)  A 
bird  of  prey,  resembling  the 
common  (row  of  the  United 
States  in  size,  shape,  and  co¬ 
lour,  and  ceremonially  un¬ 
clean,  (Lev.  xi.  15;)  and  de¬ 
lighting  in  deserted  and  soli¬ 
tary  places;  (Isa.  xxxiv.  11.) 
When  about  to  feed  upon  a 
dead  body,  it  is  said  to  seize 
first  upon  the  eyes.  Hence  the 
allusion,  Prov.  xxx.  17,  imply¬ 
ing  the  exposure  of  tne  body 
in  the  open  field,  than  which 
nothing  was  regarded  as  mor» 
disgraceful.  (See  Burial.) 

The  young  of  the  raven  leav» 
the  nest  early,  before  they  ar> 
able  to  supply  themselves  with 
food.  This  fact  is  alluded  to,  Jol 
xxxviii.  41.  Ps.  cxlvii.9.  Luk« 
xii.  24.  Whether  the  rave* 
sent  out  of  the  ark  by  Noah 
ever  returned  to  him,  is  no. 
agreed :  according  to  the  literal 
reading  of  the  Hebrew,  also  o t 
the  Samaritan  text,  and  tht 
Chaldee,  it  did;  but  a  differ 
ent  opinion  is  supported  by  thi 
LXX.,  the  Syriac.  fhi&  Latin 
and  most  of  the  fatr.ers;  (Get 
618 


REB 

viii.  7.)  There  is  also  some 
litference  of  opinion  respecting 
the  ravens  by  which  Elijah 
was  fed  at  the  brook  Cherith. 
An  ingenious  writer  has  dis¬ 
covered  that  in  that  region 
there  was  a  village  called  J2ro- 
bi,  and  a  brook  called  Corith, 
and  he  conjectures  that  the 
JErobites  supplied  the  prophet 
with  food :  but  if  they  supplied 
him  with  food,  why  not  with 
water,  when  the  brook  failed  1 
and  why,  in  that  case,  could 
not  Ahab  find  him  ?  (1  Kings 
xvii.  4—7)  There  seems  to  be 
no  good  reason  to  doubt  that 
the  natural  and  commonly  re¬ 
ceived  impression  of  the  history 
is  just.  (For  cut  and  explana¬ 
tion,  see  Youth’s  Friend  for 
April,  1829,  by  Am  S  S. 
Union.) 

REBEKAH.  (Gen.  xxiv.  15.) 
The  sister  of  Laban  and  wife 
of  Isaac.  The  circumstances 
of  her  marriage  with  Isaac  con¬ 
stitute  one  of  the  most  simple 
and  beautiful  passages  of  the 
sacred  history.  (Gen.  xxiv. 
See  Christian  Politeness, 
tip.40— 45,and  Story  ofIsaao, 
pp.  65—76 ;  both  by  Am.  S.  S. 
Union.)  After  she  had  been 
married  twenty  years,  she  be¬ 
came  the  mother  of  Jacob  and 
Esau,  and  at  the  same  time  re¬ 
ceived  a  remarkable  divine 
intimation  concerning  the  fu¬ 
ture  destiny  of  the  infants. 
When  they  grew  up,  Jacob 
became  the  favourite  of  his 
mother,  and  this  undue  par¬ 
tiality  was  the  source  of  much 
mischief.  (See  Jacob.) 

She  died  before  Isaac,  and 
was  buried  in  Abraham’s  tomb. 
(Gen.  xlix.  31.) 

RECHAB,  RECHABITES. 
(Jer.  xxxv.  16, 18.  TheRechab- 
ites  were  a  tribe  of  Kenites 
or  Midianites,  (1  Chron.  ii.  55,) 
descended  from  Jonadab,  or 
Jehonadab,  the  son  or  descend¬ 
ant  of  Rechab,  (2  Kings  x.  15,) 
from  which  last  they  derive 
their  name.  (Comp.  Num.  x. 


REC 

1  29— 32,  with  Judg.  i.  lG,  and  iv 
11.)  Jonadab  appears  to  have 
been  zealous  for  the  pure  wor¬ 
ship  of  God,  and  was  associated 
with  Jehu  in  the  destruction  of 
the  idolatrous  house  of  Ahab. 
He  established  a  rule  for  his  pos¬ 
terity,  that  they  should  possess 
neither  land  nor  houses,  but 
should  live  in  tents ;  and  should 
drink  no  wine  or  strong  drink. 
In  obedience  to  this  rule,  the 
Rechabites  continued  a  sepa¬ 
rate  but  peaceable  people,  liv¬ 
ing  in  tents,  and  removing 
from  place  to  place,  as  circum¬ 
stances  required.  When  Ju¬ 
dea  was  first  invaded  by  Nebu¬ 
chadnezzar  they  fled  to  Jeru¬ 
salem  for  safety,  where  it 
leased  God,  by  the  prophet 
eremiah,  to  exhibit  them  to 
the  wicked  inhabitants  of  Jeru¬ 
salem,  as  an  example  of  con¬ 
stancy  in  their  obedience  to 
the  mandates  of  an  earthly  la¬ 
ther.  (Jer.  xxxv.  2—19.) 

Some  highly  interesting  facts 
are  known  respecting  the  pre¬ 
sent  condition  of  the  Rechab¬ 
ites.  They  still  dwell  in  the 
mountainous  tropical  country  to 
thenorth-eastofMedina.  They 
are  called  Beni  Khaibr,  sons  of 
Heber ;  and  their  land  is  called 
Khaibr.  They  have  no  inter¬ 
course  with  their  brethren,  the 
Jews,  who  are  dispersed  over 
Asia;  and  are  esteemed  &s false 
brethren ,  because  they  observe 
not  the  law.  These  persons 
cannot  accompany  a  caravan, 
because  their  religion  permits 
them  not  to  travel  on  the  Sab¬ 
bath  ;  yet  their  country  is  so 
surrounded  by  deserts,  that 
unless  in  a  caravan,  it  can  nei¬ 
ther  be  entered  or  left  safely. 

A  late  traveller  inquired  of 
a  Jew  about  them,  and  whether 
they  ever  came  to  Jerusalem ; 
and  the  Jew  proved  that  they 
came  to  that  city  in  the  time 
of  Jeremiah,  by  reading  ch. 
xxxv.  of  his  prophecy.  This 
Jew  stated  that  these  persons, 
who  were  unquestionably  th“ 


1  NOPH  or  MEMPHIS 

2  SAIS  or  SIN 

3  ON  or  HELIOPOLIS 

4  R AMESES 
6  Succoth 

6  Etham 

7  Migdol 

8  BAAL-ZEPHON 

9  Marah 

10  Elira 

U  Doph&tb 


12  Alush 

13  Rephidim 

14  Kibroth-hattaavah 

15  Hazeroth 

16  Ritbmah 

17  Rimmon-parez 

18  Libnah 

19  Kadesh-bamea 

20  Rissah 

21  Kehelathah 

22  Shapber 


23  Haradah 

24  Ma  ke  Ip  tlj 

25  Tahath 

26  Tarah 

27  Mithcah 

28  Hashmon^h 

29  Moseroth 

30  Bene-jaakam 

31  Hor-bagidgad 
92  Jotbathah 

520 


3 

4  3 

5  3  6 

32 

/L  N 

J 

66  ImW1* 

62 

ftx 

9  4^ 
43 
42 
41 

MOAB 

E  I  A 

18 

17  22 

23 

*  24 

rt 

04  25 

19  EDOM 

20 

21 

£  39 

57  <. 

40 

31 

of  Shur 

of  Sin 

-  16  •-  2S 

«  o  ^ 

e  fc  as 

-  15  g  So9 

•  *  m 

:  14  li 

36  38 

^37  MI 

I35 

P 

DIAN 

30 

Horeb 

13 

s  a  1 

29 

JP 

BEa®=^  SEA  V 

It 

28 

3 

4  3 

5 

3  6 

-1 — *. 

33  Ebronah 

34  Elath 

£  EZION-GEBER 

36  Kariesh 

37  Zalmonah 

38  Punon 

39  Oboth 

40  Ije-abarim 

41  Aroer 


42  D1BON 


44* 


43  Beer 

44  Almon-diblathaim 

45  MaNanah 

46  Nahaliel 

47  Bamoth 

48  Pisi?ah 

49  Nebo 


63  Abarim 

64  JERICHO 

65  Bethlehem 

66  HEBRON 

67  Hor 

68  GAZA 

59  ASCALON 

60  ASHDOD 

61  EKRON 

62  JERUSALEM 

621 


50  Zarad  or  BcnLiammed 

51  Joktheel 
62  HESHBON 


RED 

descendants  of  the  Rechabites, 
are  now  known  to  drink  no 
wine;  to  have  neither  vine- 
ards,  field,  nor  seed ;  and  to 
e  wandering  nomades,  dwell¬ 
ing  like  Arabs  in  tents ;  and 
they  have  never  wanted  a  man 
to  stand  before  the  Lord,  but 
have  maintained  strictly  and 
constantly  the  worship  of  the 
true  God. 

RECONCILE,  (Eph.  ii.  16,) 
RECONCILIATION.  (Heb.  ii. 
17.)  These  terms,  as  used  by 
the  sacred  writers,  imply  the 
restoration  of  man  to  the  favour 
and  grace  of  God,  through  the 
atonement  made  by  Jesus 
Christ.  (2  Cor.  v.  19.)  They 
suppose  a  previous  state  of  va¬ 
riance  and  hostility,  such  as 
must  necessarily  exist  between 
Deings  so  perfectly  opposite  in 
character  as  the  holy  God  and 
his  fallen,  sinful  creature,  man. 
(Rom.  vii.  5—25.) 

RED  SEA.  (Ex.  xiii.  18.)  A 
gulf  setting  up  eleven  hundred 
and  sixty  miles  from  the  Ara¬ 
bian  Sea,  through  the  straits  of 
Babelmandel,  nearly  to  Cairo 
ontheNile.  Its  mean  breadth  is 
about  one  hundred  and  twenty 
miles.  It  derives  its  name  pro¬ 
bably  from  the  fact  that  it  was 
bordered  by  the  possessions  of 
Edom,  (which  signifies  red.) 
The  original  is  supposed  to 
mean  weedy  sea ;  but  the  siu- 
nificancy  of  this  name  is  still 
more  obscure;  for  a  modern 
traveller  tells  us  that  the  wa¬ 
ter  of  the  Red  Sea  is  so  very 
clear,  that  he  read  on  the 
wooden  stock  of  an  anchor  the 
name  of  the  ship,  at  the  depth 
of  twenty-five  fathoms,  (one 
htindrei  and  fifty  feet.)  Still, 
the  bottom  is  covered  with 
coral  reefs;  and  if  examined 
in  calm  weather,  has  the  ap¬ 
pearance  of  verdant  meadows 
and  submarine  forests.  Hence 
it  is  supposed  the  Jews  and 
Arabs  have  called  it  the  sea  of 
green  weeds. 

The  northern  extremity  of 


RED 

the  Red  Paa  is  divided  into  two 
gulfs,  Akaba  and  Suez.  The 
latter  was  crossed  by  the  Israel¬ 
ites  in  their  passage  from  Egypt 
to  Canaan.  The  precise  point 
at  which  this  miraculous  event 
happened  is  not  certainly 
known. 

The  remembrance  of  this 
memorable  transaction  is  pre¬ 
served  in  the  local  traditions 
of  the  inhabitants.  The  Wells 
of  Moses  (.Ayoun  Mousa)  and 
the  Baths  of  Pharaoh  ( Ham 
mam  Faraoun )  are  associated 
with  the  names  of  the  Jewish 
deliverer  and  the  Egyptian 
monarch ;  and  the  superstitious 
Arabs  call  the  gulf  the  Bohr  of 
Kolzoum,  or  Sea  of  Destruc¬ 
tion;  in  whose  roaring  waters 
they  still  pretend  to  hear  the 
cries  and  wailings  of  the  ghosts 
of  the  drowned  Egyptians. 

Diodorus  seems  distinctly  to 
allude  to  the  passage  of  the 
Israelites;  “It  has  been  an  an¬ 
cient  report  among  the  Ichthy- 
ophagi, continued  down  to  them 
from  their  forefathers,  that  by 
a  mighty  reflux  of  the  waters, 
which  happened  in  former 
days,  the  whole  gulf  became 
dry  land,  and  appeared  green 
all  over,  the  water  overflowing 
the  opposite  shore ;  and  that- 
all  the  ground  being  thus  left 
bare  to  the  very  lowest  bottom 
of  the  gulf,  the  sea,  by  an  ex¬ 
traordinary  high  tide,  returned 
again  into  its  ancient  chan¬ 
nel.”  It  is  notunimporlant  to 
find  a  heathen  writer  uncon¬ 
sciously  bearing  testimony  to 
the  truth  of  Scripture  history. 

The  passage  of  the  Red  Sea 
nas  been  attributed  to  the  pe¬ 
culiarities  of  the  tides,  aided 
by  the  winds;  but1  this  is  no 
less  the  act  of  God  than  an 
immediate  or  supernatural  in 
terposition.  It  is  well  known, 
say  the  skeptical,  that  in  the 
Arabian  Gulf,  the  Persian  Gulf, 
the  Ganges,  and  other  open 
ings  into" the  great  ocean,  these 
tides  are  often  overwhelming. 

6z2 


KEE 

So  that  the  Hebrews,  whose 
knowledge  was  confined  to  the 
limits  of  the  tideless  sea,  were 
strongly  impressed  by  an  event 
which  caused  the  destruction 
of  their  enemies  upon  ground 
which  they  had  passed  dry- 
shod,  i-n  consequence  of  a  re¬ 
ceding  tide,  assisted  by  a 
strong  east  wind  all  that 
night.  This  interpretation^ 
however,  is  entirely  gratuitous 
and  fanciful.  The  inspired 
historian  declares  explicitly 
that  the  children  of  Israel 
went  through  the  midst  of  the 
sea.  The  waters  were  a  wall 
lento  them  on  the  right  hand 
and  on  the  left.  The  whole 
account  gives  the  impression 
of  a  stupendous  miracle.  (See 
Life  of  Moses,  ch.  xi.,  and 
Evenins  Recreations,  vol. 
iii.  pp.  96 — 104;  both  by  Am. 
S.  S.  Union.) 

REDEEM,  (Luke  i.  68,)  RE¬ 
DEEMER.  (Job  xix.  25.)  To 
redeem  a  person  is  to  purchase 
his  liberty  for  him.  The  price 
paid  is  called  the  ransom. 
(See  Ransom.)  Sinners  are  in 
bondage  to  sin,  and  of  course 
ihey  are  in  the  bondage  of 
condemnation.  The®WB  Jesus 
Christ  having  given  his  life 
or  his  blood  a  ransom  for 
them,  he  redeems  them,  and  is 
therefore  called  their  Redeem¬ 
er.  (Matt.  xx.  28.  1  Pet.  i.  18.) 
This  ransom,  though  sufficient 
to  redeem  all  men“from  capti¬ 
vity,  avails  only  for  the  re¬ 
demption  of  such  as  are  in 
Christ  Jesus,  and  walk  not 
after  the  flesh,  but  after  the 
Spirit.  (See  First  Lessons, 
pp.  63—73,  and  Sister  Ma¬ 
ry’s  Stories,  No.  vi. ;  both  by 
Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

REED.  (Job  xl.  21.)  A  plant 
of  the  grass  family.  The  bam¬ 
boo  and  common  cane  are 
species  of  the  reed,  and  so  are 
the  calamus  and  flag.  Fish- 
poles,  canes,  and  rods  (Matt, 
xxvii.  29)  are  formed  of  it. 
These  plants  flourish  in  marsh- 


REF 

es  or  in  the  vicinity  of  water" 
courses:  hence  the  allusion- 
job  xl.  21 — 23.  It  is  often  used 
by  the  sacred  writers  to  illus¬ 
trate  weakness  and  fragility. 
(2  Kings  xviii.  21.  Isa.  xxxvi. 
6 ;  xlii.  3.  Ezek.xxix.  6.  Matt, 
xii.  20.) 

Reeds  were  also  used  as  pens 
are  now,  (see  Pen,)  and  also 
as  measuring  rods.  (Ezek.  xl. 
5.  See  Measures.)  From  their 
height  and  slender  shape, 
plants  of  this  kind  are  moved 
by  the  slightest  breath  of  wind, 
(1  Kings  xiv.  15,)  and  hence 
nothing  could  be  more  unim¬ 
portant  in  itself  than  such  a 
motion,  and  nothing  more 
strikingly  illustrative  of  fickle¬ 
ness  and  instability.  (Comp. 
Matt.  xi.  7.  Lukevii.24.  Eph. 
iv.  14.) 

Measurino  reed.  (See 
Measures.) 

REFINER.  (Mai. iii. 3.)  This 
word  is  often  used  figuratively 
by  the  sacred  writers.  Its  pe¬ 
culiar  force  in  the  passage  cited 
will  be  seen,  when  it  is  remem¬ 
bered  that  refiners  of  silver  sit 
with  their  eyes  steadily  fixed 
on  the  furnace,  that  they  may 
watch  the  process ;  and  that 
the  process  is  complete  and 
perfected  only  when  the  re¬ 
finer  sees  his  own  image  in 
the  melted  mass.  When  Christ 
sees  his  image  perfectly  re¬ 
flected  in  the  holy  life  and 
conversation  of  his  people,  the 
object  of  the  refining  process  is 
accomplished. 

REFUGE.  (See  City.) 

REGENERATION.  (Matt, 
xix.  28.  Tit.  iii.  5.)  This  term 
occurs  in  no  other  passages  of 
the  Bible.  It  signifies  bein^ 
born  again.  As  used  by  M«” 
thew,  the  meaning  of  the  woifl 
will  depend  onthe'punctuation 
of  the  passage,  anil  will  either 
refer  to  the  new-birth  which 
the  followers  of  Christ  had 
undergone,  or  to  the  renovation 
or  consummation  of  all  things 
at  Christ’s  second  ad  vent,  when 


REG 

{here  shall  be  new  heavens  and 
a  new  earth.  The  last  is  the 
most  natural  construction.  By 
the  washing  of  regeneration, 
in  the  latter  passage,  is  to  be 
understood  what  is  understood 
by  other  words  conveying  pre¬ 
cisely  the  same  idea, and  which 
are  of  frequent  occurrence.  Our 
Saviour  says  to  Nicodemus,£i- 
cept  a  man  be  bom  again ,  he 
cannot  see  the  kingdom  of  God. 
(John  iii.  3.)  Christians  are 
uescribed  as  bom  of  God,  (John 
i.  12.  13.  1  John  ii.  29 ;  v.  1. 
4.)  They  are  also  represented 
as  begotten  of  God,  or  by  the 
word  of  God.  (James  l.  18. 

1  Pet.  i.  3.  23.)  And  the  same 
thing,  in  substance,  is  present¬ 
ed  under  the  idea  of  a  new  cre¬ 
ation,  (2  Cor.  v.  17 ;)  a  renew¬ 
ing  of  the  mind,  (Rom.  xii.  2;) 
a  renewing  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
(Titus  iii.  5;)  a  resurrection 
from  the  dead,  (Eph.  ii.  6 ;)  a 
being  quickened,  &c.  (Eph.  ii. 
1,5.)  Regeneration,  then,  may 
oe  regarded  as  the  commu¬ 
nication  of  spiritual  life  to  a 
soul  previously  dead  in  tres¬ 
passes  and  sins.by  the  almighty 
energy  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  mak-  ■ 
ing  use  of  the  word  of  truth  as 
the  instrument:  in  consequence 
of  which  divine  operation  the 
soul  Degins  to  apprehend  spi¬ 
ritual  things  in  a  new  light; 
to  believe  them  in  a  new  man¬ 
ner;  to  love  them  with  an  af¬ 
fection  not  before  felt ;  and  to 
act  henceforth  from  new  mo¬ 
tives  and  to  new  ends.  The 
effects  of  regeneration  cannot 
but  be  very  perceptible,  in  the 
humble  penitence  and  contri¬ 
tion  for  sin  which  is  produced: 
gin  the  ardent  breathings  after 
the  knowledge  of  God ;  after 
conformity  to  his  holiness,  and 
communion  with  him  through 
Christ  Jesus ;  and  in  the  kind 
and  fraternal  feelings  which 
spontaneously  flow  from  the 
regenerated  soul  towards  all 
men,  and  especially  towards 
the  household  of  faith :  for  to  the 


v  REH 

brethren  of  Christ  the  soul  born 
of  God  cannot  but  entertain  an 
affection  of  peculiar  strength 
and  tenderness;  both  because 
they  belong  to  Christ,  and  be¬ 
cause  they  possess  and  mani¬ 
fest  something  of  the  lovely 
image  of  Him  that  hath  begot, 
ten  them  anew. 

REHOB.  (Num.xiii.  21.)  Pro¬ 
bably  the  same  withBeth-rehob, 
(Judg.  xviii.  28,)  a  city  of  Syria, 
north  of  Cesarea  Philippi,  and 
near  Dan.  It  belonged  to  the 
tribe  of  Asher.  (Josh.  xix.  28.) 

REHOBOAM,  (1  Kings  xiv. 
21,)  son  and  successor  of  Solo¬ 
mon,  ascended  the  throne  of 
Judah  at  the  age  of  forty-one, 
and  reigned  seventeen  years. 
At  the  commencement  of  his 


career,  he  had  an  opportunity 
to  conciliate  the  prejudices  and 
discontents  which  had  been  ex¬ 
cited  by  the  closing  acts  of  his 
father’s  reign;  but  rejecting 
the  wise  counsel  of  the  aged, 
and  adopting  the  precipitate 
counsel  of  the  young,  he  in¬ 
flamed  his  subjects  by  the  most 
insolent  and  tyrannical  reply 
to  their  petitions  and  repre- 
senta|mM,  (2  Chron.  x.  1—14,) 
and  ffl^Bned  a  division  of  the 
kingdom.  Ten  of  the  tribes  re¬ 
volted,  (see  Jeroboam,)  leav¬ 
ing  Judah  and  Benjamin  alone 
in  their  allegiance  to  Rehobo- 
am.  The  latter  proposed  at 
once  to  employ  force  for  the 
purpose  of  reducing  the  rebels, 
but  was  divinely  admonished 
to  forbear.  (1  Kings  xii.  24.) 
Continual  wars  prevailed,  how¬ 
ever,  between  the  two  parties. 
(2  Chron.  xii.  15.)  In  about 
three  years  after  the  division 
of  the  kingdom,  the  tribes  of 
Judah  followed  the  tribes  of 
Israel  in  their  idolatrous  prac¬ 
tices  ;  and  for  this  they  suffered 
the  invasion  of  Shishak,  king 
of  Egypt,  who  desolated  the 
country,  and  threatened  the 
utter  destruction  of  their  citv  ; 
but  upon  their  repentance,  the 
scourge  was  stayed,  though 
524 


REM 

they  suffered  immense  loss, 
and  were  made  tributary  to 
the  invader:  (2Chron.  xii.  2— 
12.)  We  are  told  that  a  his¬ 
tory  of  Rehoboam’s  reign  was 
written  by  Shemaiah  and  Tddo, 
(2  Chron.  xii.  15,)  but  it  has  not 
been  preserved.  A  distinguish¬ 
ed  modern  antiquary  has  fur¬ 
nished  evidence  that  on  the 
remains  of  edifices  believed  to 
have  been  erected  by  this  very 
Shishak,  he  has  discovered  se¬ 
veral  effigies  of  captive  kings, 
and  among  them  one  of  Reho- 
boam,  the  son  and  successor 
of  Solomon. 

REHOBOTH  (Gen.  x.  11; 
meaning  ample  room,  Gen. 
xxvi.  22)  is  supposed  to  ex¬ 
press,  in  the  passage  cited, 
either  the  spaciousness  of  the 
streets  or  the  extent  of  the  city 
of  Nineveh.  If  it  was  a  city, 
we  have  no  knowledge  of  its 
site. 

Rehoboth  by  the  kiveb, 
(Gen.  xxxvi.  37,)  the  birth¬ 
place  of  Saul  the  Idumean 
king,  was  probably  a  town  on 
the  Euphrates',  the  site  of  which 
is  supposed  to  be  occupied  by 
the  modern  town  o(£xaachabi, 

Rehoboth  is  alsfll||  name 
of  a  famous  well  otysaac,  near 
to  Gerar.  (Gen.  xxjfk  SB.)  . 

REINS.  (Job  xvi.  13.)  This 
word,  which  properly  signifies 
the  loins,  or  region  of  the  kid¬ 
neys,  is  used  figuratively  by 
the  sacred  writers,  to  denote 
the  seat  of  the  affections  and 
dispositions. 

REMPIIAN.  (Acts  vil.  43.) 
Probably  a  name  given  to  some 
planet  (perhaps  Saturn)  which 
was  regarded  as  an  object  of 
worship.  The  image  of  the 
object  of  their  idolalry,  being 
enclosed  in  a  small  tabernacle 
or  portable  case,  was  carried 
about  from  place  to  place  like 
other  baggage.  Such  were  the 
shrines,  Acts  xix.  24.  (Comp. 
Isa.  xlvi.  7.)  What  the  pro¬ 
phet  calls  Chian,  (Amos  v.  26,) 
the  martyr  calls  Remphan. 


REP 

Probably  the  words  signify  the 
same  thing  in  different  lan- 

eUREND.  (Gen.  xxxvii.  29— 
34.)  To  rend  the  garments,  or 
tare  them,  (2  Sam.  xiii.31,)  was 
from  the  earliest  period  a  sign 
of  grief  or  penitence.  Jacob 
and  David  did  it  on  various 
occasions;  and  so  did  Joshua, 
(Josh.  vii.  6,)  and  Hezekiah. 
(2Kings  xix.  1.)  The  high-  sj, 
riest  was  forbidden  to  rend 
is  clothes,  (Lev.  x.  6 ;  xxi.  10,) 
probably  meaning  his  sacred 
garments.  Perhaps  those  re¬ 
ferred  to,  Matt.  xxvi.  65,  were 
such  as  were  ordinarily  worn, 
or  merely  judicial  and  not  pon 
tifical  garments.  Sometimes  it 
denoted  anger  or  indignation, 
mingled  with  sorrow.  (Isa. 
xxxvi.  22;  xxxvii.  1.  Actsxiv. 
14.)  The  phrase  to  rend  the 
face  (Jer.  iv.  30)  alludes  to  the 
practice  of  introducing  paints 
into  the  flesh,  particularly  the 
eyelids.  (See  Eyelids.) 

RENEW,  RENEWING. 
(See  Regeneration.) 

REPENT,  REPENTANCE, 
(Ezek.  xiv.  6.  Matt.  ix.  13,)  is 
a  change  of  mind,  accompa¬ 
nied  with  regret  and  sorrow  for 
something  d5ne,  and  an  earn¬ 
est  wish  that  it  was  undone. 
Such  was  the  repentance  of 
Judas,  (Matt,  xxvii.  3;)  and  so 
it  is  said  that  Esau  found  no 
place  of  repentance  in  his  fa¬ 
ther  Isaac,  although  he  sought 
it  with  tears,  (Heb.  xii.  17 ;)  i.e. 
Isaac  would  not  change  what 
he  had  done,  and  revoke  the 
blessing  given  to  Jacob.  (Gen. 
xxvii.  34—40.) 

Repentance  unto  life  is  sor¬ 
row  for  sin,  grief  for  having 
committed  it,  and  a  turning 
away  from  it  with  abhorrence- 
actsompanied  with  sincere  en¬ 
deavours,  in  reliance  on  God’s 
/grace  and  the  aid  of  the  Holy 
'Spirit,  to  live  in  humble  and 
holy  obedience  to  the  com 
mands  and  will  of  God.  (Jer. 
iii.  10.  Matt.  iii.  8.  Acts  v.  31 


REP 

xi.  18.  23.  2  Cor.  vii.  3-10. 

2  Tim.  ii.  25.)  This  is  that 
repentance  to  which  is  pro¬ 
mised  the  free  forgiveness  of 
sin  through  the  merits  of  Jesus 
Christ. 

The  expression  in  Rom.  xi. 
29,  denotes  generally  the  sta¬ 
bility  and  unchangeableness 
of  God’s  commands  and  pur¬ 
poses,  which  will  not  be  chang¬ 
ed  or  revoked  from  any  change 
of  mind  or  purpose  in  him; 
and  particularly  in  relation  to 
the  Jews,  that  God  was  mind 
ful  of  his  covenant  with  them, 
and  that  it  was  firm  and  irre¬ 
vocable. 

When  God  is  said  to  repent, 
it  does  not  imply  any  change 
or  sorrow,  for  he  is  of  one  min'd, 
(1  Sam.  xv.  29.  Job  xxiii.  13. 
jer.  xviii.  7—10 ;)  but  it  denotes 
a  course  of  proceeding  which, 
if  pursued  by  men,  would  be 
indicative  of  repentance  or 
change  of  purpose.  For  exam- 
le,  if  one  attempts  to  build  a 
ouse,  and  because  he  is  un¬ 
successful,  or  disappointed  in 
the  appearance  or  construction 
of  it,  pulls-  it  down,  such  a 
course  indicates  regret  and 
sorrow.  So  when  it  is  said  of 
God,  that  when  he  saw  the 
great  wickedness  of  the  world, 
it  repented  him  that  he  had 
made  man  on  the  earth,  (Gen. 
vi.  6,)  the  expression  is  to 
be  regarded  in  this  figurative 
sense,  as  denoting  an  emotion 
which  in  man  is  called  re¬ 
pentance,  but  of  which  in  that 
sense  the  divine  mind  is  inca¬ 
pable.  The  purpose  of  God 
comprehends  all  the  apparent 
changes  in  his  dispensations. 

REPETITIONS,  vain, 
(Matt.  vi.  7,)  were  short  forms 
or  particular  expressions  in 
prayer,  which  the  Jews  were 
accustomed  to  repeat  a  certain 
number  of  times.  There  are 
still  those  who  repeat  the  Lord’s 
prayer,  and  other  prayers,  a 
great  number  of  times,  and 


REP 

vainly  think  that  the  oflener 
the  prayer  is  repeated, the  more 
efficacious  it  is ;  i.  e.  if  repeat¬ 
ed  two  hundred  times,  it  will 
be  twice  as  good  as  if  repeated 
only  one  hundred  times.  It 
was  a  maxim  among  the  Jews 
that  he  who  multiplies  prayer 
must  be  heard ;  but  as  their 
prayers  were  in  words  or  for 
form  merely,  they  were  justly 
liable  to  the  censure  which 
this  passage  implies. 

REPHAIM,  (5  Sam. xxiii. 13,) 
or  valley  of  the  giants.  (Josh. 
xv.  8;  xviii.  16.)  A  remark¬ 
ably  fertile  valley  (Isa.  xvii.  5) 
between  Bethlehem  and  Jeru¬ 
salem,  formerly  inhabited  by 
a  race  of  giants,  (Gen.  xiv.  5,) 
and  remarkable  for  two  of  Da¬ 
vid’s  victories  over  the  Philis¬ 
tines.  (2Sam.  v.  18—22.  IChron. 
xi.  14 ;  xiv.  9—11.) 

REPHIDIM.  (Ex.  xvii.  1.) 
One  of  the  stations  of  the  Is¬ 
raelites,  on  the  western  arm 
of  tlie  Red  Sea.  It  is  distin¬ 
guished  as  the  place  where 
water  was  miraculously  sup¬ 
plied  to  the  murmuring  people, 
(Ex.  xvii.  6;)  and,  also,  for 
Joshua’s  -victory  over  Amalek. 
(Ex.  8— 10.)  Here,  too, 
Jethro1  ana  his  family  came  to 
visit  Moses,  and  united  with 
the  elders  of  Israel  in  acts  of 
worship.  (Ex.  xviii.  1 — 12. 
Comp.  Ex.  iii.  12.) 

This  place  is  called  Merihah 
( strife  or  contention )  from  the 
circumstance  of  the  conduct 
of  the  Israelites  above  men¬ 
tioned.  Modern  travellers 
tell  us  that  the  supposed  rock 
from  which  the  water  was  sup¬ 
plied  is  a  beautiful  granite, 
about  fifteen  feet  in  height 
and  breadth,  and  quite  insu¬ 
lated  in  a  narrow  valley,  which 
opens  directly  into  a  vast  plain; 
that  the  Arabs  reverence  it,  and 
stuff  shrubs  into  the  fissures, 
which  become  impregnated,  as 
they  say,  with  medicinal  vir 
tues  and  of  which  the  camel3 
526 


EES 

are  made  to  eat  when  they  are 
sick,  for  the  purpose  of  restor¬ 
ing  them. 

REPROBATE,  (Jer.  vi.30.) 
CAST  A  WAY,  (1  Cor.  ix.  27,) 
or  Rejected,  (Het>.  vi.  8,) 

are  nearly  synonymous.  As 
used,  Tit.  i.  16,  it  may  mean 
either  that  the  persons  de¬ 
scribed  are  without  knowledge, 
(comp.  Jer.  iv.  22.  Rpm.  i.  28;) 
or  that,  so  far  as  any  good  works 
are  concerned,  they  are  reject¬ 
ed  ;  or  that  their  supposed  good 
works,  like  base  coin,  are  spu¬ 
rious  and  uncurrent.  (2  Cor. 
xiii.  6—7.) 

To  be  reprobate  concerning 
the  faith,  (2  Tim.  iii.  8,)  is  to 
prove  corrupt,  false,  or  unsound 
as  to  the  true  faith. 

RESURRECTION.  (1  Cor. 
iv.  21.)  That  there  shall  be 
a  resurrection  or  raising  of  the 
dead,  both  of  the  just  and  un¬ 
just,  is  a  fundamental  doctrine 
of  the  Christian  faith,  and  one 
df  unspeakable  importance. 
For  if  the  dead  rise  not,  then 
is  not  Christ  raised ;  and  if 
Christ  is  not  raised,  then  is 
our  faith  vain;  we  are  yet  in 
our  sins.  No  truth  is  more 
clearly  and  forcibly  presented 
in  the  Scriptures,  than  the 
resurrection  of  Jesus  Christ. 
(1.)  It  was  prophesied.  (Ps. 
xvi.  10,  11.  Acts  ii.  25—32.) 
(2.)  Christ  himself  repeatedly 
and  distinctly  foretold  it. 
(3.)  The  precautions  of  his 
enemies  to  prevent  it;  the 
failure  of  all  these  precau¬ 
tions,  and  the  measures  taken 
to  disprove  the  event.  (4.)  The 
abundant,  decided,  and  con¬ 
sistent  testimony  of  witnesses 
who  could  not  be  deceived, 
and  who  had  no  inducement 
to  deceive  others,  and  all  this 
in  the  face  of  every  danger. 
(5.)  The  change  which  took 
place  in  the  minds  and  con¬ 
duct  of  the  apostles  imme¬ 
diately  after  and  in  conse¬ 
quence  of  his  resurrection  ;  and 
(6.)  The  supernatural  evidence 


RE  U 

arising  from  the  fulfilment  of 
the  promise  that,  the  Holy  Spi¬ 
rit  should  be  poured  out  on 
them.  . 

Thus  the  resurrection  of 
Christ  from  the  dead  is  clearly 
proved;  and  being  proved,  it 
ratifies  and  confirms,  in  the 
fullest  manner,  the  truth  and 
divinity  of  his  character  and 
mission;  shows  the  efficacy 
of  his  atonement;  is  an  evi¬ 
dence,  earnest,  and  example 
of  the  resurrection  of  his  peo¬ 
ple  (John  xiv.  19,)  and  im¬ 
ports  that  all  judgment  is 
committed  into  his  hand.  (Acts  ■ 
xvii.  30,  31.)  It  is  a  sufficient 
answen  to  the  cavils  of  infidels 
on  this  suhjpct,  that  there  is 
no  evidence  from  reason  or  the 
analogy  of  nature  against  the 
resurrection  of  the  dead,  while 
there  is  much — very  much — 
from  both  these  sources  in  its 
favour.  Indeed,  so  deep-rooted 
is  tne  natural  conviction  of  the 
human  mind  on  this  point,  that 
no  nation,  people,  or  tribe  have 
ever  yet  been  found  who  do 
not,  in  some,  form,  recognise 
the  doctrine  of  a  state  of  exist¬ 
ence  after  the  death  of  the 
body ;  and  this  conviction  is 
satisfactorily  met  only  by  the 
simple  and  sublime  doctrine 
of  our  holy  religion,  which 
brings  life  and  immortality  tv 
light.  (John  v.  28.  For  a  full 
and  simple  exposition  of  this 
whole  subject,  see  Susan  Ell 
maker,  or,  an  answer  to  th * 
question,  if  a  man  die,  shali, 
he  live  again?  by  Am.  S.  S. 
Union.) 

REUBEN,  (Gen.  xxix.  32,) 
signifying  behold  a  son,  was 
the  eldest  son  of  Jacob  ana 
Leah.  Rv  lost  the  privileges 
of  birthright  in  consequence 
of  a  grievous  sin,  (Gen.  xxxv. 
22;  xlix.  3,  4,)  and  his  poste¬ 
rity  was  neither  numerous  nor 
powerful. 

Tribe  of,  took  their  portion 
of  the  promised  land  east  a 
Jordan,  between  Arnon  on  thr 
627 


REV 

south,  and  Jazer  on  the  north, 
and  Gilead  east,  and  Jordan 
west-  It  is  the  same  district 
that  is  now  called  Belkah, 
and  is  still  famous  for  its  pas¬ 
turage. 

REVELATION.  (1  Cor.  xiv. 
26.)  An  extraordinary  and 
supernatural  disclosure  made 
by  dream,  vision,  or  otherwise. 
(Dan.  ii.  19.)  The  apostle  Paul 
was  favoured  with  many  spe¬ 
cial  revelations,  (2  Cor.  xii.  1. 
Gal.  i,  12;)  but  the  most  full 
and’  complete  communication 
of  this  character  was  made  to 
the  apostle  John,  when  he  was 
a  prisoner  upon  the  isle  of 
Patmos ;  and  it  is  hence  some¬ 
times  called  by  way  of  emi¬ 
nence 

The  Book  of  the  Revela¬ 
tion.  This  is  the  last  in  the 
order  of  the  books  of  the  Bible, 
and  is  commonly  called  the 
Apocalypse,  from  a  Greek  word 
which  signifies  revision,  it 
la  supposed  to  have  been  writ¬ 
ten  about  the  years  95—96. 
It  is  the  design  of  this  book 
to  present  the  prophetic  his¬ 
tory  of  the  church,  until  the 
end  of  the  world ;  and  it  is 
called  the  re  velation  ofStJohn 
(he  divine,  because  to  him  was 
more  fully  revealed  the  divine 
Counsels  than  to  any  other 
prophet  under  the  Christian 
dispensation.  It  has  been  ob¬ 
served  that  hardly  any  one 
book  has  recei  ved  more  early, 
more  authentic,  and'  more 
lasting  attestations  to  its  ge¬ 
nuineness  than  this;  and  the 
gradual  accomplishment  of  its 
mysterious  predictions  are  wel  1 
calculated  to  afford,  in  every 
Succeed  ing  age,  additional  tes¬ 
timony  to  the  divine  origin  of 
the  sacred  canon. 

REVENGE,  (Jer.  xv.  15,)  or 
returning  evil  for  evil,  is  ex¬ 
pressly  forbidden  by  the  divine 
law  (Lev.  xix.  17,  18.  1  Pet. 
iii.  9.)  When  God  is  spoken 
of  as  a  revenger,  it  is  in  the 
same  sense  in  which  he  is  said 


RHO 

to  be  furious,  or  to  be  a  jealous 
God,  or  to  repent.  He  does  that 
in  infinite  justice  and  holiness, 
which  sinful  man  does  from 
anger  and  malice,  or  other 
unholy  passion  or  emotion. 
The  term  is  used  to  denote 
the  effect  of  God’s  dealings, 
and  not  the  motive.  (See 
Avenoe.) 

REVENGER.  (See  A- 

VENGE.) 

REZEPH.  (2 Kings  xix.  12.) 
Probably  it  stood  where  Ar- 
soffa  now  is,  from  twenty  to 
thirty  miles  west  of  the  Eu¬ 
phrates.  Rabshakeh  mentions 
it  among  the  cities  conquered 
by  the  Assyrians.  (Isa.  xxxvii. 
12.) 

*  REZON,  (1  Kings  xi.23,)  son 
of  Eliadah,  revolted  from  Ha- 
dadezer,  and  having  enlisted 
a  company  of  adventurers,  and 
after  making  several  incur¬ 
sions  into  the  country  around 
Damascus,  finally  succeeded 
in  obtaining  the  crown,  and 
became  a  sore  vexation  to 
Israel  in  the  days  of  David 
and  Solomon. 

RHEGIUM,  (Acts  xxviii.  13,) 
now  Reggio,  is  a  maritime  city 
of  Italy, on  the  south-west  point, 
about  ten  miles  from  Messina 
in  Sicily,  where  Paul  tarried 
a  day  on  his  way  to  Rome. 
In  1782,  it  was  nearly  destroyed 
by  an  earthquake.  It  is  now 
a  considerable  town,  with  a 
population  ofsixteen  thousand, 
and  flourishing  manufactures. 

RHODES.  (Acts  xxi.  1.)  An 
island  in  the  Levant,  off  the 
south-west  point  of  Asia  Mi¬ 
nor,  containing  a  city  of  the 
same  name.  It  is  forty  miles 
long,  and  fifteen  broad,  having 
a  population  of  eighteen  thou¬ 
sand,  anciently  celebrated  for 
its  schools,  and  for  the  flou¬ 
rishing  state  of  the  arts  alhd 
sciences,  as  well  as  for  a  co¬ 
lossal  statue  one  hundred  and 
five  feet  in  height,  standing 
astride  of  the  harbour’s  mouth, 
so  that  vessels  could  pass  under 
528 


RIG 

It.  It  stood  fifty-six  years,  and 
was  then  overthrown  by  an 
earthquake,  and  the  brass  of  it 
«adeu  nine  hundred  camels, 
nd  weighed  sevenhundred  and 
twenty  thousand  pounds.  In 
the  fifteenth  century  it  was 
the  residence  of  the  knights 
of  St.  John  of  Jerusalem.  At 
this  island  Paul  touched,  on 
his  way  from  Miletus  to  Jeru¬ 
salem.  It  is  supposed  by  some 
that  the  name  Rhodes  is  de¬ 
rived  from  the  multitude  of 
roses  produced  on  the  island. 
The  modern  town  occupies 
about  a  quarter  of  the  site  of 
the  ancient  city.  One  of  its 
harbours  is  still  called  Rhodes, 
jut  no  traces  of  the  glory  of 
Rhodes  are  discernible. 

RIBLAH.  (Num.xxxiv.il.) 
Probably  the  Rebla  mentioned 
ny  modern  travellers  on  the 
Oronies,  thirty  miles  south  of 
Hamath.  This  must  at  least 
have  been  the  neighbourhood, 
as  it  was  on  the  north-east 
border  of  the  land,  and  not 
far  from  Hamath.  It  was 
doubtless  a  pleasant  place, 
and  therefore  chosen  by  the 
kings  of  Babylon  as  a  resi¬ 
dence.  Pharaon-necho  stopped 
here,  on  his  return  from  Car- 
chemish,  (2  Kines  xxiii.  33,) 
and  deposed  Jenoahaz,  put¬ 
ting  Jenoiakim  in  his  place; 
and  here  Nebuchadnezzar 
abode  while  Nebuzaradan,  his 
chief  commander,  laid  siege  to 
Jerusalem.  Hither  the  prison¬ 
ers  were  brought,  when  Ze- 
dekiah’s  children  and  many 
others  were  put  to  death,  and 
that  king  himself  deprived  of 
his  eyes  and  cast  into  prison. 

RIGHTEOUSNESS  (Isa. 
xlv*23)  is  an  essential  attri¬ 
bute  of  the  divine  nature;  and 
as  it  is  frequently  used,  is  near¬ 
ly  allied  to,  if  not  the  same 
with,  justice,  holiness,  and 
laithfulness.  (Ps.  cxix.  142.  Isa. 
Jdvi.  13;  li.  5,  C.  8;  lvi.  1.)  It 
,s  also  used  to  denote  the  per¬ 
fect  obedience  of  the  Son  of 
45. 


SIM 

God.  (Rom.  v.  18,  19.)  The 
righteousness  which  is  of 
faith  (Rom.  x.  6)  is  the  right¬ 
eousness  which  is  obtained  by 
the  grace  of  God  through  faith 
in  Jesus  Christ.  (Rom.  iii.  21 — 
26;  x.  4. 10.  2  Cor.  v.  21.  Gal. 
ii.  21.)  Righteousness  is  very 
commonly  “used  for  upright¬ 
ness  and  just  dealing  between 
man  and  man,  as  in  Isa.  lx. 
17;  and  for  holiness  of  life 
and  conversation,  as  in  Dan. 
iv.  27.  Luke  i.  6.  Rom.  xiv. 
17.  Eph.  v.  9. 

RIGHT  HAND.  (Ps.  xxi.8.) 
The  right  hand  is  the  sym¬ 
bol  of  power  and  strength ; 
whence  the  effects  of  the  di¬ 
vine  omnipotence  are  often 
ascribed  to  the  right  hand 
of  the  Most  High.  (Ex.  xv.  6. 
Ps.  lxxvii.  10.)  The  right  hand 
commonly  denotes  the  south, 
as  the  left  hand  denotes  the 
north.  (Gen.  xiv.  15.)  It  is 
said  to  have  been  the  custom 
among  the  Jews  to  swear  by 
the  right  hand,  and  that  this 
is  implied  in  Isa.  lxii.  8.  It 
was  certainly  common  to 
swear  by  the  hand.  (Gen.  xiv. 
22.  Deut.  xxxii.  40.)  To  give 
the  right  hand  was  a  mark  of 
friendship.  (Gal.  ii.  9.)  Hence 
the  force  of  the  expression, 
(Ps.  cxliv.  8,)  their  right  hand 
is  a  right  hand  of  falsehood. 
The  right  hand  being  a  most 
useful  member  of  the  body, 
especially  to  labouring  men, 
to  cut  it  off  implies  the  greatest 
sacrifice.  (Matt.  v.  30.)  To  be 
seated  at  the  right  hand  is  a 
token  of  peculiar  honour,  (1 
Kings  ii.  19;)  and  when  the 
expression  is  used  respecting 
Christ,  (Acts  vii.55,)it  implies 
his  unequalled  dignity  ana  ex¬ 
altation. 

RIMMON,  (Josh.  XV.  32,)  or 
REMMON.  (Josh.  xix.  7.)  l.A 
city  south  of  Jerusalem,  in  Ju¬ 
dah,  belonging  to  Simeon,  re¬ 
built  after  the  captivity. 

2.  RIMMON,  or  R1MMON- 
METHOAR.  (Josh.  xix.  13. 

529 


RlA 

1  Chron.  vi.  77.)  A  cit^  of 
.Zebulun,  belonging  to  the  Le- 
vites. 

3.  (Zech.  xiv.  10.)  A  town 
in  the  southern  section  of  Ju¬ 
dea,  first  belonging  to  Judah, 
and  afterwards  to  Simeon.  (1 
Chron.  iv.  32.)  There  were 
other  places  in  Judea  of  this 
name. 

4.  (2  Kings  v.  18.)  The  name 
of  an  idol  worshipped  in  Da¬ 
mascus.  Naaman,  who  was 
in  the  habit  of  attending  the 
king  in  his  idolatrous  services 
in  the  temple  of  Rimmon, 
seems  to  have  been  perplexed 
about  a  question  of  duty  as  to 
continuing  this  practice.  (See 
Naaman.) 

RINGS  (Isa.  iii.  21)  were 
used  for  ornaments  (James  ii. 
2)  and  for  seals.  (1  Kings  xxi. 
8.)  That  they  were  sometimes 
used  formerly  as  they  are  in 
modern  times  is  obvious, (Ezek. 
xvi.  12;)  and  we  are  told  that 
the  servant  gave  a  golden  ear¬ 
ring  of  half  a  shekel  or  a 
quarter  of  an  ounce  weight  to 
Rebekah.  (Gen.  xxiv.  22.) 
Rings  were  doubtless  worn  as 
ornaments  for  the  hands.  (Isa. 
iii.  20,  21.  Luke  xv.  22.  James 
ii.  2.)  The  ring  was  also  a 
token  of  authority,  and  the 
giving  a  ring  the  sign  of  im¬ 
parting  authority.  (Gen.  xii. 
42.  Esth.  iii.  10.  12.  Dan.  vi. 

17.  See  Clothing.) 

RING-STREAKED.,  (Gen. 

xx  x  35.)  C  ircularly  streaked. 

RIVER,  the.  (Gen.  xxxi. 
21 ,)  The  Nile  is  called  by  way 
of  pre-eminence  the  river ;  but 
the  term  is  often  used  un¬ 
connected  with  any  specific 
name,  (Ex.  iv.  9;)  in  which 
cases  the  particular  river  in¬ 
tended  is  to  be  determined  by 
reference  to  the  place  and  sub¬ 
ject-matter  of  narration.  It  is 
used  figuratively  to  denote 
great  abundance.  (Isa.  xlviii. 

18.  See  Egypt,  rivek  op.) 

RIZPAH.  (2  Sam.  iii.  7.)  A 

concubine  of  Saul.  A  verj 


ttOM 

affecting  evidence  of  the 
strength  of  maternal  feeling 
was  given  by  her,  when  she 
watched  day  and  night,  for 
many  months,  (probably  from 
March  to  October,)  over  the 
bodies  of  her  two  sons,  who 
had  been  put  to  a  violent  death 
by  the  Gibeonites.  (2  Sam.  xxi.) 

ROBE.  (See  Clothes.) 

ROD,  (Gen.  xxx.  37,)  or  staff. 
This  word  has  various  signifi¬ 
cations  in  the  sacred  writings. 
It  means  a  shoot  or  branch  of 
a  tree,  and,  in  this  sense,  is 
applied  figuratively  to  Christ, 
(Isa.  xi.  1,)  and  to  the  tribes 
of  Israel  as  springing  from  one 
root,  (Ps.  lxxiv.  2.  Jer.  x.  16  ;> 
for  that  which  supports  and 
strengthens,  (Ps.  xxiii.  4  Isa. 
iii.  1.  F.zek.  xxix.  6 ;)  for  power 
and  authority,  (Ps.  ii.  9;  cx.2; 
cxxv.  3.  Jer.  xlviii.  17.  Ezek. 
xix.  14.  ICor.  iv.  21.  Rev.  ii 
27;)  and  afflictions  with  which 
God  disciplines  his  people. 
(Job  ix.  34.  Comp.  Heb.  xii.  fi, 
7.) 

Passing  under  the  rod. 
(Ezek.  xx.  37.)  It  was  the 
custom  of  the  Jews  to  select 
the  tenth  of  their  sheep  (Lev. 
xxvii.  32)  after  this  manner. 
The  lambs  were  separated 
from  the  dams,  'and  enclosed 
in  a  sheepcote,  with  only  one 
narrow  way  out:  the  dams 
were  at  the  entrance.  On  open¬ 
ing  the  gate,  the  lambs  has¬ 
tened  to  join  their  dams,  and 
a  man  placed  at  the  entrance 
with  a  rod  dipped  in  ochre 
touched  every  tenth  lamb,  and 
so  marked  it  with  his  rod,  say¬ 
ing,  Let  this  be  holy  in  the 
name  of  the  tenth. 

Aaron’s  rod.  (See  Aaron.) 

ROE.  (See  Hart.) 

ROGEL.  (See  Enrogel.) 

ROLL.  (See  Books.) 

ROI.LS,  house  of.  (See 
House.) 

ROMANS,  epistle  of  Pawl 
to,  is  the  sixth  in  order  of  the 
books  of  the  New  Testanreni- 
lt  was  written  at  Corinth,  A.  n. 
i  530 


ROM 

57— 59,  just  as  he  was  leaving 
that  city  for  Jerusalem.  (Rom. 
xv.  25.  Comp.  Acts  xx.  2, 3. 16. 
Rom.  xvi.  11.  23.  1  Cor.  i.  14. 
2  Tim.  iv.  20.)  The  Roman 
church  was  composed  partly 
of  converted  heathens  and 
partly  of  Jewish  Christians. 
The  Gentile  converts  claimed 
the  same  Christian  privileges 
with  the  Christian  Jews ;  but 
refused  to  submit  to  those  cere¬ 
monies  which  the  members  of 
the  Jewish  church  were  per¬ 
mitted  to  retain,— such  as  cir¬ 
cumcision,  abstinence  from 
particular  meats,  &c.  &c.  The 
Jews  also  had  very  false  no¬ 
tions  of  the  doctrine  of  justifi¬ 
cation  through  faith.  They 
supposed  that  their  former  co¬ 
venant  relation  to  God,  their 
knowledge  of  the  Levitical  law, 
and  their  obedience  to  the 
rites  and  ceremonies  it  im¬ 
posed,  constituted  some  part  of 
the  ground  of  their  acceptance 
with  God. 

This  epistle  is  designed  to 
correct  these  misapprehen¬ 
sions,  and  to  show  that  the 
whole  system  of  Jewish  rites 
and  ceremonies  is  done  away 
by  the  gospel  dispensation,  and 
that  the  way  of  salvation 
through  Christ  is  opened  alike 
to  Jews  and  Gentiles,  and  that 
whosoever  will  may  take  of 
the  water  of  life  freely. 

ROME.  (Acts  xxviii.  16.) 
The  capital  of  the  Roman  em¬ 
pire,  and  once  the  metropolis 
'of  the  world,  is  situated  on  the 
river  Tiber,  in  Italy.  It  was 
built  by  Romulus  seven  hun¬ 
dred  and  fifty  years  before 
Christ,  and  though  at  first  it 
occupied  a  single  hill  of  less 
than  a  mile  in  extent,  it  in¬ 
cluded  in  the  days  of  its  glory 
seven  (some  say  fifteen)  hills, 
and  Govered  a  territory  twenty 
miles  in  circumference,  and 
had  a  population  of  two  or  three 
millions.  It  had  one  hundred 
and  fifty  thousand  houses,  be¬ 
sides  the  mansions  of  the  no- 


ROM 

bility ;  and  it  had  four  hundred 
and  twenty  temples  crowded 
with  pagan  deities.  The  city 
was  given  up  to  the  grossest 
idolatry  and  superstition,  while 
in  arts  and  arms  she  was  de¬ 
cidedly  the  mistress  of  the 
world.  This  was  the  state 
of  Rome  at  the  birth  of  Christ. 
Judea  formed  a  part  of  her  im¬ 
mense  empire,  and  many  Jews 
were  resident  in  the  city.  At 
what  time  the  Christian  reli¬ 
gion  was  introduced  is  uncer 
tain ;  probably  soon  after  the 
day  of  Pentecost.  (Acts  ii.  10.) 
We  know  that  as  early  as 
A.  D.  64,  eight  or  ten  years 
after  a  church  was  established 
there  and  addressed  by  Paul, 
(Rom.  i.  8 ;  xvi.  19,)  the  em- 
perorNero  commenced  afurious 
persecution  against  its  mem¬ 
bers,  which  the  emperor  Do- 
mitian  renewed  a.  d.  81,  and 
the  emperor  Trajan  carried 
out  with  implacable  malice. 
(a.  d.  97—117.)  Seasons  of 
suffering  and  repose  succeeded 
each  other  alternately  until 
the  reign  of  Constantine,  (a.d. 
325,)  when  Christianity  was 
established  as  the  religion  of 
the  empire. 

The  modern  city  is  cele¬ 
brated  not  only  for  its  own 
magnificence  and  splendour, 
but  for  the  ruins  of  its  former 
greatness.  It  is  called  the 
great  school  of  painters,  sta¬ 
tuaries,  and  architects;  and 
the  lovers  of  the  arts  from  all 
quarters  of  the  globe  are  found 
at  all  times  within  her  walls 
or  on  a  pilgrimage  thither.  Ia 
1830,  Rome  contained  nearl 
150,000  inhabitants,  among 
whom  were  35  bishops  and 
archbishops,  1490  priests,  1983 
monks,  2390  nuns,  and  10,000 
Jews,  who  occupy  a  particular 
section  of  the  city.  The  ma¬ 
jestic  ruins;  the  grandeur  of 
the  churches  and  palaces ; 
the  religious  customs;  the 
boundless  treasures  of  anti 
quity  and  art,  and  the  recol- 


HUB 

lections  of  what  Rome  once 
was,  may  well  produce  the 
highest  degree  oi  excitement 
in  the  mind  of  the  traveller 
to  that  renowned  city. 

ROOF.  (See  Dwellings.) 

ROOM.  (See  Dwellings.) 

ROPES,  (IKings  xx.  31,)  and 
CORDS.  (Josh.  ii.  15.)  The 
putting  ropes  upon  the  necks 
was  significant  of  great  earn¬ 
estness  and  distress.  So  when 
the  city  of  Calais  was  besieged 
in  the  time  of  Edward  III.  of 
England,  six  of  the  noblest  and 
wealthiest  citizens,  with  ropes 
around  their  necks,  presented 
themselves  to  the  king,  and 
■offetad  their  lives  as  a  ransom 
for  uteir  fellow  citizens.  The 
cords  of  sin  (Prov.  v.  22)  proba¬ 
bly  denote  the.  power  of  sinful 
habits.  And  in  Isa.  xxxiii.  20, 
and  Jer.  x.  20,  allusion  is  made 
to  the  construction  of  a  tent. 
The  silver  cord  (Eccl.  xii.  6) 
is  generally  supposed  to  refer 
to  the  spinal  marrow,  to  which, 
as  to  its  form  and  colour,  it  may 
be  not  inaptly  compared. 

ROSE.  (Sol.  Song  ii.  1.)  In 
the  east  the  pride'of  flowers  for 
fragrance  and  elegance.  It 
was  used  among  the  ancients 
In  crowns  and  chaplets,  at  fes¬ 
tive  meetings,  and  at  religious 
sacrifices.  A  traveller  in  Per¬ 
sia  describes  two  rose-trees,  full 
fourteen  feet  high,  laden  with 
thousands  of  flowers,  in  every 
degree  of  expansion,  and  of  a 
bloom  and  delicacy  of  scent 
that  imbued  the  whole  atmo¬ 
sphere  with  the  most  exquisite 
perfume.  (Isa.  xxxv.  1, 2.)  The 
vale  of  Sharon,  from  its  soil 
and  position,  was  fitted  to  pro¬ 
duce  the  rose  in  great  perfec¬ 
tion.  Hence  the  allusion  in 
the  passage  above  cited. 

RUBY.  (Prov.  iii.  15 ;  viii. 
11.)  A  precious  stone  of  a 
rose-red  colour,  and  of  great 
beauty  and  value.  (Job  xxviii. 
18.  Prov.  xxxi.  10.)  It  is  se¬ 
cond  only  to  the  diamond  in 
bardness„ani  is  usually  found 


RUT 

no  larger  than  the  finest  shot. 
(See  Pearls.) 

RUDIMENTS.  (Col.  ii.  8.) 
The  elements,  or  first  and  low¬ 
est  principles  of  a  science  or 
literature.  With  religion  (says 
one)  it  fareth  as  with  other 
sciences;  the  first  delivery  of 
the  elements  or  rudiments 
thereof  must  be  framed  accord¬ 
ing  to  the  weak  and  slender 
capacity  of  young  beginners. 
The  phrase  rudiments  of  the 
world  signifies  the  rites  and 
observances  of  the  Jewish  re- 
ligion,  which  are  to  the  full 
knowledge  imparted  in  the 
gospel  what  the  alphabet  is  to 
a  language,  or  what  the  ele¬ 
mentary  principles  are  to  the 
science  of  astronomy  or  che¬ 
mistry.  The  word  is  translated 
rudiments  or  elements  without 
distinction,  as  both  mean  the 
same  thing.  (Gal.  iv.  3.  9.  Col. 
ii.  20  See  Elements.) 

RUE.  (Luke  xi.  42.)  A  small 
garden  herb,  possessing  medi¬ 
cinal  properties,  and  among 
the  things  which  the  hypocri¬ 
tical  and  inconsistent  Pharisees 
tithed,  though  uncommanded, 
while  they  neglected  to  obey 
the  important  and  positive  pre¬ 
cepts  of  the  law. 

RUMAH.  (See  Arumah.) 

RUSH.  (Isa.  xix.  15.)  A  well 
known  plant,  found  in  wet 
and  miry  ground,  (Job  viii.  11,) 
and  used  for  mats,  baskets, 
chair-bottoms,  &c.  The  pith 
is  used  for  wicks  to  burn  in 
lamps,  (rush-light.)  In  the 
passage  first  cited,  it  probably 
means  the  least  important 
class  of  people;  for  notwith¬ 
standing  the  many  uses  of  the 
rush,  it  is  proverbially  without 
value. 

RUTH.  (Ruth  1.4.)  A  Mo- 
abitish  woman,  who  married 
the  son  of  Naomi,  and  showed 
her  strong  attachment  to  her 
mother-in-law  by  leaving  her 
own  country,  and  following  her 
mother-in-law  into  Judea.  Hei 
kindness  was  abundantly  re 
532 


.RUT 

Warded,  as  she  soon  found  fa¬ 
vour  in  the  eyes  of  a  kinsman, 
whom  she  afterwards  married, 
by  which  event  she  became  the 
ancestor  of  the  royal  family  of 
David. 

The  Book  of  Ruth  is  the 
eighth  in  order  of  the  books  of 
the  Old  Testament,  and  is  re¬ 
garded  as  a  kind  of  supplement 
to  the  book  of  Judges.  It  con¬ 
tains  a  biography  of  the  indi¬ 
vidual  above  named,  and  her 
family.  It  has  only  four  chap¬ 
ters,  and  though  there  are  at  its 
close  some  highly  important 
genealogical  facts,  its  promi¬ 
nent  design  is  to  show  the 


SA  B 

SABACTHANI.  (Matt,  xxvii. 

4G.)  This  is  part  of  the 
exclamation  of  our  divine  Re¬ 
deemer  in  the  extremity  of  his 
sufferings  upon  the  cross.  It  is 
the  first  clause  of  the  twenty- 
second  psalm  in  the  Syro-Chal- 
daic  tongue,  and  answers  to 
the  word  forsaken. 

SABAOTH.  (Rom.  ix.  29.) 
A  Hebrew  word,  signifying 
hosts,  or  military  bodies,  pre- 

ftared  for  war ;  and  when  used 
n  relation  to  Jehovah,  indi¬ 
cates  his  power  and  majesty. 

The  Lord  of  Sabaoth  or 
Hosts.  The  term  hosts  may 
refer  to  angels,  to  the  heavenly 
bodies,  or  to  the  people  of  God — 
or  all  of  them. 

SABBATH.  (Ex.  xvi.  23.) 
This  was  the  title  given  to  the 
Jewish  day  of  rest.  It  is  from 
a  Hebrew  word  signifying  rest. 
Since  the  Christian  era,  tfie  day 
of  rest  is  (and,  as  many  think, 
mostproperly)  called  the  Lord ’s- 
day,  because  it  is  now  comme¬ 
morative  of  Christ’s  resurrec¬ 
tion  from  the  dead  ;  and  there 
is  thus  connected  with  it  an 
affectionate  remembrance  of 
the  whole  character  and  offices 
of  Him  to  whose  service  and 
glory  it  is  to  be  devoted.  Sun- 


KVE 

watchful  care  of  God’s  provi¬ 
dence  over  such  as  fear  and 
trust  Him.  (The  Affectionate 
Daughter-in-law,  published 
by  the  Am.  S.  S.  Union,  is  the 
history  of  Ruth,  connected  with 
the  manners  and  customs  of 
the  age  in  which  she  lived.) 

R\  E.  (Ex.  ix.  32.)  A  well 
known  species  of  grain  used 
for  bread,  and  for  provender 
for  animals.  The  word  signi¬ 
fies  bearded ;  but  barley  and 
some  kinds  of  wheat  are  beard¬ 
ed  also.  The  word  occurs  Isa. 
xxviii.  25.  In  Ezek.  iv.  9,  the 
same  word  is  rendered  Jiichea 
in  our  English  Bibles. 


SAB 

day  was  a  name  given  by  the 
heathens  to  the  first  day  of  the 
week,  because  it  was  the  day 
on  which  they  worshipped  the 
sun ;  and  this  name,  together 
with  those  of  the  other  days 
of  the  week,  has  been  con¬ 
tinued  to  our  times.  There  is 
reason  to  believe  that  as  soon 
as  man  was  created,  and  en¬ 
dowed  with  capacities  to  love 
and  worship  God,  he  was  re¬ 
quired  to  consecrate  at  least 
one-seventh  of  his  time  to  the 
special  and  exclusive  service 
of  his  Maker.  The  sanctifica¬ 
tion  of  this  portion  of  time  is 
regarded  throughout  the  whole 
of  the  Old  Testament  as  a  fun¬ 
damental  principle  of  duty ; 
and  no  sin,  except  perhaps 
idolatry,  is  threatened  with 
heavier  penalties  than  Sab¬ 
bath-breaking. 

The  commandment  which 
stands  fourth  in  the  order  of 
the  decalogue,  (Ex.  xx.  8,)  Re¬ 
member  the  Sabbath-day  to 
keep  it  holy,  is  founded  on  the 
fact  that  the  seventh  day  was 
blessed  and  hallowed  by  God 
himself,  and  that  he  requires 
his  creatures  to  keep  it  holy  to 
him.  This  commandment  is  of 
universal  and  perpetual  oblign- 


SAB 

lion.  The  object  to  be  accom¬ 
plished  by  the  institution  is 
general,  and  applies  to  all 
people  everywhere  with  like 
force.  Wherever  there  is  a 
human  being  capable  of  con¬ 
templating  the  character  of  the 
Supreme  Being— of  studying 
his  revealed  will,  and  of  con¬ 
sidering  his  own  immortal  des¬ 
tiny — this  commandment  re¬ 
quires  him  to  consecrate  at 
least  one-seventh  part  of  his 
time  to  these  holy  purposes. 
The  terms  of  the  command¬ 
ment  do  not  fix  the  precise  day 
in  order,  except  that  it  is  to  be 
every  seventh  day ;  in  other 
words,  it  simply  requires  that 
after  six  days  of  labour,  one 
day  is  to  be  given  to  rest. 

There  is  abundant  evidence 
from  history  that  the  seventh 
day  of  the  week  has  been  ob¬ 
served  from  the  earliest  times 
as  a  day  of  rest ;  and  the  change 
from  the  seventh  to  the  first 
day  does  not  in  any  degree 
change  or  impairthe  obligation 
to  sanctify  a  seventh  part  of, 
our  time.  So  far  from  it,  the, 
sacredness  and  glory  of  the  day 
are  much  increased  by  its  as¬ 
sociation  with  that  great  event 
on  which  our  hope  of  life  and 
immortality  entirely  depends. 

It  seems  to  be  admitted  by 
intelligent  men  of  every  class 
and  profession,  that  the  obser¬ 
vance  of  a  weekly  day  of  rest 
is  as  essential  to  our  intellec¬ 
tual  and  physical  as  to  our 
moral  and  spiritual  nature. 

The  simple  rule  as  to  the 
mode  of  observing  the  day 
seems  to  be  this,— that  there 
should  be  a  cheerful  resting,  all 
the  day,  from  such  worldly  em¬ 
ployments  and  recreations  as 
may  be  lawful  on  other  days, 
and  the  spending  of  the  whole 
time  in  the  public  or  private 
worship  of  God,  except  so  much 
as  may  be  occupied  by  works 
of  necessity  or  mercy.  To  test 
the  propriety  of  any  act  or  pur¬ 
suit  on  that  day,  it  is  only 


SA-B 

needful  to  inquire  whether  the 
doing  of  it  will  tend  to  advance 
us  in  noly  exercises  and  affec¬ 
tions,  and  in  preparation  for  the 
heavenly  rest ;  or  whether  it  is 
an  act  of  necessity  which  can¬ 
not  be  postponed  without  seri¬ 
ous  injury.  (See  Feasts.  See 
also  Omar,  pp.  211 — 213,  and 
Biblical  A_ntiq,uities,  vol.  ii. 
ch.  vi.  §  11,  both  by  Am.  S.  S. 
Union.) 

The  following  are  amoiK  the 
leading  authorities  of  the  Bible 
respecting  the  Sabbath  and  its 
proper  observance. 

The  profanation  of  the  Sab¬ 
bath  the  cause  of  national  judg¬ 
ments.  (Neh.  xiii.  15 — 18. 
Ezek.  xx.  15,  16  ;  jxxiii.  38.47.) 

The  divine  institution  of  the 
Jewish  Sabbath.  (Gen.  ii.  2,3. 
Ex.  xx.  8 — 11.  Deut.  v.  12.  15. 
Ezek.  xx.  12;  xliv.  24.) 

Servile  labour  forbidden. 
(Ex.  xvi.  23.  29 ;  xx.  10,  11 ; 
xxiii.  12 ;  xxxiv.  2l ;  xxxv.  2, 3. 
Deut.  v.  14,  15.  Jer.  xvii.  21, 
22.  Mark  xv.  42;  xvi.  1,  2. 
John  xix.  14.  31.  42.) 

The  Jewish  Sabbath  re-es¬ 
tablished  under  the  gospel  dis- 

Sensation.  (Matt.  v.  17;'  xii.  12. 
lark  ii.  27.) 

The  change  of  the  Sabbath 
from  the  seventh  to  the  first 
day  of  the  week.  (Gen.  ii.  2. 
Ex.  xx.  11.  Luke  xxiii.  56. 
John  xx.  19.  Acts  xx.  7.  1  Cor. 
xvi.  2.  Rev.  i.  10.) 

The  duties  of  the  Sabbath 
enjoined.  (Lev.  xix.  30;  xxvi. 
2.  Ezek.  xlvi.  3.  Mark  vi.  2. 
Luke  iv.  16,  31.  Acts  xiii.  14 — 
16.  27.  42.  44;  xvii.  2,3.) 

Works  of  necessity  and  mer 
cy  to  be  done  on  this  day 
(Matt.  xii.  1—3.  5.  7.  12,  13. 
Mark  ii.  23.  27 ;  iii.  2.  4.  Lukt 
vi.  9;  xiii.  15,  16;  xiv.  3.  5 
John  v.  8—10.  18 ;  vii.  22 ;  ix 
14.) 

Blessings  promised  to  those 
who  keep  the  Sabbath.  (Isa. 
lvi.  2.  4,5-7;  lviii.  13,  14.) 

Threatenings  against  Sab¬ 
bath  breakers.  (Ex.  xxxi.  14. 

534 


SAC 

•  15 ;  xxxv.  2.  Num.  xv.  32— 
38  Jer.  xvii.  27.  Ezek.  xx.  13, 
16.  23,  24 ;  xxii.  8.  14.  26.  31 ; 
xxiii.  38.  46.) 

Sabbath  *  privileges  taken 
away.  (Isa.  i.  13.  Lam.  i.  7 ; 
li.  6.  Hos.  ii.  11.  Amosviii.il.) 

Sabbath-day’s  journey. 
JSee  Measures.)  ' 

SABEANS.  (See  Sheba.) 

SACKBUT.  (Dan.  iii.  5.)  A 
musical  instrument.  It  is  some¬ 
times  described  as  a  stringed 
Instrument ;  and  it  is  said  that 
it  had  four  strineSj  and  was 
laved  with  the  ‘fingers,  and 
ad  a  very  penetrating  sound. 
In  process  of  time  the  strings 
were  increased  to  twenty.  It 
was  of  a  triangular  form. 

It  is  mentioned  in  a  modern 
work  on  this  subject,  that  one 
of  these  instruments  was  dis¬ 
covered  in  Herculaneum, 
where  it  had  been  for  nearly 
two  thousand  years  under 
ashes ;  the  lower  part  of  it  was 
made  with  bronze,  and  the 
upper  with  the  mouthpiece 
of  gold.  It  was  presented  by 
the  king  of  Naples  to  George 
III.  of  England,  and  from  the 
model,  the  modern  trombone, 
used  in  military  bands  with  so 
much  effect,  was  fashioned. 
According  to  this  account,  it 
was  a  wind  instrument. 

SACKCLOTH.  (Gen.xxxvii. 
34.)  This  was  a  coarse  fabric, 
made  of  black  goats’  hair  and 
other  materials,  and  worn 
either  as  a  sign  of  repentance, 
(Matt.  xi.  21,)  or  as  a  token  of. 
mourning.  (2  Sam.  iii.  31. 
Esth.  iv.  1,  2.  Job  xvi.  15.  Ps. 
xxx.  11.  Isa.  xx.  2.  Rev.  vi.  12.) 
Hence  the  frequent  occurrence 
in  Scripture  of  figurative  lan¬ 
guage,  connecting  sackcloth 
with  mourning  arid  darkness.' 
(Isa.  1.  3.  Ezek.  vii.  18;  xxvii. 
31.  Amos  viii.  10.) 

SACRIFICE  (Gen.  xxxi. 
54.)  In  addition  to  the  dis¬ 
tinction  pointed  out  under  the 
word  offering,  (see Offerings,) 
it  may  be  observed  that  sacred 


SAC 

gifts  were  in  use  from  the 
earliest  periods  of  the  world. 
(Gen.  iv.  3,  4.)  The  Jewish 
religion,  however,  contained  a 
complete  system  of  sacrificial 
riles,  and  required  their  scru¬ 
pulous  observance.  According 
to'  the  law  of  Moses,  sacrifices 
could  not  be  offered  upon  the 
altar,  except  by  the  priests; 
nor  at  any  other  place  than  in 
the  court  of  God’s  sanctuary. 
(Deut.  xii.  5—28.) 

Animal  sacrifices  were  of 
four  general  kinds ;  viz.  burnt- 
offerings,  sin-offerings,  tres¬ 
pass-offerings,  and  peace-offer 
Sngs.  We  have  a  particular 
account  of  these  in  the  first 
seven  chapters  of  Leviticus 
The  three  kinds  first  mention¬ 
ed  had  an  expiatory  virtue; 
that  is,  they  made  atonement 
for  those  that  offered  them. 
The  peace-offerings  were  more 
particularly  sacrifices  express¬ 
ive  of  gratitude  and  praise  for 
mercies  received,  or  of  suppli¬ 
cation  for  mercies  desired. 
Burnt-offerings,  however,  were 
not  exclusively  expiatory  in 
their  character,  but  had  inthera 
also  a  meaning  of  thankful  and 
adoring  worship  presented  to 
the  Most  High ;  and  in  them 
all  some  regard  was  had  to  the 
guilt  of  sin.  Blood  poured  out, 
In  sacrifice  of  any  sort,  could 
have  no  meaning  other  than 
that  of  atonement.  It  was  so¬ 
lemnly  consecrated"  by  the 
Lord  to  be  an  expiation  for  the 
soul,  and  accordingly  never 
flowed  about  the  altar  without 
a  design  of  calling  to  remem¬ 
brance  the  existence  of  sin, 
and  symbolically  washing 
away  its  evil.  (Lev.  xvi.  10—14. 
Heb.  x.) 

The  word  is  sometimes  used 
figuratively,  (Roin.  xii.  1.  Heb. 
xii i.  15.  16.  1  Pet.  ii.  5 ;)  and 
the  use  of  it  implies  that  the 
duties  enjoined  underthe  figure 
are  to  be  performed  with  a  view 
to  God’s  glory,  and  not  without 
the  alienation  of  something 


SAD 

from  ourselves,  which  is  dedi¬ 
cated  to  the  Lord,— as  time, 
property,  ease,  &c.  (Ps.  li.  17.) 
Meat-offerings  and  drink-offer¬ 
ings  were  bloodless  sacrifices, 
always  connected  with  each 
other,  however,  and  generally 
connected  with  bloody  sacri¬ 
fices.  (See  Offerings,  Al¬ 
tar,  High-priest.  And  for  a 
particular  and  interesting  dis¬ 
cussion  of  the  whole  subject, 
ee  Biblical  Antiquities, 
vol.  ii.  ch.  v.,  and  Selumiel, 
ch.  iv.,  both  by  Am.  S.  S. 
Union.) 

SACRILEGE.  (Rom.  il.  22.) 
The  crime  of  violating  or  pro¬ 
faning  sacred  things.  The 
Jews  at  some  periods  were 
eminently  guilty  in  this  parti¬ 
cular,  inasmuch  as  they  with¬ 
held  the  tithes  and  offerings 
which  God  required  of  them, 
(Mai.  iii.  8 — IP,)  and  converted 
his  holy  temple  into  a  market. 
(Matt.  xxi.  12,13,) 

SADDUCEES.  (Matt.  iii.  7.) 
A  Jewish  sect  often  mentioned 
in  the  New  Testament.  Its 
founder  was  Tzadoc,  a  disciple 
of  Antigonus,  who  was  presi¬ 
dent  of  the  Jewish  sanhedrim, 
and  lived  about  two  hundred 
and  sixty  years  before  Christ. 
He  taught  that  there  were  no 
future  rewards  or  punishments 
appointed  unto  men ;  and,  con¬ 
sequently,  no  world  of  retribu¬ 
tion,  and  no  angels  or  spirits. 
(Matt.  xxii.  23.  Acts  xxiii.  8.) 
The  doctfine  of  the  Sadducees 
was  received  by  few ;  though 
such  as  did  embrace  it  were 
commonly  persons  of  wealth 
and  dignity.  As  a  sect,  how¬ 
ever,  they  had  no  influence 
over  the  people. 

•  The  Sadducees,  as  well  as 
the  Pharisees,  were  bitterly 
opposed  to  Christ,  and  often 
contended  with  him  on  the 
points  which  were  peculiar  to 
their  sect;  but  they  seem  to 
have  mustered  their  strength, 
and  to  have  come  forth  with 
all  their  power,  against  the 


SAL 

apostles,  when  they  preached 
the  resurrection  of  Jesus  from 
the  dead ;  which  single  fact 
was  a  death-blow  to  their  sys¬ 
tem.  The  sect  ofjhe  Saddu¬ 
cees  made  some  figure  in  the 
third  century,  and  again  in  the 
eighth  ;  but  for  a  long  time  past 
they  have  been  extinct. 

SAFFRON.  (Sol.  Song  iv. 
14.)  A  well  known  flower  of 
the  crocus  family,  used  for  me¬ 
dicinal  purposes,  and  also  for 
colouring.  There  may  be  a 
species  of  it  with  aromatic  pro- 
perties. 

SAINTS.  (Heb.  vi.  10.)  The 
title  given  by  the  sacred  writ¬ 
ers  to  believers  in  Christ,  or 
the  people  of  God.  (Ps.  xvi.  3. 
Rom.  i.  7 ;  viii.  27.)  The  literal 
import  of  the  term  is  holy  one  ; 
ana  in  Deut.  xxxiii.  2,  and  Jude 
14,  it  probably  means  angels. 
When  it  is  applied  to  men,  L 
is  to  such  as  lead  holy  lives, 
and  give  evidence  of  being  re¬ 
newed  and  sanctified.  As  there 
can  be  no  absolute  certainty, 
however,  respecting  their  real 
character  in  the  sight  of  God, 
all  human  decisions  as  to  who 
are  to  be  regarded  or  treated  as 
saints  must  be  fallacious. 

SALAMIS  (Acts  xiii.  5)  was 
the  principal  city  and  seaport 
of  the  island  of  Cyprus,  and 
received  the  gospel  from  Paul 
and  Barnabas,  a.  d.  44.  (See 
Cyprus.)  The  ruins  of  Salamis 
were  visited  in  1835  by  two 
American  missionaries.  Very 
little  of  the  ancient  town  is 
standing;  but  on  the  outside  of 
the  city  they  found  the  remains 
of  a  building  two  hundred  feet 
in  length,  and  six  or  eight 
high  ;  also  a  stone  church,  and 
portions  of  an  aqueduct,  by 
which  water  was  brought  to 
the  city  from  a  distance  of 
thirty  miles. 

SALCAH,  (Deut.  iii.  10,)  now 
known  as  Salchat.,  lies  on  the 
south-east  corner  of  the  terri 
tory  of  Manasseh,  east  of  Jor 
dan. 

536 


SAL 

SALEM  (Gen.  xiv.  18)  has 
been  generally  supposed  to  be 
the  place  which  was  afterwards 
called  Jerusalem.  (Comp.  Ps. 
lxxvi.  2.)  But  some  think  that 
the  piaceof  which  Melchizedec 
was  king,  was  the  Shalem  of 
Gen.  xxxiii.  18,  or  the  Salim  of 
the  New  Testament,  (see  Sa¬ 
lim  ;)  and  that  the  Salem  of 
the  psalmist  is  a  contraction  of 
Jerusalem. 

SALIM.  (John  iii.  23,)  or 
SHALEM,  (Gen.  xxxiii.  18,)  or 
SHALIM,  (1  Sam.  ix.  4.)  was 
south  of  Bethshean,  and  west 
of  Enon.  Some  suppose  it  was 
the  same  with  Shalem  or  Sy- 
chem,  but  that  is  not  placed 
nearEnon  by  any  geographers. 
Probably  Mechizedec  was  king 
of  one  of  these  places,  and  not 
of  Jerusalem,  as  some  have 
maintained. 

SALMON,  (Ps.  Ixviii.  14,) 
or  ZALMON,  (Judg.  ix.  48,) 
was  one  of  the  high  hills  which 
environed  the  ancient  She- 
chem,  and  afforded  pasturage 
for  Jacob’s  flocks.  (See  Zalmon.) 

SALMONE.  (See  Crete.) 

SALOME,  (Mark  xv.  40,)  the 
wife  of  Zebedee,  and  the  mo¬ 
ther  of  James  the  elder  and 
John  the  Evangelist,  was  one 
of  the  followers  of  Christ, 
(Matt,  xxvii.  56.  Mark  xv. 
40  ;  xvi.  1 ;)  though  she  seems, 
like  many  others,  to  have  mis¬ 
taken  the  true  nature  of  his 
kingdom.  (Matt.  xx.  21.) 

SALT  (Lev.  ii.  13)  is  abun¬ 
dant  in  Palestine.  From  the 
water  of  the  Dead  Sea  an  ex¬ 
cellent  table  salt  is  obtained. 
On  the  eastern  shore  it  is  found 
in  lumps  often  more  than  a 
foot  thick,  in  places  which  the 
lake  had  overflowed  in  the 
rainy  season.  The  stones  on 
the  shore  are  covered  with  an 
incrustation  of  lime  or  gypsum. 
Branches  and  twigs,  which 
fall  into  the  water  from  the 
bushes,  become  encased  in 
t  salt ;  and  if  a  piece  of  wood  is 
thrown  in,  it  soon  acquires  a 


SAL 

bark  or  rind  of  salt.  From  this 
fact, some  have  attempted  to  ex¬ 
plain  thetransformationof  Lot’s 
wife  into  a  pillar  of  salt,  (Gen. 
xix.  26 ;)  while  others  suppose 
that  the  expression  is  figura¬ 
tive,  denoting  that  she  was 
made  an  everlasting  monu¬ 
ment  of  divine  displeasure; 
(salt  being  an  emblem  of  per¬ 
petuity  ;)  and  others  still  think 
that  she  was  miraculously 
transformed  into  a  solid  co¬ 
lumn  of  salt. 

At  the  south-western  extre¬ 
mity  of  the  Dead  Sea,  there  is 
a  plain  of  considerable  extent, 
the  soil  of  which  is  entirely 
covered  with  salt,  without  the 
slightest  trace  of  vegetation. 
This  is  probably  the  valley  (or 
plain)  of  salt,  where  David’s 
army  vanquished  the  Edom¬ 
ites.  (2  Sam.  viii.  13.  1  Chron. 
xviii.  12.  2Chron.  xxv.  11.) 

By  the  salt-pits  (Zeph.  ii.  9) 
we  are  not  to  understand 
quarries  from  which  rock-salt 
is  extracted,  but  such  pits  as 
the  Arabs,  even  at  this  day, 
make  upon  the  shore  of  the 
Dead  Sea,  in  order  that  they 
may  be  filled  when  the  spring 
freshets  raise  the  waters  of  the 
lake.  When  the  water  eva¬ 
porates,  it  leaves  in  the  pits  a 
salt  crust  about  an  inch  thick, 
which  furnishes  the  salt  used 
throughout  the  country.  Pits 
of  this  sort  seem  to  be  alluded 
to  in  Ezek.  xlvii.  11.  In  Josh, 
xv.  62,  a  city  of  salt  is  men¬ 
tioned,  in  the’ neighbourhood 
of  the  Dead  Sea. 

The  uses  of  salt  are  suffi¬ 
ciently  known.  Most  food 
would  without  it  be  insipid. 
(Job  vi.  6.)  Salt  being  thus 
essential  to  the  enjoyment  of 
food,  the  word  was  used  to  de¬ 
note  the  subsistence  which  a 
person  obtained  in  the  service 
of  another.  Thus  in  Ezra  iv. 
14,  the  words  translated  ice 
have  our  maintenance  from 
the  king's  palace,  are  in  the 
original,  we  salt  (or  are  salted) 


SAL 


SAL 


with  the  salt  of  the  palace.. 
And  even  now  among  tne  Per¬ 
sians  and  East  Indians,  to  eat 
the  salt  of  any  one  is  to  be  in 
his  employment.  Salt  was  also 
used  in  sacrifices.  (Lev.  ii..  13. 
Mark  ix.  49.)  In  the  last  pas¬ 
sage  reference  is  had  to  the 
perpetuity  of  suffering. 

New-born  children  were 
t  ubbed  with  salt.  (Ezek.  xvi.  4.) 

As  salt  is  a  preservative  from 
corruption  and,  dissolution,  it 
was  customary  at  the  ratifica¬ 
tion  of  solemn  treaties  to  pre¬ 
sent  a  vessel  of  it,  from  which 
either  party  ate  a  few 
grains.  Hence  an  indissoluble 
and  perpetual  covenant  is 
called  a  covenant  of  salt. 
(Num.  xviii.  19.  2Chron.  xiii. 
5.  See  Bedouin  Arabs,  pp. 
78,  79,  by  Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

No  plants  can  germinate  in 
a  soil  covered  with  salt.  Hence 
a  salt  land,  is  an  unfruitful, 
desert  land.  (Jer.  xvii.  6.) 
Salt  was  also  used  as  a  visible 
emblem  of  sterility.  -When 
Abimelech  took  Shechem, 
(Judg.  ix.  45.)  he  beat  down 
the  city  and  sowed  it  with  salt, 
as  a  token  that  it  should  con¬ 
tinue  desolate.  In  like  man¬ 
ner  the  Emperor  Frederick 
Barbarossa,  when  he  destroyed 
Milan,  in  the  year  1162,  caused 
the  ground  to  be  ploughed  and 
strewed  with  salt. 

On  the  other  hand,  as  salt 
renders  food  savoury,  it  is  em¬ 
ployed  as  an  emblem  of  holy 
life  and  conversation,  (Mark 
ix.50.  Col.  iv.6;)  and  in  Matt, 
v.  13,  Christ  calls  hi3  disciples 
the  salt  of  the  earth,  i.e.  of 
mankind,  because  the  latter 
were  to  be  enlightened  and 
improved  by  their  holy  instruc¬ 
tion  and  example. 

Salt,  v  ali.ey  op.  (See 
Salt.) 

Salt,  pillar  op.  (See 
Salt.) 

Salt,  covenant  op.  (See 
Salt.) 

Salt  Sea.  (Num.  xxxiv. 


12.)  The  sea  into  which  the 
Jordan  empties,  and  which  oc¬ 
cupies  the  ground  where  once 
stood  the  cities  of  the  plain,  in 
the  vale  of  Siddim.  .(Gen.  xiv. 
3.)  It  is  also  called  the  sea  of 
the  plain,  (Dent.  iii.  17;)  and 
from  its  geographical  location, 
the  East  Sea.  (Jodi  ii.  20.)  The 
Greeks  called  it  Asphaltiles, 
from  the  bitumen  which  it 
yields ;  and  the  Arabs  the  Sea 
of  Lot.  Its  usual  appellation 
now  is  the  Dead  Sea,  from  the 
destructive  influence  of  its  ex¬ 
halations,  on  both  animal  and 
vegetable  life.  As  the  Jordan, 
before  the  destruction  of  the 
plain,  discharged  itself  in  the 
same  place  that  it  now  does, 
the  conclusion  is  a  necessary 
one,  that  the  lake  which  then 
existed  was  subterranean.  It 
was  covered  with  a  crust  of 
earth,  sustained  by  the  asphal- 
tum,  a  pitchy  substance  which 
rose  up  from  the  bottom  of  the 
lake,  and  collected  during  a 
long  course  of  years  in  large 
masses.  An  American  mis¬ 
sionary  who  visited  the  spot 
says,  “The  water  looks  re¬ 
markably  clear  and  pure ;  but 
on  taking  it  into  my  mouth,  1 
found  it  nauseous,  and  bitter, 
I  think,  beyond  any  thing  1 
ever  tasted.  My  clothes  were 
wet  by  the  waves,  and  as  they 
dried,  I  found  them  covered 
with  salt.  It  has  been  said 
that  birds  cannot  .fly  over  this 
sea;  but  we  saw  a  great  num¬ 
ber  on  its  shores,  and  observed 
three  at  a  time  flying  over  the 
water.”  Another  traveller 
says,  “  I  went  till  up  to  the 
knee  into  the  sea,  and  took 
Some  water  into  my  mouth. 
It  was  impossible  to  keep  it 
there.  Its  saltness  is  even 
greater  than  that  of  the  ocean, 
and  it  produces  a  sensation  on 
the  lips  similar  to  that  from  a 
strong  solution  of  alum.  My 
boots  were  scarcely  dry,  when 
they  were  already  covered 
I  with  salt;  our  clothes,  hats, 
538 


SAL 


SAM 


hands,  faces,  were  impreg¬ 
nated  by  this  mineral  in  less 
than  two  hours.”  It  is  agreed 
by  all  that  its  water  is  strongly 
impregnated  with  saline  sub¬ 
stances,  having  lime,  magne- 
Bia,  and  soda,  neutralized  with 
hydrochloric  and  sulphuric 
acids.  It  yields  about  one- 
fourth  of  its  weight  of  salt  by 
evaporation.  The  lake  is 
enclosed,  except  on  the  north¬ 
west,  by  ranges  of  broken  and 
barren  hills,  and  is  about 
seventy  miles  in  length,  and 
twenty  in  its  greatest  width, 
and  nearly  two  hundred  in 
circumference.  Every  travel¬ 
ler  on  its  shares  has  searched 
for  the  famous  apple  of  Sodom. 
The  missionary  above  cited 
found  two  species  of  fruit, 
either  of  which,  he  says,  may 
pass  for  it;  the  one,  on  being 
opened,  presenting  a  dry  pith 
likelhalof  thecorn-stalk,  with 
one  or  two  seeds;  the  other, 
very  inviting  in  appearance, 
but  very  bitter  to  the  taste. 

The  Dead  Sea  has,  appa¬ 
rently,  no  outlet ;  and  though 
it  is  computed  that  the  Jordan 
discharges  into  it  upwards  of 
Bix  millions  of  tons  daily,  it  is 
said  there  is  never  any  per¬ 
ceptible  variation  in  the  height 
of  its  waters.  The  opinion  of 
the  Arabs  is,  that  it  loses  its 
waters  by  evaporation ;  but  it 
is  more  probable  that  it  has 
one  or  more  subterraneous  out¬ 
lets.  (See  Evening  Recrea¬ 
tions,  vnl.  ii.  pp.  23,  24,  by 
Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

SALUTE.  (Matt.  x.  12,) 
SALUTATION.  (Luke  i.  41.) 
The  salutations  of  the  Jews 
were  usually  of  a  religious 
character,  at  least  in  form, 
and  were  attended  with  much 
ceremony.  Sometimes  there 
was  nothing  but  the  simple 
exclamation,  “God  be  with 
vou,”  or  “  Peace  be  with  you.” 
To  this  last  and  most  common 
form,  striking  allusion  is  made 
by  our  Saviour.  (John  xiv.  27.) 


The  time  occupied  in  the  cere¬ 
monies  of  salutation,  repeat¬ 
edly  bowing,  kissing  the  beard, 
&c.,  was  often  very  consider¬ 
able,  (Gen.  xxxiii.3,  4;)  and 
hence  the  caution,  2  Kings  iv. 
29.  Luke  x.  4.  The  prohibi¬ 
tion  in  this  last  passage  is 
probably  designed  to  secure 
the  close  and  undivided  atten¬ 
tion  of  the  apostles  to  the  work 
before  them,  and  to  prevent 
the  loss  of  time  or  the  waste 
of  thought  on  mere  matters 
of  form  and  ceremony. 

SALVATION,  (Ex.  xiv.  13) 
or  deliverance,  supposes  evil 
or  danger.  (Comp.  Ps.  cvi.  8 — 
10,  with  Isa.  lxiii.  8 ,  9.)  But 
in  its  ordinary  use,  in  the  New 
Testament  especially,  *he  term 
denotes  the  deliverance  of  sin 
ners  from  eternal  perdition, 
through  faith  in  Christ.  The 
day  of  salvation ,  (2  Cor,  vi.  2,) 
the  gospel  of  salvation ,  (Epb.  i. 
13,)  and  other  like  phrases,  are 
eta  ployed  in  th  is  sense.  They 
all  suppose  mankind  to  be 
lost  and  ruined  by  sin,  and 
hence  to  be  in  a  state  of  guilt, 
danger,  and  deplorable  misery, 
and  exposed  to  the  just  anil 
dreadful  penalty  of  llie  divine 
law.  The  salvation  which  the 
gospel  offers  includes  in  it  the 
pardon  of  sin,  and  deliverance 
from  its  power,  pollution,  and 
consequences ;  and  also  sanc- 
tificatton  of  the  soul,  and  the 
joys  of  the  eternal  world.  (Matt. 
i.21.  Gal.iii.  13.  1  Thess.  i.  10. 
Heb.  v.  9.)  Hence  it  is  justly 
called  a  great  salvation 
(Heb.  ii.  3.) 

SAMARIA.  1.  (1  Kings  xili. 
32.)  The  central  province  or 
section  of  the  land  of  Canaan, 
having  Galilee  on  the  north 
and  Judea  on  the  south,  was 
called,  in  the  time  of  Christ, 
Samaria.  It  included  the  pos¬ 
sessions  of  Ephraim  and  Ma- 
nasseh,  and  comprehends  the 
mpdern  districts  of  Areta  and 
A 'ablouse;  in  the  former  of 
which  are  the  sites  of  Cesarea 
539 


SAM 

and  Carmel,  and,  in  the  lat¬ 
ter,  Shechem  and  the  city  oi 
Samaria. 

2.  The  city  op  Samaria, 
(1  Kings  xvi.  24,)  from  which 
the  above  province  had  its 
name,  was  situated  about  forty 
miles  north  of  Jerusalem,  and 
a  short  distance  north-west 
ef  Nablouse,  (Shechem.)  It 
was  founded  by  Omri,  king  of 
Israel,  as  the  capital  of  Israel, 
or  the  ten  tribes.  (1  Kings  xvi. 
29.  2  Kings  iii.  1.)  The  terri¬ 
tory  waspurchased  of  Shemer, 
(hence  Samaria,)  and  fortified. 
(2Kings  x.  2.)  It  withstood 
two  unsuccessful  sieges  by 
Benhadad  king  of  Syria,  and 
his  powerful  allies,  (I  Kings 
XX,)  and  was  finally  subdued 
by  Shalmanozer,  in  the  reign 
of  Hoshea:  but  not  till  after  a 
Siege  of  three  years.  (2Kings 
xvii.  1—6.)  Previous  to  its  fall, 
it  was  given  up  'to  every  spe¬ 
cies  of  sensuality,  oppression, 
and  idolatry.  It  recovered  ildT 
prosperity,  however,  and  reach¬ 
ed  the  height  of  its  glory  in 
the  time  of  Herod  the  Great, 
who  enlarged  and  adorned  it. 
The  ruins  attest  its  former 
magnificence,  though  it  is  now 
Dut  an  insignificant  village. 
A  modern  traveller  says,— 
*  The  situation  is  extremely 
Deautiful  and  strong  by  nature : 
more  so  than  Jerusalem.  It 
stands  on  a  fine  large  insulated 
hill,  compassed  all  round  by 
a  broad  deep  valley ;  and  when 
fortified,  must  have  been,  ac¬ 
cording  to  the  ancient  mode 
of  warfare,  impregnable.  The 
valley  is  surrounded  by  four 
hills,  which  are  cultivated  in 
terraces  to  the  top,  and  sown 
with  grain,  and  planted  with 
fig  trees  and  olive  trees ;  as  is 
also  the  valley.  The  hill  of 
Samaria  itself  rises  in  ter¬ 
races  to  a  height  equal  to  any 
of  those  in  its  vicinity.  The 
present  village  is  small  and 
poor,  and  the  ascent  to  it  very 
steep;  but  viewed  from  our 


SAM 

tents  was  extremely  interest¬ 
ing,  from  its  natural  situation 
and  the  ruins  of  an  ancient 
convent,  which  are  very  pic¬ 
turesque.”  An  American  mis- 
sionary,  who  visited  the  ruins 
in  the  autumn  of  1823,  says, 

“  it  must  have  been  a  mighty 
city.”  The  site  of  it  is  now 
overgrown  with  orchards. 

SAMARITANS.  (2 Kings 
xvii.  29.)  The  inhabitants  of 
Samaria;  but  in  the  New  Tes¬ 
tament  it  is  applied  to  the  peo¬ 
ple  that  were  planted  in  Sa-. 
maria,  in  the  place  of  the  ex¬ 
iled  Israelites,  by  the  Assyrian 
king.  (2  Kings  xvii.  24.)  This 
defiled  origin,  (Ezra  iv.  1 ;)  th< 
course  pursued  by  the  Samari 
tans  before  the  Persian  kings 
(Neh.  iv.  1 ;)  connected  with 
their  construction  of  the  Mosaic 
law,  (Deut.  xxvii.  11—13,)  and 
their  separation  from  the  Jews 
in  their  place  of  worship,  (Luke 
ix.  52,  53.  John  iv.  20,  21,)  ren¬ 
dered  the  animosity  between 
them  very  bitter,  (Matt.  x.  5. 
John  iv.  9;)  and  hence  the 
very  name  Samaritan  was, 
with  the  Jew,  a  term  of  re¬ 
proach  and  contempt.  (John 
viii.  48.)  The  Samaritans  ex¬ 
pected  a  Messiah,  (John  iv.  25,) 
and  many  of  them  followed 
Christ.  (Acts  viii.  1 ;  ix.  31 ; 
xv.  3.  See  Shechem.  See  also 
Eusama,  pp.  186 — 1S9,  by  Am. 
S.  S.  Union.) 

SAMOS.  (Acts  xx.  15.)  An 
island  in  the  Egean  Sea,  or 
Grecian  Archipelago,  at  which 
Paul  touched  on  nis  passage 
from  Greece  to  Jerusalem.  I 
is  situated  a  few  miles  from 
the  coast  of  Natolia  in  Asia 
Minor,  and  is  about  seventy 
miles  in  circumference,  con¬ 
taining  not  more  than  twelve 
thousand  inhabitants.  The 
soil  is  very  fertile,  producing 
oil,  wine,  oranges,  and  silk, 
and  is  capable  of  fine  cultiva¬ 
tion.  Marble  is  at  present 
found  in  the  island ;  and  once 
it  contained  a  temple  of  Juno, 


SAM 

Whose  remains  are  yet  visible. 
It  was  the  birthplace  of  Pytha¬ 
goras,  and  the  burial-place  of 
Lycurgus. 

SAMOTHRACIA,  (Acts  xvi. 
11,)  or  Samos  of  Thrace.  An 
island  in  the  Archipelago, 
seventeen  miles  in  circum¬ 
ference,  lying  off  the  province 
of  Romania,  an))  not  far  from 
Thrace.  It  was  passed  by 
Paul  in  his  passage  from  Troas 
to  Philippi.  It  was  once  called 
Samos;  and  the  word  Thracia 
was  annexed  to  distinguish  it 
from  the  Samos  above  men¬ 
tioned.  The  name  is  appro¬ 
priate;  for  it  was  inhabited 
chiefly  by  emigrants  from 
Samos  and  Thrace.  Once 
celebrated  for  its  mysteries, 
it  is  now  inhabited  principally 
Dy  fishermen,  and  in  many 
parts  covered  with  forests.  Its 
modern  name  is  Samodraki. 

SAMSON.  (Judg.  xiii.  24.) 
Son  of  Manoah,and  for  twenty 
years  a  judge  of  Israel.  The 
circumstances  attending  the 
annunciation  of  his  birth  are 
remarkable,  (Judg.  xiii.  3— 23, 
see  Manoah;)  and  he  was 
distinguished  for  his  gigantic 
strength.  Contrary  'to  the 
wishes  of  his  parents,  who 
were  observers  of  the  law, 
(Ex.  xxxiv.  16.  Deut.  vii.  3,) 
he  married  a  woman  of  Tim- 
nath,  a  Philistine  city.  On 
his  way  to  that  city,  he  slew  a 
lion,  (Judg.  xiv.  5—9 ;)  and 
afterwards  found  in  the  car¬ 
cass  of  the  beast  a  swarm  of 
bees;  and  he  ate  of  the  honey 
himself,  and  took  some  to  his 
parents.  This  gave  rise  to  an 
enigma,  which  he  propounded 
at  his  marriage  feast,  promis¬ 
ing  a  valuable  present  to  any 
one  who  would  solve  it  within 
seven  days;  provided  they 
would  make  a  like  present 
to  him  if  they  failed.  Unable 
to  solve  the  riddle  themselves, 
they  resorted  to  Samson’s  wife, 
who,  by  the  most  urgent  en¬ 
treaties,  had  obtained  from  him 


SAM 

a  solution  of  it.  By  cruel  threats 
they  extorted  Cum  her  the 
secret,  and  told  it  to  him. 
But  he  knew  their  treachery ; 
and  though  Ite  kept  his  word, 
and  made  them  the  present, 
it  was  at  the  expense  of  the 
lives  of  thirty  of  their  coun¬ 
trymen.  He  also  forsook  his 
wife,  who  had  been  thus  false 
to  his  interest. 

On  returning  to  Timnath, 
with  a  view  to  a.reconciliation 
with  his  wife,  he  found  she 
had  married  again,  and  he  wa 
not  permitted  to  see  her.  H 
immediately  caught  three  hun¬ 
dred  foxes, and  fastening  a  fire¬ 
brand  to  every  pair  of' them, 
let  them  loose  upon  the  fields 
and  vineyards  of  the  Philis¬ 
tines,  and  spread  fire  and  deso¬ 
lation  over  the  country.  The 
Philistines,  to  be  avenged,  set 
fire  to  the  house  where  Sam¬ 
son’s  wife  lived;  and  she  and 
her  father  were  burnt  in  it. 
This  wanton  barbarity  drew 
upon  them  again  the  ven¬ 
geance  of  Samson,  who  came 
upon  them,  and  routed  them 
with  immense  slaughter. 
(Judg.  xv.  1—8.) 

He  then  took  up  his  abode 
on  the  rock  Etam,  in  the  ter¬ 
ritory  of  Judah,  whither  the 
Philistines  came  to  revenge 
themselves,  laying  waste  tho 
country  on  every  side.  Three 
thousand  of  the  men  of  Judah 
remonstrated  with  Samson  for 
thus  exciting  the  resentment 
of  the  Philistines ;  and  he  con¬ 
sented  that  they  should  bind 
him,  and  deliver  him  into  thei 
hands.  This  they  did  ;  ut  in 
the  midst  of  their  exultations, 
he  burst  his  bands,  and  fell 
upon  his  enemies,  putting  a 
thousand  of  them  to  death,  ana 
the  residue  to  flight.  (Judg 
xv.  9—19.)  It  was  on  this  oc¬ 
casion  that  he  was  miraculous¬ 
ly  supplied  with  water  from  a 
fountain  opened  on  the  spot  v 
not  in  the  jawbone  with  which 
he  had  slain  the  Philistines, 
541 


SAM 

but  in  the  place  where  the 
bone  was  found  and  used. 

After  this,  Samson  went  to 
Gaza,  where  he  attached  him¬ 
self  to  Delilah, ’a  mercenary 
woman,  by  whom,  after  a  va¬ 
riety  of  arts  and  stratagems, 
the  secret  of  his  great  strength 
was  discovered  to  lie  in  the 
preservation  of  his  hair,  for  he 
was  a  Nazarite.  (Judg.  xvi. 
17.)  The  Philistines  came 
upon  him  while  he  was  asleep ; 
removed  his  hair;  bound  him 
with  fetters  of  brass;  put  out 
his  eyes ;  carried  him  to  Gaza, 
and  threw  him  into  prison. 
eHaving  thus  secured  their 
formidable  foe,  the  Philistine 
nobles  assembled  for  a  feast 
©f  joy,  and  to  add  to  their  mer¬ 
riment,  they  proposed  to  have 
Samson  brought.  So  a  lad  led 
him  in,  and  sat  him  down  be¬ 
tween  the  two  main  pillars 
of  the  house,  where  the  nobles 
and  a  multitude  of  people,  both 
men  and  women,  were  assem¬ 
bled;  besides  three  thousand 
persons  upon  the  roofs  of  the 
cloisters  around,  beholding  the 
cruel  sport.  Samson  requested 
of  the  lad  that  had  charge  of 
him,  to  rest  himself  against  the 
pillars  on  either  side  of  him. 
This  being  granted,  he  prayed 
for  strength,  and,  laying  hold 
of  the  pillars,  he  bowed  with 
all  his  might,  carrying  the  pil¬ 
lars  and  the  whole  structure 
with  him,  and  burying  him¬ 
self  and  the  vast  multitude 
within  and  around  the  courts 
in  one  common  destruction. 
Samson  is  ranked  with  the 
company  of  the  faithful.  (Heb. 
xi.  32,  33.  -See  Dwellings. 
See  also  Story  of  Samson,  by 
A  n.  S.  S.  Union.) 

SAMUEL,  (1  Sam.  i.  20,)  the 
son  of  Elltanah  and  Hannah, 
was  a  celebrated  Hebrew  pro¬ 
phet,  and  the  last  of  their 
judges.  While  he  was  a  child, 
he  officiated  in  some  form  in 
the  temple,  and  was  favoured 
with  remarkable  revelations 


SAN 

of  the  divine  will  respecting 
the  family  of  Eli  the  high- 
priest,  under  whose  care  and 
training  bis  mother  had  placed 
him.  (1  Sam.  iii.  4—14  See 
Eli.) 

After  the  death  of  Eli,  Sa¬ 
muel  was  ackpowledged  as  a 
prophet,  and  soon  commenced 
a  work  of  reformation.  Idol¬ 
atry  was  banished;  the  wor¬ 
ship  of  the  true  God  was  re¬ 
stored,  and  Samuel  was  pub¬ 
licly  recognised  as  a  judge  in 
Israel.  Residing  on  his  patri- 
mdnial  estate  in  Raman,  he 
made  annual  circuits  through 
the  country  to  administer  jus¬ 
tice,  until  his  infirmities  were 
too  many  to  permit  it,  and  then 
he  deputed  his  sons  to  execute 
this  duty.  They  proved  them¬ 
selves  unworthy  of  the  trust ; 
and  so  general  was  the  dis¬ 
satisfaction  of  the  people,  that 
they  determined  on  a  change 
of  government.  To  this  end 
they  applied  to  Samuel,  who, 
under  the  divine  direction, 
anointed  Saul  to  be  their  king; 
and  Samuel  resigned  his  au¬ 
thority  to  him.  (1  Sam.  xii.) 
After  Saul  was  rejected  for  his 
disobedience  in  the  matter  of 
Agag,  Samuel  was  instructed 
uf anoint  David  as  king,  after 
which  he  returned  to  Kamah, 
where  he  died.  (1  Sam.  xxv.  1. 
See  Saul.) 

First  and  second  books 
of,  the  tenth  and  eleventh  in 
order  of  the  books  of  the  Old 
Testament,  are  called  also  tha 
first  and  second  books  of  Kings. 
They  bear  Samuel’s  name, 
because  that  prophet  wrote 
twenty-four  chapters  of  the  firs! 
book.  Nathan  and  Gad  are  sup¬ 
posed  to  have  completed  them. 
(IChron.  xxix.  29.)  They  con’ 
stitute  an  important  part  of 
the  annals  of  the  Jewish  na¬ 
tion.  The  first  book  embraces 
a  period  of  eighty  years,  from 
the  birth  of  Samuel  to  the 
death  of  Saul;  and  relates  to 
Eli  and  Samuel,  the  last  two 


SAN 

of  Ihe  judges,  and  Saul  and 
David,  the"  first  two  of  their 
kings.  The  second  book  em¬ 
braces  a  period  of  about  forty 
years :  and  contains  the  na¬ 
tional  records  during  the’ long 
reign  of  David,  as  well  as  the 
events  of  his  personal  history. 
(Union  Questions,  vol.  vi.,  by 
Am.  S.  S.  Union,  embraces 
these  two  books.) 

SANCTIFY  (Ex.  xiii.  2)  is 
to  prepare  or  set  apart  persons 
or  things  to  a  holy  use.  The 
term  sanctification,  when  ap¬ 
plied  to  men,  denotes  that 
effect  of  God’s  Spirit  upon  the 
soul,  by  which  it  is  made  meet 
for  the  inheritance  of  the  saints 
in  light.  It  comprehends  all 
the  graces  of  knowledge,  faith, 
love,  repentance,  humility,  &c., 
and  the  exercise  of  them  to¬ 
wards  God  and  man.  (2Thess. 
ii.  13.  1  Pet.  i.  2.)  It  is  a  pro¬ 
cess  by  which  the  soul  is 
cleansed  from  the  pollution 
and  delivered  from  the  power 
of  sin,  and,  at  the  same  time, 
endued  with  those  spiritual 
graces  above  named,  without 
which  there  could  be  no  taste 
or  fitness  for  the  joys  or  em¬ 
ployments  of  the  heavenly 
world.  (Heb.  xii.  14.)  Sanc¬ 
tification  is  the  fruit  of  union 
to  Christ  by  faith;  and  it  is  in 
the  knowledge  and  belief  of 
the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus  that 
the  soul  becomes  the  subject 
of  the  sanctifying  influences 
of  the  Spirit.  (John  xvii.  17.) 
From  this  inward  sanctifica¬ 
tion  proceeds  every  good  word 
and  work.  (Tit.  ii.  11 — 14.) 
When  Christ  speaks  of  sanc¬ 
tifying  himself,  (John  xvii.  19,) 
it  is  in  allusion  to  the  vow 
which  required  the  sacrifice 
to  be  set  apart  to  a  holy  use. 
He  separates  or  dedicates  him¬ 
self  as  a  sacrifice  to  God  for 
them. 

SANCTUARY.  (Ps.  xx.  2.) 
A  holy  or  sanctified  place. 
By  this  name  that  part  of  the 
temple  of  Jerusalem  was  call- 


S  AR 

ed  which  was  the  most  secret 
and  most  retired ;  in  which 
was  the  ark  of  the  covenant; 
and  where  none  but  thediigh 
priest  might  enter,  and  he  only 
once  a  year,  on  the  day  of 
solemn  expiation.  (Lev.  iv.  6.) 
It  is  also  applied  to  the  furni¬ 
ture  of  this  holy  place,  (Num. 

x.  21 ;)  the  apartment  where 
the  golden  candlestick,  table 
of  shew-bread,  altar  of  incense, 
&c.  stood,  (2Chron.  xxvi.  18;) 
and  to  the  whole  tabernacle  or 
temple.  (Josh.  xxiv.  26. 2Chron. 
xx.  8.)  It  is  called  the  sanc¬ 
tuary  of  strength ,  because  it 
was  a  strong  place,  and  easily 
fortified;  and  it  belonged  to 
God,  the  strength  of  Israel, 
(Dan.  xi.  31 ;)  a  worldly  sanc¬ 
tuary ,  as  it  was  of  a  carnal  and 
earthly  typical  nature.  (Heb. 
ix.  1.)  It  is  also  applied  to  any 
place  appointed  for  the  public 
worship  of  God,  (Ps.  lxxiii.  17 ;) 
to  heaven,  where  God  and  his 
holy  angels  and  saints  for  ever 
dwell,  (Ps.  cii.  19;)  and  in  al¬ 
lusion  to  the  Jewish  sanctuary, 
whose  brazen  altar  protected 
petty  criminals,  a  place  of 
refuge  and  shelter  is  called  a 
sanctuary.  (Isa.  viii.  14.  Ezek. 

xi.  16.) 

SANBALLAT,  (Neh.  ii.  100 
the  governor  of  the  Samaritans, 
was  a  native  of  Horon,  or  Ho- 
rcinanor,  and  is  hence  called 
the  Horonite.  He  was  very 
inimical  to  the  Jews;  and  en¬ 
deavoured,  by  every  means 
of  force  and  fraud,  to  hinder 
Nehemiah  in  the  work  of  re¬ 
building  the  temple.  (Neh. 
vi.  1—9.) 

SANDALS.  (See Clothing.' 

SAPPHTRA.  (See  Ananias.) 

SAPPHIRE.  (Ex.  xxviii.  lS.-l 
A  precious  stone,  obtained 
chiefly  from  the  East  Indies, 
and  surpassed  in  beauty,  lustre, 
and  hardness  only  by  the  dia¬ 
mond.  Its  colour  is  various, 
from  a  deep  azure  like  the 
sky,  (whence,  perhaps,  the  al 
lusion.  Ex.  xxiv.  10.  Ezek.  i 
543 


SAR 

26;  x.  10  to  the  highest  tint, 
and  even  to  pure  white.  The 
Bapp'nire  was  the  second  stone 
in  the  high-priest’s  breast¬ 
plate. 

SARAH,  or  SARAI.  (Gen.  xi. 
31.)  The  sister-in-law  and  wife 
of  Abraham.  In  addition  to 
the  notice  of  her  in  the  article 
Abraham,  it  may  be  proper  to- 
say  that  she  was  the  subject  of 
special  promises,  as  well  as 
Abraham.  (Gen.  xvii.  16.)  Her 
./induct  in  Evy  pt,  (Gen.  xii.  15,) 
and  towards  Hagar,  (Gen.  xvi. 
6;  xxi.  10>)  and  also  when  Isaac 
was  promised,  (Gen.  xviii.  15,) 
evinced  great  weakness;  but 
her  exemplary  faith  is  com¬ 
mended  by  the  apostles-  (Heb. 
xi.  11.  IPet.  iii.  6.)  She  lived 
to  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
seven  years  of  age,  or  upwards 
of  thirty-six  years  after  the 
birth  of  Isaac;  and  was  buried 
in  a  field  of  Machpelah,  which 
Abraham  bought  for  the  pur¬ 
pose. 

SARDINE.  (See  Saboius.) 

SARDIS.  (Rev.  L 11.)  A  city 
of  ancient  Lydia,  and  the  site 
of  one  ef  the  seven  churches 
of  Asia.  Its  modem  name  is 
Surt,  and  it  lies  about  thirty 
miles  south-east  of  Thyatira. 
It  is,  however,  but  a  miserable 
village,  inhabited  chiefly  by 
shepherds,  though  it  is  one 
of  the  stopping-places  of  the 
Persian  caravans.  The  ori¬ 
ginal  city  was  plundered  by 
Cyrus,  and  afterwards  deso¬ 
lated  by  an  earthquake,  the 
tuins  of  it  being  still  visible  a 
little  distance  to  the  south  of 
the  present  town. 

Messrs.  Fisk  and  Parsons, 
American  missionaries,  visited 
Sardis  in  the  autumn  of  1820. 
They  speak  of  “  the  ruins  of 
this  once  splendid  city,  with 
nothing  now  to  be  seen  but  a 
few  mud  huts,  inhabited  by 
ignorant,  stupid,  filthy  Turks, 
and  the  only  men  who  bear 
the  Christian  name,  at  work 
all  day  in  their  mill.  Every 


SAR 

thing  seems  as  if  God  hal 
cursed  the  place,  and  left  it 
to  the  dominion  of  Satan.”  A 
modern  traveller  says,  “I  sal 
beneath  the  sky  of  Asia,  te 
gaze  upon  the  ruins  of  Sardis, 
from  the  banks  of  the  golden- 
sanded  Paetolus.  Beside  me 
were  the  cliff's  of  that  Acropo¬ 
lis,  which,  centuries  before, 
the  hardy  Median  scaled  while 
leading  on  the  conquering 
Persians,  whose  tents  had  co¬ 
vered  the  very  spot  on  which 
I  was  reclining.  Before  me 
were  the  vestiges  of  what  had 
been  the  palace  of  the  gorgeous 
Croesus:  within  its  walls  were 
once  congregated  the  wisest 
of  mankind,  Thales,  Cleobn- 
Ins,  and  Solon.  Far  in  the 
distance  were  the  gigantic 
tumuli  of  the  Lydian  mo 
narchs ;  and  around  them 
spread  those  very  plains  once 
trodden  by  the  countless  hosts 
of  Xerxes,  when  hurrying  on 
to  find  a  sepulchre  at  Mara¬ 
thon.  But  all,  alt  had1  passed 
away !  There  were  before  me 
the  fanes  of  a  dead  religion, 
the  tombs  of  forgotten  mi> 
narchs,  and  the  palm  tree  that 
waved  in  the  banquet-hall  of 
kings.” 

SARDIUS,  (Ex.  xxviii.  17J 
or  SARDINE,  (Rev.  iv.  3,)  com¬ 
monly  called  cornelian,  is  a 
precious  stone  susceptible  of  a 
beautiful  polish,  highly  values 
for  seals  and  ornaments.  The 
finest  specimens  are  from  Ju¬ 
dea.  (See  Sardonyx.) 

SARDONYX.  (Rev.  xxi.  20.) 
A  precious  stone,  combining 
the  appearances  of  the  sardflte 
and  onyx,  (whence  its  name.) 
Both  the  above  are  species  of 
the  chalcedony, and  are  found 
in  greatest  perfection  in  Judea, 
though  specimens  of  both  are 
found  on  lake  Superior,  near 
Portage  river,  in  Missouri,  and 
at  Deerfield  in  Massachusetts. 

SARKPTA,  (Luke  iv.  2(5,)  or 
ZAREPHATH.  (1  Kings  xvii. 
90  A  Gentile  town,  lying  on 


SA  } 

the  shores  of  the  Mediterra¬ 
nean,  between  Tyre  and  Si- 
don,  and  belonging  to  the  lat¬ 
ter.  Its  modern  name  is  Zar- 
pha,  or  Zarphant.  Though 
there  were  many  widows  m 
Israel,  distressed  with  the  pre¬ 
vailing  famine,  Elijah  was  not 
sent  to  them,  but  to  a  Zidonian 
widow  in  Sarepla.  Messrs. 
Fisk  and  King  passed  the 
place  in  the  summer  of  1823. 
SARGON.  (See  Esarhad- 

DON.) 

SARON.  (See  Sharon.) 
SATAN.  (IChron.  xxi.  1.) 
A  Hebrew  word  signifying  an 
enemy ;  and  in  Scripture  it  is 
commonly  applied  to  thedevil, 
who  is  the  enemy  of  God,  and 
the  great  tempter  and  destroy¬ 
er  of  the  souls  of  men.  Its  use 
in  Matt.  xvi.  23,  denotes  the 
influence  under  which  Peter 
acted.  (See  Devil.) 

SATYR.  (Isa.  xiii.21;  xxxiv. 
14.)  A  fabled  creature  of  Greek 
mythology,  compounded  of  a 
man  anda  goat,  and  supposed 
to  be  the  deity  of  forests  and 
rural  places.  The  expression 
satyrs  shall  dance  there ,  &c. 
denotes  that  the  place  shall 
become  as  a  rude,  wild,  uncul¬ 
tivated  waste. 

SAUL,  (ISam.  ix.  2,)  the 
first  king  of  Israel,  was  the 
son  of  Kish,  of  the  tribe  of  Ben¬ 
jamin.  His  personal  appear¬ 
ance  was  so  remarkably  fine 
and  noble,  as  to  be  particularly 
mentioned  by  the  sacred  his¬ 
torian. 

It  happened  that  some  asses 
ef  his  father’s  had  strayed 
away,  and  he  took  one  of  the 
servants  and  went  in  search 
of  them.  In  the  course  of  their 
wanderings,  they  came,  on  the 
third  day,  to  a  place  where 
Samuel  the  seer  (or  prophet) 
resided;  and  the  servant  pro- 
osed  that  they  should  apply  to 
im  for  information.  This  they 
did.  Samuel,  having  been  di- 
rinely  admonished  of  the  ap- 
roaca  of  Saul,  and  instructed 
4<** 


SAU 

what  to  do,  invited  him  to  his 
hous;,  and  treated  him  with 
marked  distinction.  The  next 
daySamuel  made  known  to  him 
privately  that  he  was  to  have 
the  rule  over  Israel ;  and  while 
they  were  in  the  way,  he  took 
a  vial  of  oil,  and,  pouring  it  on 
his  head,  anointed  him  for  the 
regal  office.  To  convince  Saul 
that  this  thing  was  of  the  Lord, 
Samuel  told  nim  particularly 
what  should  befall  him  on  his 
way  home;  and  they  were 
such  events  as  Samuel  could 
not  have  known  but  by  reve¬ 
lation  from  God.  (1  Sam.  x. 
2—6.)  In  a  few  days  after 
this,  Samuel  went  to  Mizpeh, 
and  summoned  the  people  of 
Israel  to  meet  him  there. 
When  they  were  assembled, 
he  announced  to  them  the 
appointment  of  Saul  to  be 
their  king. 

Very  early  in  his  reign,  Saul 
acquired  considerable  popu¬ 
larity  by  a  splendid  victory 
over  the  Philistine  army,  at 
the  siege  of  Jabesh-gilead ; 
and  immediately  afterwards 
the  people  met  at  Gilgal,  and 
celebrated  his  accession  to  the 
throne  with  sacrifices  and  fes¬ 
tivities.  After  a  series  of  mili¬ 
tary  successes,  Saul  was  com¬ 
missioned  by  divine  authority 
to  execute  the  vengeance  long 
before  denounced'  upon  the 
Amalekites  for  their  conduct 
towards  the  children  of  Israel ; 
but  he  disobeyed  the  explicit 
directions  he  had  received,  and 
for  this  sin  was  ultimately  de¬ 
prived  of  his  crown.  From 
this  period  onward  he  is  ex¬ 
hibited  as  the  slave  of  jealousy, 
duplicity,  and  malice.  His 
conduct  towards  David  was 
detestable  in  the  extreme,  and 
shows  him  to  have  lost  every 
manly  and  generous  feeling. 
A  little  before  his  death,  tha 
Philistines  mustered  an  army 
so  formidable  as  to. iptimidala 
the  king  of  Israel;  and,  in 
the  midst  of  his  perplexity, 


SAV 

be  found  himself  abandoned 
of  Godr  whose  direction  he 
sought  in  vain.  In  this  emer¬ 
gency,  he  took  two  of  his  ser¬ 
vants,  and  went  by  night  to 
Endor,  a  distance  of  about  ten 
miles  from  his  camp;  to  con¬ 
sult  a  sorceress,  desiring  her 
to  cause  the  spirit  of  Samuel 
to  appear,  that  h-e  might  ask 
of  him  the  counsel  which  he 
so  much  needed.  Though  the 
sorceress  had  no  power  over 
spirits,  God  was  pleased  to 
make  use  of  the  opportunity 
thus  afforded  to  rebuke  the 
wicked  king,  and  to  make 
known  to  him  the  fearful 
retribution  that  was  at  hand. 
Samuel  was  permitted  to  re¬ 
turn  to  the  earth,  and  to  hold 
conversation  with  Saul,  as 
man  with  man.  After  hearing 
his  complaint  against  God, 
Samuel  charged  him  with  his 
disobedience  tothe  divine  com¬ 
mand  in  the  matter  of  Ama- 
lek;  assured  him  that  all  his 
efforts  to  obtain  aid  elsewhere 
were  vain,  if  God  had  become 
his  enemy;  and  admonished 
him  that  defeat  and  ruin  were 
at  hand,  and  that  he  and  his 
sons  should  be  the  next  day 
inhabitants  of  the  world  of 
spirits.  This  intelligence,thus 
supernaturally  communicated, 
overwhelmed  the  wicked 
king;  and  the  very  next  day 
the  Israelites  were  routed  with 
dreadful  slaughter.  Among 
the  killed  were  Saul’s  three 
sons.  Saul,  finding  himself 
wounded  and  likely  to  fall 
into  the  hands  of  the  enemy, 
threw  himself  upon  the  point 
of  his  own  sword.  When  the 
Philistines  found  the  body  of 
Saul,  they  severed  the  head 
from  it,  and  fastened  the  body 
on  the  city  wall ;  from  which 
it  was  afterwards  taken,  in  the 
night,  by  some  of  his  friends 
from  a  distance,  and  carried 
to  Jabesfitgilead,  and  buried. 
(1  Sam.  xxviii.— xxxi.) 


SCE 

Saul  of  Tarsus.  (See 
Paul.) 

SAVIOUR.  (See  Christ.) 

SCAPE-GOAT.-  (See  Goat.> 

SCARLET.  (2  Sam.  i.  24.)  A 
brilliant  dye,  valued,  like  the 
purple  and  crimson,  for  rich 
apparel  (Ex.  xxviii.  15)  and 
tapestry.  (Ex.  xxv.  4.)  Hence 
it  was  an  emblem  of  luxury 
and  licentiousness.  (Rev.  xvii. 
3, 4.)  It  was  also  an  emblem  of 
honour  and  prosperity.  (Prov. 
xxxi.  21.)  Sometimes  the  scar¬ 
let  and  purple  are  confounded. 
(Dan.  v.  7.  29.  Comp.  Matt, 
xxvii.  28.  Mark  xv.  17.  John 
xix.2.)  The  depth  and  strength 
of  this  colour  gives  force  to  the 
figure,  Isa  i.  18.  (See  Purple.) 

SCEPTRE.  (Esth.  viii.  4.)  A 
v.-ooden  staff  or  wand,  five  oj 
six  feet  long,  usually  overlaid 
with  gold  or  ornamented  with 
golden  rings,  with  an  orna¬ 
mented  point.  It  was  borne  in 
the  handsof  kings  and  others  in 
authority,  as  a  token  of  power. 
(Gen.  xlix.  10.  Num.xxiv.  17.) 
It  probably  had  its  origin  in 
the  shepherd’s  staff,  as  the  pa¬ 
triarchal  chiefs  were  shepherds 
as  well  as  princes.  When  this 
sceptre  was  held  out  to  be 
touched  by  an  individual  ap¬ 
proaching  the  throne,  it  was  a 
sign  of  the  royal  acceptance 
and  favour. 

SCEVA.  (Acts  xix.  14.)  A 
Jew  residing  at  Ephesus.  He 
is  called  chief  of  the  priests, 
which  probably  means  that  he 
was  of  the  sacerdotal  order, 
holding  an  office  of  distinction, 
perhaps,  in  the  national  coun¬ 
cil.  He  had  seven  sons,  who, 
with  other  Jewish  vagabonds, 
practised  exorcism ;  and  it  was 
their  custom,  after  they  had 
seen  the  miracles  wrought  by 
Paul,  to  adjure  the  evil  spirits 
by  Jesus  whom  Paul  preached. 
Sceva’s  sons  attempted  to  do 
so,  and  the  possessed  man 
fell  upon  them  with  prodigious 
power,  stripped  and  wounded 


SCH 

them,  and  obliged  them  in  that 
stale  to  flee  from  the  house. 
The  failure  of  the  imposture 
was  overruled  to  the  further¬ 
ance  of  the  truth;  for  many 
conversions  took  place,  and 
those  who  had  practised  the 
foolish  arts  of  magic  and  sor¬ 
cery  brought  together  their 
books  on  those  subjects,  and 
burned  them;  thus  showing 
their  detestation  of  such  prac¬ 
tices,  and  their  determination 
to  renounce  them. 

SCHISM  (1  Cor.  xii.  25) 
means  a  rupture  or  separation ; 
hut  it  is  supposed  to  denote  in 
this  passage  any  such  aliena¬ 
tion  of  feeling  among  Chris¬ 
tians  as  violates  the  spiritual 
no  ion  which  ought  to  exist 
among  them,  though  there  be 
no  doctrinal  error  or  separate 
communions. 

SCHOOL,  (Acts  xix.  9,) 
SCHOLAR,  (1  Chron.  xxv.  8,) 
SCHOOLMASTER.  (Gal.  iii. 
2-1.)  Schools  existed  among  the 
Jews  from  a  very  early  period. 
They  were  established  under 
the  supervision  of  the  prophets 
to  train  young  men  to  become 
expounders  of  the  law,  and  so 
fit  them  for  the  priestly  and 
prophetical  offices.  (1  Sam. 
xix.  18—24.  2  Kings  ii.  3.  5.  7. 
12.  15.)  The  children  were 
taught  to  read  in  common 
schools;  and  in  higher  semi¬ 
naries  were  instructed  by  doc¬ 
tors  in  the  law  and  traditions. 
It  is  supposed  that  Gamaliel 
was  at  the  head  of  such  an» 
institution,  and  much  distin¬ 
guished,  (Acts  xxii.  3 ;)  and  it 
is  said  that  the  tutor’s  chair 
was  raised  so  much  above  the 
floor  on  which  the  pupils  sat 
that  his  feet  were  even  with 
their  heads.  It  is  much  more 
probable,  however,  that  this  is 
a  figurative  expression,  denot-  j 
ing  his  (Gamaliel’s)  eminent  I 
qualifications  as  a  teacher.  In 
these  institutions  public  dis- 1 
missions  wereoften  held. (Luke 
ii.  46.  Acts  xix.  8—10.)  | 


SCO 

The  schoolmaster  among  the 
ancients,  as  at  the  present  day, 
was  a  person  to  whom  they 
committed  the  care  of  their 
children,  to  lead  them,  to  ob¬ 
serve  them,  and  to  instruct 
them  in  their  first  rudiments. 
Thus  the  office  nearly  an¬ 
swered  to  that  of  a  governor 
or  tutor,  (Gal.  iv.  2,  3,)  who 
constantly  attends  his  pupil, 
teaches  him,  and  forms  his 
manners.  It  is  said,  Gal.  iii. 
24,  25,  the  laic  was  our  school¬ 
master  to  bring  us  to  Christ. 
It  pointed  out  Christ  in  the 
Scriptures,  especially  in  the 
figures  and  the  prophecies  of 
the  Old  Testament;  but  since 
we  are  supposed  to  be  advanced 
to  superior  learning,  and  are 
committed  to  the  tuition  of  the 
faith  which  we  have  embraced, 
we  have  no  longer  need  of  a 
schoolmaster ;  as  such  are  of 
no  further  use  to  young  per¬ 
sons  when  advanced  to  years 
of  maturity. 

SCORNER.  (Prov.  xiii.  1.) 
One  who  is  disposed  to  laugh 
at  persons  and  things  of  im¬ 
portance;  who  mocks  at  sin, 
and  the  judgments  of  God  on 
account  of  it;  and  scoffs  at  re¬ 
ligion  and  the  professors  and 
and  teachers  of  it;  and  derides 
and  hates  wholesome  reproof 
and  advice.  (Ps.  i.  1.  Prov.  ix. 
8.) 

SCORPION.  (Luke  xi.  12.) 
A  venomous  insect  allied  to 
the  spider,  but  resembling  the 
lobster  so  much,  that  the  latter 
is  called  the  sea-scorpion  by 
the  Arabs.  Its  shape  and  gene¬ 
ral  appearance  are  seen  in  the 
cut.  Iis  usual  length  is  one  or 
two  inches,  but  in  tropical  cli¬ 
mates  it  is  sometimes  found 
six  or  eight  inches  (and  some 
say  even  a  fool)  in  length  ;  and 
its  sling  is  attended  with  ex¬ 
cruciating  pain,  (Rev.  ix.  3— 
6,)  terminating  often  in  violent 
convulsions  and  death.  The 
malignity  of  their  venom  is  ac¬ 
cording  to  the  size  and  com- 
547 


SCO 


SCR 


plexionofthe  different  species. 
The  insect  conceals  itself  in 
crevices  and  under  stones,  and 
when  coiled  up,  (especially  the 
white  or  yellow  species,)  re¬ 
sembles  an  egg;  whence  the 
allusion,  Luke  xi.  12. 

An  instrument  resembling  a 
whip,  but  so  formed  with  knots 
or  small  stones  as  that  each 
blow  should  inflict  a  sharp 
stinging  pain,  is  probably  al¬ 
luded  to  in  1  Kings  xii.  11. 
(See  Scourge.) 

Mount  Akrabbim  (Josh.  xv. 
3.  Judg.  i.  36)  is,  literally,  the 
mount  of  scorpions,  and  de¬ 
rives  its  name  from  tne  multi- 
tudeofscornionswhich  infest  it. 

SCOURGE.  (John  ii.  15.) 
The  scourge  was  usually  form¬ 
ed  of  three  lashes  or  thongs 
made  of  leather  or  small  cords ; 
thirteen  strokes  of  which  were 
equal  to  thirty-nine  lashes; 
and  not  more  than  forty  could 
be  given  by  law.  (Deut.  xxv. 
1—3.  2  Cor.  xi.  24.)  The  suf¬ 
ferer  was  tied  by  his  arms  to  a 
low  pillar,  his  back  laid  bare, 
and  his  body  bent  forward,  and 
the  blows  applied  so  severely 
that  life  wa3  often  terminated. 
Sometimes  sharp  iron  points 
or  sharp-cornered  pieces  of  me¬ 
tal  were  fastened  to  the  end  of 
the  thongs,  to  render  the  suffer- 
ingstill  more  extreme.  Among 
the  Romans  the  number  of 
blows  was  unlimited.  Hence 
our  blessed  Redeemer  suffered 
in  this  form  all  that  his  mur¬ 


derers  thought  he  could  bear. 
So  degrading  was  this  punkth- 
ment  in  its  nature  and  effects, 
that  no  citizen  of  the  Roman 
empire  could  be  subjected  to  it , 
(Acts  xxii.  25,26.)  Many  were 
known  to  die  under  the  cruel 
infliction.  Sometimes  it  took 
place  on  the  way  to  execution, 
and  sometimes  it  was  itself  the 
only  punishment.  The  holy 
body  of  the  innocent  Redeemer 
was  torn  and  lacerated  by  this 
cruel  and  shameful  outrage; 
and  with  those  stripes  toe  are 
healed.  (Isa.  liii.  5.)  The  pu¬ 
nishment  with  rods  or  twigs 
seems  to  hate  been  a  separate 
infliction.  (2  Cor.  xi.  25.) 

SCRIBE.  (2  Sam.  viii.  17.) 
This  name  was  first  given  to 
the  king’s  secretary  or  messen¬ 
ger,  (2  Sam.  xx. 25,)  and  to  such 
as  excelled  in  the  use  of  the 
pen,  (Judg.  v.  14.  Jer.  lii.25;) 
but,  in  time,  it  came  to  mean 
simply  a  learned  man.  (1  Cor. 
,i.  20.) 

It  was  the  peculiar  office  of 
the  priests  andLevites  not  only 
to  study  the  book  of  the  law 
with  great  diligence,  (Ezra 
vii.  6—10.  Mall.  ii.  4;  xii, 
35;  xv.  1,  2;  xvii.  10;  xxiii, 
2,)  and  to  read  and  explain 
it  to  the  congregation,  but 
to  transcribe  it,  and  multiply 
copies  among  the  nation  at 
large.  Thescribesbyprofession 
were  usually  priests  or  Le 
vites,  and  carried  with  them, 
as  oriental  scribes  do  at  this 
643 


SCR 

flay,  the  implements  of  their 
art- an  ink-horn  thrust  into 
the  girdle;  attached  to  this,  a 
knife  to  sharpen  the  reed  or 
pen ;  a  pumice-stone  to  smooth 
the  paper  or  skin;  and  a  sponge 
to  correct  mistakes.  (Ezek.  ix. 
2.)  The  scrities  and  doctors  of 
the  law  are  terms  often  applied 
to  the  same  class  of  people. 
(Comp.  Matt.  xxii.  35.  Mark 
xii.  28.  Luke  v.  17.  21.) 

SCRIP.  (1  Sam.  xvii.40.)  A 
sort  of  knapsack  of  various 
sizes,  made  of  skin  or  coarse 
cloth,  hung  round  the  neck, 
and  used  to  carry  provisions 
for  a  journey.  (Hiatt,  x.  10.) 
'SCRIPTURE,  SCRIP¬ 
TURES.  (2  Tim.  iii.  15, 16.) 
These  terms  are  applied  to 
the  inspired  writings  contain¬ 
ed  in  the  Old  and  New  Testa¬ 
ments.  They  are  also  called 
The  Bible,  or  The  Book, 
in  distinction  from  all  other 
books,  from  the  Greek  word 
biblos,  signifying  book.  The 
word  scripture  is  also  applied 
to  a  single  passage,  (Mark  xv. 
28,)  and  sometimes  figuratively 
to  the  Holy  Ghost.  (Gal.  iii.  8.) 

These  books  are  divided  into 
the  Old  and  New  Testaments, 
(2CoL  iii.  14,)  because  they 
contain  the  history  of'  God’s 
revelations  to  mankind,  and 
his  dealings  with  them  under 
two  dispensations.  Hence  they 
are  sometimes  called  the  old 
and  new  covenants.  (See 
Testament.)  The  former,  or 
Id  Testament,  was  written 
ostly  in  Hebrew,  and  was 
he  Bible  of  the  ancient  Jew- 
sh  church.  It  was  divided 
nto  three  parts— the  Law,  the 
Prophets,  and  the  Psalms. 
(Luke  xxiv.  44.)  The  latter, 
or  New  Testament,  was  written 
mostly,  if  not  wholly,  in  Greek, 
and  fully  unfolds  the  history 
and  doctrines  of  our  divine  Re¬ 
deemer,  and  of  the  way  of  sal¬ 
vation  through  him.  They  are 
united  in  one  book,  and  called 
The  Scriptures ,  because  they 


SCR 

form  a  connected  history,  and 
are  necessary  to  illustrate,  ex 
plain,  and  confirm  each  other. 

Versions  of  the  Bible.  The 
Old  Testament  was  translated 
from  Hebrew  into  Greek  about 
three  hundred  years  before 
Christ.  This  translation  is  call¬ 
ed  the  Septuugint,  from  a  La¬ 
tin  word  signifying  seventy, 
either  because  a  company  of 
seventy  or  seventy-two  elders 
were  employed  in  the  work,  or 
because  it  was  approved  by  the 
Jewish  council  or  sanhedrim, 
which  consisted  of  seventy  or 
seventy-two  persons. 

Soon  after  the  apostolic  writ¬ 
ings  were  published,  the  Bible 
was  translated  into  Latin,  for 
the  use.  of  Christians  using  that 
language.  This  is  called  the 
Vulgate ,  because  the  Latin 
language  was  the  vulgar  or 
common  tongue  of  the  Ro¬ 
mans.  The  "first  edition  of 
this,  and  the  first  entire  Bible 
in  print  in  any  language,  bear¬ 
ing  any  date,  name  of  printer, 
or  place  of  publication,  was 
the  Latin  Vulgate,  published 
at  Mentz  in  Germany.  It  is 
commonly  called  the  Mazarin 
Bible,  a  copy  having  beep 
found  about  the  middle  of  the 
last  century  in  cardinal  Maza- 
rin’s  library  at  Paris.  It  is  re¬ 
markable  that  its  existence 
was  unknown  before;  for  it 
can  hardly  be  called  a  book 
of  very  great  scarcity,  nearly 
twenty  copies  being  in  differ¬ 
ent  libraries,  half  of  them  in 
those  of  private  persons  in 
England.  No  date  appears  in 
this  Bible,  and  some  have  re¬ 
ferred  its  publication  to  1452, 
or  even  to  1450.  In  a  copy 
belonging  to  the  royal  library 
at  Paris,  an  entry  is  made,  im¬ 
porting  that  it  was  completed 
in  binding  and  illuminating  at 
Mentz,  on  the  feast  of  the  As¬ 
sumption,  (Aug.  15,)  1456.  As 
the  binding  and  illuminat’ng 
of  the  above-mentioned  copy  is 
likely  to  have  followed  the  pub- 


SCR 

*ication  at  no  great  distance 
if  time,  we  may  not  err  in 
Dlacing  its  appearance  in  the 
year  1455,  which  will  secure 
its  hitherto  unimpeached  pri¬ 
ority  in  the  records  of  biblio¬ 
graphy.  It  is  a  very  striking 
circumstance,  that  the  high- 
minded  inventors  of  this  great 
art  tried  at  the  very  outset  so 
bold  a  flight  as  the  printing  of 
an  entire  Bible,  and  executed 
it  with  astonishing  success.  It 
was  far  within  the'firsl  twenty- 
five  years  of  the  first  invention 
of  the  art  in  its  rudest  form, 
that  this  stupendous  labour 
was  undertaken.  The  Maza- 
rin  Bible  is  printed,  some 
copies  on  vellum,  some  on 
paper  of  choice  quality,  with 
streng,  black,  and  tolerably 
handsome  characters,  but  with 
a  want  of  uniformity,  which 
has  led,  perhaps  unreasonably, 
to  doubt  whether  they  were 
cast  in  a  matrix.  We  may  see, 
in  imagination,  this  venerable 
and  splendid  volume  leading 
up  the  crowded  myriads  of  its 
followers,  and  imploring,  as  it 
were,  a  blessing  on  the  new 
art,  by  dedicating  its  first- 
fruits  to  the  service  of  hea¬ 
ven.  This  Bible  is  sometimes 
called  Guttenberg’s  Latin  Bi¬ 
ble,  as  it  was-  printed  by 
the  joint  labour  of  Guttenberg, 
Faustus,  and  Scheffer;  and  it 
is  called  the  forty-two  line 
Bible,  because  each  full  co¬ 
lumn  contained  forty-two  lines. 
The  first  complete  impressions 
of  this  Bible  bearing  a  date  on 
the  title-page  were  printed  in 
1462,  and  carried  by  Faustus 
to  Paris  for  sale.  The  monks 
were  so  astonished  at  this  sur¬ 
prising  multiplication  of  co¬ 
pies,  ihat  they  ascribed  it  to 
demoniacal  influence. 

English  versions  and  edi¬ 
tions.  TheBible,  entire  and  in 
parts,  was  translated  into  Sax¬ 
on  by  several  different  haods, 
between  a.  b.  706  and  995.  For 
several  centuries  after  this,  the 


SCR 

Scriptures  appear  to  have  been 
buried  in  oblivion. 

In  the  reign  of  Edward  I.  of 
England,  (1250,)  the  price  of  a 
fairly  written  Bible  was  thirty 
seven  pounds,  or  one  hundred 
and  sixty-four  dollars.  At  the 
same  time  the  hire  of  a  labourer 
was  three  half-pence,  or  three 
cents  a  day.  So  that  it  would 
take  the  labour  of  fifteen  years 
andaquarter,  exclusive  of  Sun¬ 
days,  to  purchase  a  si  ngle  copy. 
A  copy  of  the  New  Testament- 
in  cl  ear  good  type,  and  well  and 
strongly  bound,  can  be  had  in 
this  country  now  at  nine  cents, 
and  the  whole  Scriptures  for 
thirty-seven  and  a  half  cent* 

The  first  English  transla¬ 
tion  of  the  Bible  known  to  be 
extant,  is  supposed  to  bear 
date  as  early  as  1290.  Three 
MS.  copies  of  it  are  in  exist¬ 
ence  now.  The  next  transla¬ 
tion  of  the  whole  Bible  into 
English  was  by  Wickliffe, 
about  1380.  Manuscript  copies 
of  this  work  are  also  in  exist¬ 
ence  in  many  public  libraries ; 
but  only  the  New  Testament 
was  ever  printed.  In  the  year 
1429,  a  copy  of  Wickliffe’s 
New  Testament  in  manuscript 
brought  nearly  two  hundred 
dollars. 

The  first  printed  English 
Bible  was  translated  by  Wil¬ 
liam  Tyndale.  His  transla¬ 
tion  of  the  New  Testament 
was  published  at  Antwerp  in 
1526.  In  1529  this  edition  was 
bought  up  and  burnt:  which  af 
forded  him  the  means  of  going 
on.  In  1530  he  published  the 
Pentateuch,  and  the  next  year 
Jonah.  Thpse,  with  Nehemiah, 
made  Tyndale’s  Bible.  In  1535 
it  was  published  by  Coverdale, 
one  of  Tyndale’s  assistants; 
and  Tyndale  himself  was 
strangled  and  burnt  in  1536. 
In  the  reign  of  Henry  VIIL 
the  possession  of  a  copy  of 
Tyndale’s  translation  of  the 
New  Testament  was  sufficient 
I  to  convict  the  individua  of 
550 


SCR 

heresy,  and  subject  him  to  the 
flames.  Still,  the  desire  to 
possess  it  was  so  strong  that 
some  gave  a  load  of  hay  for  a 
few  chapters  of  James  or  Paul’s 
epistles  in  English.  “It  was 
wonderful,”  says  a  writer,  “  to 
see  with  what  joy  this  book  of 
God  was  received,  not  only 
among  the  learned  sort,  and 
those  who  were  noted  for  lovers 
el  the  reformation,  but  gene¬ 
rally  all  England  over,  among 
all  the  vulgar  and  common 
people;  ana  with  what  greedi¬ 
ness  God’s  word  was  read, 
and  whakresortto  places  where 
the  reading  of  it  was.  Every¬ 
body  that  could,  bought  the 
book,  or  busily  read  it,  or  got 
others  to  read  it  to  them,  if 
they  could  not  themselves; 
and  divers  more  elderly  peo¬ 
ple  learned  to  read  on  purpose, 
and  even  little  boys  flocked 
among  the  rest  to  hear  por¬ 
tions  “of  the  Holy  Scriptures 
read.”  In  1537,  a  revised  edi¬ 
tion  of  Tyndale’s  Bible  was 
published  on  the*  continent; 
and  two  years  afterwards  it 
was  also  published  in  England. 
In  1540  a  copy  of  this  Bible 
was  required  by  law  to  be 
laced  in  every  parish  church ; 
ut  in  two  years  more  the 
papist  power  succeeded  in 
suppressing  it.  It  was  soon_re- 
stored  again,  and  before  1570, 
was  quite  common. 

In  1603,  Dr.  John  Reynolds 
of  Oxford  proposed  a  new  trans¬ 
lation,  and  the  king  (James  I.) 
favoured  the  suggestion,  and 
appointed  fifty-four  learned 
men  to  do  the  service.  Only 
forty-seven  engaged  in  the  la¬ 
bour.  Theydivided  themselves 
into  six  companies,  and  assign¬ 
ed  a  portion  to  each.  Each  in¬ 
dividual  of  each  company  was 
directed  to  take  the  same  por¬ 
tion,  and  having  translated  or 
amended  it  by  himself  as 
he  thought  good,  all  were  to 
meet  together  and  report  what 
they  had  done,  and  decide 


SCR 

what  should  stand.  When  8 
book  was  finished  by  one  com 
pany,  it  was  to  be  sent  to  the 
rest  to  be  considered  and  exa 
mined.  If  a  book  thus  sent 
was  disapproved  in  any  part, 
it  was  to  be  returned  to  the 
company,  with  the  objections 
and  proposed  alterations  noted 
and  the  reasons  assigned.  If 
the  force  of  the  objections  was 
not  perceived,  the  matter  was 
to  be  adjusted  at  the  general 
meeting  of  all  the  translators. 
In  cases  of  special  obscurity, 
letters  were  to  be  directed,  by 
authority,  to  any  learned  men 
in  the  land,  for  their  judgment 
upon  the  passages.  Letters 
were  directed  by  the  bishops 
to  such  of  their  clergy  as  had 
the  reputation  of  being  skilful 
in  the  languages,  to  send  their 
observations  to  the  translators. 
In  addition  to  this  provision, 
the  vice-chancellors  of  the  uni¬ 
versities  of  Cambridge  and  Ox¬ 
ford  chose  each,  at  the  com¬ 
mand  of  the  king,  several  of 
the  most  eminent  divines,  as 
general  assistants  and  over¬ 
seers  of  the  translation. 

Great  praise  has  been  justly 
awarded  to  James  for  the  ex¬ 
cellent  selection  he  made  for 
the  discharge  of  a  trust  so  mo¬ 
mentous.  It  was  universally  al¬ 
lowed  that  the  persons  chosen 
were,  for  the  most  part,  recom¬ 
mended  equally  by  their  skill 
in  the  oriental  languages,  and 
by  a  character  for  judicious  dis¬ 
crimination.  Among  these,  Dr. 
Reynolds  held  the  first  rank; 
and,  indeed,  he  appears  to  have 
been  so  eminently  and  vari¬ 
ously  gifted,  that  he  would 
have  found  few  equals  in  any 
ase.  His  memory  was  almost 
miraculous,  not  only  for  its 
comprehensiveness,  but  for  the 
astonishing  minuteness  of  ns 
power,  which  enabled  him  to 
refer  not  only  to  pages  and 
paragraphs,  but  even  to  the 
lines  of  the  books  he  had  occa¬ 
sion  to  quote.  He  was  pro 


SCR 

roundly  skilled  in  the  learning 
and  languages  of  the  east;  ana 
from  his  knowledge  of  the  dia¬ 
lects  spoken  in  Judea  in  the 
days  of  our  Saviour,  was  admi¬ 
rably  qualified  to  furnish  cor¬ 
rect  and  natural  versions  of 
expressions  otherwise  obscure. 
To  these  great  endowments 
he  added  sincere  and  ardent 
piety,  and  the  most  exemplary 
humility. 

The  regulations  tinder  which 
the  work  was  to  be  prosecuted 
werg  very  strictly  observed ; 
the  Bible  then  used  in  the 
church  being  the  standardl  and 
not  to  be  altered,  even  in  a 
letter,  unless  the  sense  of  the 
original  could  be  more  accu¬ 
rately  conveyed. 

For  three  years  the  transla¬ 
tors  were  closely  engaged ;  but 
of  the  incidents  of  their  labour 
little  can  be  gathered  from  con- 
temporaneoushistory,and  little 
was  probably  known  beyond 
the  circle  of  the  translators.  A 
passing  remark  of  Selden  fur¬ 
nishes  nearly  all  that  can  now 
be  known  of  what  may  be 
termed  the  private  history  of 
our  English  Bible :  “  When 
they  met  together,  one  read 
the  translation,  the  rest  hold¬ 
ing  in  their  hands  some  Bible, 
either  of  Greek,  or  Hebrew,  or 
French,  Italian,  or  Spanish. 
If  they  found  any  fault,  they 
spoke ;  and  if  not,  he  read  on.” 
Three  copies  of  the  transla¬ 
tion  being  prepared,  they  were 
committed  to  six  persons,  se¬ 
lected  from  the  translators,  who 
were  to  review  the  whole,  and 
select  one  copy  for  the  press. 
This  service  occupied  them 
daily  for  nine  months.  The 
copy  thus  revised  was  again 
examined  entirely  by  two  of 
the  most  eminent  of  the  trans¬ 
lators,  viz.  the  bishop  of  Win¬ 
chester  and  Dr.  Smith,  the  lat¬ 
ter  of  whom  wrote  the  learned 
and  devout  preface  which  is 
found  in  many  of  our  common 
Bibles. 


SCR 

In  1611,  the  Bible  was  at 
length  published,  after  having 
been  long  impatiently  expect 
ed  by  the  people,  whose  inte¬ 
rest  in  the  undertaking  can 
hardly  be  conceived.  And  with 
all  proper  allowance  for  the 
limited  extent  of  general  and 
especially  biblical  science  in 
that  day,  it  will  probably  never 
cease  to  be  regarded  as  a  very 
honourable  monument  of  the 
labour,  learning,  and  faithful¬ 
ness  of  the  translators. 

The  title-page  of  the  01 
Testament  was  engraved  on 
copper,  and  that  of  the  New 
Testament  on  wood.  The  first 
edition  was  printed  in  black 
letter,  folio  size  ;  but  a  quarto 
edition,  in  Roman  type,  was 
published  as  early  as  1612. 

This  is  the  common  English 
translation  of  the  present'day. 
It  is  called  king  James’s  ver¬ 
sion  ;  and  it  may  be  proper  to 
state  that  among  other  testi¬ 
monials  from  learned  divines 
of  different  communions,  of  its 
general  correctness,  are  those 
of  Selden,  Lowth,  Horsley, 
Walton,  Middleton,  Geddes, 
Doddridge,  Beattie,  Scott, 
Clarke,  and  a  host  of  others. 

Bibles  in  the  United  States. 
The  first  Bible  printed  on  the 
continent  of  America  was  in 
native  Indian— the  New  Testa¬ 
ment  in  1661,  and  the  Old  in 
1663,  both  by  Rev.  John  Eliot. 
They  were  published  at  Cam¬ 
bridge,  Mass.  The  second 
was  in  German,  a  quarto  edi- 
tion,  published  at  German¬ 
town,  near  Philadelphia,  by 
Christopher  Sower,  in  1G76. 

The  first  American  edition 
of  the  Bible  in  English  was 
printed  by  Kneeland  and 
Green,  at  Boston,  in  1752,  in 
small  quarto,  700  or  800  copies. 
It  was  published  by  Hench¬ 
man,  a  bookseller,  but  to  avoid 
a  prosecution  by  those  who  had 
a  patent  from  the  king,  they 
reprinted  the  whole  title-page 
of  the  English  copy,  including 


SCR 

the  London  imprint.  The  next 
edition  was  by  Robert  Aitken, 
of  Philadelphia,  in  1781— 2.  He 
sent  a  memorial  to  congress 
praying  for  their  patronage. 
His  memorial  was  referred  to 
a  committee,  who  obtained  the 
opinion  of  the  chaplains  of 
congress,  as  to  its  general  typo¬ 
graphical  accuracy,  and  there¬ 
upon  a  resolution  was  passed 
(Sept.  12, 1782)  recommending 
this  edition  of  the  Bible  to  the 
people  of  the  United  States. 

The  Bible  is  regarded  by  all 
Protestant  Christians  as  the 
only  infallible  rule  of  faith  and 
practice.  Having  been  origin¬ 
ally  composed  by  holy  men 
of  God,  who  spake  as  they 
were  moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost, 
(2  Pet.  i.  21,)  and  bearing  in  its 
own  history  and  character  con¬ 
clusive  testimony  that  it  is  so 
given  by  inspiration  of  God, 
and  is  not  only  profitable  for 
doctrine,  for  reproof,  for  correc¬ 
tion,  for  instruction  in  right¬ 
eousness,  but  able  also  to  make 
men  wise  unto  salvation, 
through  faith  that  is  in  Christ 
Jesus,  (2  Tim.  iii.  15,  16;)  the 
distribution  of  it  all  over  the 
world,  in  the  various  tongues 
spoken  by  the  inhabitants,  be¬ 
comes  an  imperative  duty. 
The  Christian  church  general¬ 
ly  regard  it  as  a  true  and  just 
translation  from  the  languages 
in  which  these  sacred  books 
were  at  first  written,  and  of 
course  receive  them  as  having 
like  authority  with  the  ori¬ 
ginals. 

As  to  the  evidences  of  the 
truth  of  the  Bible,  the  inquirer 
is  referred  to  Alexander’s 
Evidences,  The  Bible  is 
True,  The  Infidel  Class, 
and  Family  Conversations, 
all  published  by  the  Am.  S.  S. 
Union.  It  has  been  well  said 
of  the  sacred  writings,  that  the 
divine  authority,  majesty,  wis¬ 
dom,  holiness,  and  goodness 
discovered  therein;  the  depth, 
sublimity,  purity,  and  benevo- 


SCR 

lence  of  their  matter;  the.r 
scope,  to  render  all  to  the  glory 
of  God,  and  crush  the  corrupt 
inclinations  of  man  ;  the  tran- 
scendant  lofti  ness  of  their  style, 
even  when  suited  to  the  capa¬ 
city  of  the  weak  ;  the  obvious 
candour  of  the  writers,  in  re¬ 
lating  the  weaknesses  and 
faults  of  themselves  and  their 
nation ;  their  amazing  har¬ 
mony,  though  of  very  different 
stations  and  ages,  and  pub¬ 
lishing  things  contrary  to  the 
natural  inclinations  of  men; 
the  attestation  of  these  writ 
ings  by  vast  numbers  of  im¬ 
portant,  public,  and  incontest¬ 
able  miracles ;  the  joyful  suf¬ 
ferings  of  millions  for  their 
steadfast  adherence  thereto ; 
the  marvellous  preservation 
of  them,  and  the  signal  strokes 
of  divine  vengeance  on  such 
as  attempted  to  destroy  them ; 
their  amazing  success,  pre¬ 
vailing  over  the  lusts  of  men, 
and  furious  opposition  of  world 
ly  power,  to  the  civilizing  of 
nations,  and  to  convince,  con¬ 
vert,  and  comfort  the  hearts  of 
millions,  the  most  obstinate; 
the  exact  fulfilment  of  the  nu¬ 
merous,  the  particular  and  cir¬ 
cumstantial  predictions  there¬ 
of,— are  infallible  proofs  that 
they  only  are  the  word  of  God, 
able  to  make  us  wise  unto  sal¬ 
vation. 

Much  interest  has  been  felt 
in  the  efforts  in  modern  times 
to  translate  and  circulate  the 
Scriptures  in  the  various  lan¬ 
guages  of  the  earth.  The  num¬ 
ber  of  these  languages  is  esti¬ 
mated  at  3000,  only  80  of  which 
are  supposed  to  be  strictly  ori¬ 
ginal  languages,  the  rest  being 
dialects.  Of  these  1200  are 
spoken  in  America,  278  in  Af¬ 
rica,  545  in  Europe,  and  1000 
in  Asia  and  its  islands.  The 
Scriptures  are  already  trans¬ 
lated  into  nearly  175.  Among 
these  are  the  English,  which 
is  spoken  by  nearly  50,000,000, 
and  partially  spoken  Iff 


SCR 

160,000,000;  Chinese,  which  is 
spuken  by  360,000,000 ;  Bur¬ 
mese,  which  is  spoken  by  15 
or  20,000,000 ;  and  various 
others.  So  that  probably  more 
than  one-ha]  f  of  the  inhabitants 
of  the  world  might  now  read 
the  Bible  in  their  own  lan¬ 
guage  if  they  could  be  furnish¬ 
ed  with  it;  and  it  is  ready  to  be 
sent. 

The  idea  of  the  formation  of 
the  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society,  which  was  organized 
n  1804,  was  first  suggested  by 
Rev.  Thomas  Charles,  of  Bala. 
He  was  labouring  in  connexion 
with  the  Welch  Methodists, 
and  being  on  a  visit  to  London 
in  1802,  and  feeling  very  great¬ 
ly  the  need  of  Bibles  to  supply 
Sunday-schools,  proposed  an 
association  for  the  purpose. 
Such  an  association  was  form¬ 
ed  under  the  name  of  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  So¬ 
ciety.  It  was  called  the  Bible 
Society  because  its  object  was 
to  distribute  the  simple  Bible 
without  note  or  comment ; 
British,  because  its  first  atten¬ 
tion  was  directed  to  the  supply 
of  Great  Britain ;  and  Foreign, 
because  it  proposed,  as  far  as 
its  means  would  allow,  to  send 
the  Bible  in  all  languages  to 
all  parts  of  the  world.  And 
there  are  now  (1837)  more  than 
5000  kindred  institutions,  of 
which  3000  are  in  Great  Bri¬ 
tain  and  Ireland.  The  society 
has  printed  the  Scriptures  in 
121  languages  and  dialects,  in 
72  of  which  they  had  never 
before  been  published.  It  is 
now  engaged  in  56  other  trans¬ 
lations.  Since  its  establish 
ment  it  has  circulated  nearly 
10,000,000  of  copies  of  the  sa- 
ired  Scriptures,  and  has  ex¬ 
pended  nearly  $10,000,000. 
The  issues  from  its  depository 
during  the  years  1835— 6,  were 
at  the  rate  of  one  copy  every 
minute,  and  its  expenditures 
exceeded  half  a  million  of  dol¬ 
lars.  And  yet  upwards  of 


SCR 

500,000,000  of  immortal  beings 
are  without  the  knowledge  of 
even  the  existence  of  this  bless¬ 
ed  volume. 

The  first  Bible  society  in 
America  is  said  to  have  been 
established  in  1804,  by  a  few 
Baptists  in  New  York.  A  Bi¬ 
ble  was  stolen  from  a  pew  in 
a  church,  and  this  started  the 
inquiry  whethera  person  might 
not  desire  to  possess  the  volume 
for  the  sake  of  reading  it,  who 
would  not  wait  to  get  it  ho 
nestly ;  and  at  any  rate,  whe 
ther  there  might  not  be  a  greal 
destitution  of  the  sacred  vo 
lume.  A  society  was  formed  to 
purchase  and  loan  Bibles  for  a 
month  at  a  time.  Many  of  ths 
public  institutions  were  sup 
plied  on  this  plan.  The  Phila¬ 
delphia  Bible  Society  was  in¬ 
stituted  May  8,  1808,  and  for 
many  years  was  the  only  source 
of  supply  for  gratuitous  distri¬ 
bution.  It  had  auxiliaries  in 
several  states,  and  acted  as  the 
centre  of  Bible  distribution  in 
this  country,  .till  the  American 
Bible  Society  was  formed  in 
1S16,  which  has  issued  (1837) 
upwards  of  two  millions  of  Bi¬ 
bles  and  Testaments,  or  parti 
of  them,  and  in  eleven  differ 
ent  languages. 

Canm  of  Scripture.  The 
Scriptures,  or  sacred  writings) 
were  published  in  separate 
books,  and  at  different  period^ 
through  a  space  of  fifteen  hun 
dred  years.  They  were  col 
lected  in  a  volume  for  conve 
nience.  In  determining  theii 
genuineness,  each  part  or  book 
must  be  examined  by  itsell 
In  other  words,  what  writingi 
roperiy  constitute  the  sacred 
cnptures  1  The  word  canon 
literally  signifies  a  rule,  and 
was  early  used  by  the  Chris¬ 
tian  fathers  to  denote  the 
Scriptures,  because  they  form 
a  perfect  rule  or  standard  of 
faith  and  duty,  which  Chris¬ 
tians  regard  as  authoritative 
I  oi  perhaps  because  they  were 


SCR 

registered  in  the  ecclesiastical 
canons  as  genuine.  It  is  gene¬ 
rally  admitted  that  the  canon 
of  the  Old  Testament  was  set¬ 
tled  soon  after  the  return  of  the 
Jews  from  Babylon,  or  about 
five  hundred  years  before 
Christ. 

The  following  are  the  ca¬ 
nonical  books  of  the  Bible,  ar- 


SCR 

ranged  in  the  order  in  which 
they  are  published,  with  the 
number  of  chapters  in  each, 
and  the  chronological  order 
according  to  many“  critics.  It 
is  not  pretended,  however,  that 
this  arrangement  is  chronolo¬ 
gically  accurate,  nor  indeed  is 
it  always  adopted  under  the- 
distinctarticles  in  this  volume. 


IN  THE 

OLD 

No.  of  Chapters. 

Date. 

Genesis  . 

56 

.  B. 

C. 

1491 

Exodus  . 

40 

. 

1491 

Leviticus . 

27 

. 

1490 

Numbers . 

36 

.  , 

1451 

Deuteronomy 

34 

.  . 

. 

1451 

Joshua  . 

24 

,  . 

, 

1427 

Judges 

21 

, 

. 

1406 

Ruth 

4 

, 

1312 

1  Samuel  . 

31 

1055 

2  Samuel  < 

24 

1018 

1  Kings  . 

22 

i.— xi. 

1002 

xii.  &c. 

897 

2  Kings  . 

25 

590 

1  Chronicles 

29 

,  , 

# 

1015 

2  Chronicles 

36 

i. — il. 

1004 

X.  &c. 

. 

623 

Ezra  . 

10 

,  , 

. 

457 

Nehemiah 

13 

,  , 

. 

434 

Esther  . 

10 

, 

509 

Job .  .  . 

42 

.  .  Uncertain. 

Psalms  • 

150 

. 

do 

IN  THE  NEW 


Matthew  . 

28  . 

A.  D.  38 

.Mark 

16  . 

.  .  65 

Luke  .  . 

24  . 

.  .  63 

John  •  • 

21  . 

.  .  97 

Acts  .  . 

28  . 

.  .  64 

Romans  .  . 

16  . 

.  .  68 

1  Corinthians  . 

16  . 

.  .  66 

2  Corinthians  . 

13  . 

.  .  67 

Galatians .  . 

6  . 

.  .  52 

Ephesians 

6  . 

.  .  61 

Philippians 

4  . 

.  .  62 

Colossians  . 

4  . 

•  .62 

1  Thessalonians 

5  . 

.  .  62 

2  Thessalonians 

3  . 

.  .  62 

Divisions  of  the  Bible.  The 
dividing  of  the  Old  Testament 
into  chapters,  as  they  still 
stand  in  our  translation,  is  at¬ 
tributed  to  Cardinal  Hugo,  who 
lived  about  the  middle  of  the 
thirteenth  century,  and  who 
did  it  for  convenience  of  refer¬ 
ence  in  a  Latin  concordance 
he  was  preparing.  To  refer 
more  easily  to  a  particular  sen¬ 
tence,  he  placed  the  first  seven 


TESTAMENT. 


No.  of  Chapters. 

Date. 

Proverbs 

31  . 

B.  C.  1000 

Ecclesiastes  . 

12  . 

975 

Song  of  Solomon 

8  . 

1013 

Isaiah  .  . 

66  . 

698 

Jeremiah 

52  . 

588 

Lamentations 

5  . 

588 

Ezekiel 

48  . 

574 

Daniel .  . 

12  . 

534 

Hosea  . 

14  . 

*40 

Joel  .  . 

3  . 

800 

Amos 

9  . 

787 

Obadiah  • 

1  . 

587 

Jonah  .  • 

4  . 

862 

Micah  .  . 

7  . 

750 

Nahum  . 

3  . 

713 

Habbakuk  . 

3  . 

626 

Zepbaniah  . 

3  . 

630 

Haggai  . 

2  . 

620 

Zechariah  . 

14  . 

520 

Malachi  . 

4  . 

• 

397 

TESTAMENT. 

1  Timothy  .  . 

6  . 

A 

D.  64 

2  Timothy  ■ 

4  . 

.  65 

Titus .  »  • 

3  . 

.  64 

Philemon  .  . 

1  . 

.  62 

Hebrews  .  . 

13  . 

.  63 

James  •  . 

6  . 

.  61 

1  Peter 

6  . 

.  64 

2  Peter  . 

3  . 

.  66 

1  John  .  . 

6  . 

.  69 

2  John  • 

1  . 

.  69 

3  John  .  . 

1  . 

.  69 

Jude  .  .  . 

1  . 

.  70 

Revelation  . 

22  . 

• 

96 

letters  of  the  alphabet  along 
the  margin  of  each  page.  Rab¬ 
bi  Nathan,  a  Jew,  for  the  same 
convenience  of  reference  ta 
his  Hebrew  concordance, 
adopted,  in  1438,  Hugo’s  chap¬ 
ters,  and  marked  every  fifth 
verse  with  a  figure.  In  1661, 
Athias,  a  Jew  of  Amsterdam, 
in  his  edition  of  the  Hebrew 
Old  Testament,  divided  the 
sections  of  Hugo  into  verses,  as 
555 


SCR 

we  now  have  them.  Robert  | 
Stephens,  a  French  printer, 
had  previously  (1551)  divided 
the  New  Testament  into  verses 
as  they  now  stand  in  the  va¬ 
rious  versions. 

This  division  into  verses, 
though  very  convenient,  is  not 
to  govern  the  sense ;  and  there 
are  several  instances  in  which 
the  sense  is  injured,  if  not  de¬ 
stroyed,  by  an  improper  divi¬ 
sion.  Very  often  the  chapter 
breaks  off  in  the  midst  of  a  nar¬ 
rative,  and  if  the  reader  stops 
because  the  chapter  ends,  he 
loses  the  connexion.  (Matt.  x. 
42;  xii.  1.  Luke  xix.  41 — 48; 
xx. 1 — 8.  Actsxxi.;  xxii.;  xxiii. 
Gal. i. 23;  ii.l.)  Sometimesthe 
break  is  altogether  inthewrong 
place,  and  separates  two  sen¬ 
tences  which  must  be  taken 
together  in  order  to  be  under¬ 
stood.  (1  Cor.  xii.  31 ;  xiii.  1. 
SCor.  vi.  18;  vii.  1.  Eph.iv.31, 
32;v..l,2.  Phil.  iii.  21;  Iv.  1.) 
Again,  the  verses  often  divide 
a  sentence  into  two  different 
paragraphs,  when  there  ought 
scarcely  to  be  a  comma  be¬ 
tween  them.  (Luke  iii.  21,  22. 
2  Cor.  vi.  6,  7,  &c.  1  Pet.  i.  3, 
4,  &c.)  And  sometimes  a  frag¬ 
ment  of  a  subject  is  separated 
from  its  proper  place,  and  put 
where  it  is  without  any  con¬ 
nexion.  (Col.  iii.  25;  iv.  1.)  The 
punctuation  of  the  Bible  was 
probably  introduced  as  lately 
as  the  ninth  century. 

Contents  qf  the  Bible.  The 
numberof  books  in  the  OldTes- 
tament  is  39,  and  in  the  New 
27— total,  66  books. 

The  Old  Testament  has  929  chapters. 


New  u 

«  260  « 

Total 

1189 

Old  Testament, 

23,214  verses. 

New  u 

7,959  « 

Total 

31,173 

Old  Testament 

592,439  words. 

New  « 

181,253  “ 

Total 

773,692 

SCR 

Old  Testament,  2,728,100  letters. 
New  “  838,380  “ 


Total  3,566,480 

The  word  Jehovah,  or  LorB. 
occurs  in  the  Old  Testament 
6855  limes. 

The  middle  chapter  of  the 
Bible,- and  the  shortest,  is  Ps. 
cxvii. ;  the  middle  verse  is 
Ps.  cxviii.  8.  The  middle  book 
of  the  Old  Testament  is  Pro- 
verbs ;  the  middle  chapter,  Job 
xxix. ;  middle  verse,  2Chron. 
xx.  17 ;  least  verse,  1  Chron.  i. 
25.  Middle  book  of  the  New 
Testament  is  2  Thess. ;  middle 
verse,  Acts  xvii.  17;  least  verse, 
John  xi.  35.  Ezra  vii.  21,  has 
all  the  letters  of  the  alphabet. 

To  read  the  Bible  through 
in  a  year,  we  have  only  to  read 
three  chapters  every  week¬ 
day,  and  five  every  Lord’s-day  ; 
and  if  we  read  two  chapters  in 
the  Old  and  one  in  the  New 
every  week-day,  and  six  in  the 
Old  and  four  in  the  New  every 
Sabbath,  we  shall  read  the  Old 
Testament  once  and  the  New 
twice  in  the  year. 

The  Apocrypha ,  which  is 
sometimes  bound  up  with  the 
Bible,  is  a  collection  of  books 
which  were  declared  to  be 
sanctioned  by  divine  authority 
as  lately  as  1550,  at  a  council 
held  at  Trent,  under  the  influ¬ 
ence  of  pope  Pius  IV.  The 
evidence  by  which  their  au¬ 
thority  is  supported  is  so  dif¬ 
ferent  from  that  on  which  the 
received  books  rest,  that  they 
are  generally  rejected  as  spu¬ 
rious,  whatever  may  be  the 
intrinsic  value  of  their  con¬ 
tents. 

Jewish  traditionary  Scrip¬ 
tures.  About  the  year  a.  d.  180. 
Jehuda,  a  Jewish  Rabbi,  wrote 
outthe  received  traditionsofthe 
fathers.  This  Was  nearly  1700 
years  after  the  giving  of  the 
law;  and  it  should  be  remarked 
that  no  force  or  authority  is 
given  to  these  traditions  in  the 
intervening  period,  during 
556 


SEA 

which  Joshua,  Samuel,  Ezra, 
and  the  prophets  lived.  This 
work  of  Jehuda  is  called  the 
Mishna;  the  commentary  up¬ 
on  it  is  called  the  Gemara ; 
and  these  together  constitute 
the  Talmud ,  which  is  more 
highly  reverenced  by  the  Jews 
than  even  the  Old  Testament. 
That  traditions  are  not  to  be 
received  as  of  divine  authority, 
is  sufficiently  clear  from  our 
Saviour’s  language  in  Mark  vii. 
1-13. 

SCROLL.  (See  Book.) 

SCURVY.  (Lev.  xxi.  20,  and 
xxii.  22.)  The  disease  known 
by  this  name,  in  modern  times, 
is  usually  caused  by  long  con¬ 
finement  in  cold  and  damp 
climates,  without  fresh  pro¬ 
visions.  In  the  progress  of  it, 
the  skin  becomes  dry  and 
scaly,  and  livid  spots  appear. 
Probably,  this  appearance  of 
the  skin  is  all  that  is  denoted 
by  the  use  of  the  word  scurvy 
in  the  passages  cited. 

SCYTHIANS.  (Col.  iii.  11.) 
A  name  used  indefinitely  by 
ancient  writers,  sometimes  to 
denote  all  the  nomadic  tribes 
that  roamed  over  the  countries 
north  of  the  Black  and  Cas¬ 
pian  seas,  and  sometimes  to  a 
particular  people  remarkable 
for  their  rude  and  barbarous 
condition. 

SEA.  (Isa.  xi.  15.)  This  term 
is  applied,  by  the  sacred  writ¬ 
ers,  to  lakes,  rivers,  and  any 
large  collection  of  water,  as 
well  as  to  seas  properly  so 
called.  (Isa.  xxi.  1.  Jer.  li.  36.) 
In  the  passage  from  Isaiah 
first  above  cited,  it  is  used  for 
the  Nile  at  that  point  which 
is  called  the  Delta.  The  sea 
and  the  west  denoted  the  same 
thing  to  the  Hebrews,  on  ac¬ 
count  of  their  position  in  re¬ 
gard  to  the  Mediterranean. 
(See  Salt  Sea.) 

Great  Sea,  (Num.  xxxiv. 
6d  or  Sea  of  the  Philistines, 
(Ex.  xxiii.  31,)  is  the  Mediter¬ 
ranean  or  Western  Sea,  a  large 
47* 


SEA 

body  ot  water  between  the 
continents  of  Europe,  Asiaf 
and  Africa,  (whence  its  name, 
which  signifies  Mid-land.')  On 
its  northern  shore  are  several 
gulfs  or  seas,  as  the  Adriatic, 
the  Ionian,  the  Egean,  &c.  Its 
length  from  east  to  west  is 
about  two  thousand  miles ;  and 
its  breadth  varies  from  four  to 
eight  hundred  miles.  About 
midw'ay,  on  its  eastern  shore, 
was  the  land  of  Canaan. 

Sea  oFifTHE  plain,  or  Salt 
sea,  called  also  the  East  Sea, 
and  Sea  of  Sodom.  (See  Salt 
Sea.) 

Sea  of  Merom.  (See  Me- 
rom.) 

Sea,  brazen.  (See  Laver.) 

SEAL.  (1  Kings  xxi.  8.)  This 
was  usually  employed  to  au¬ 
thenticate  public  or  private 
papers.  (Jer.  xxxii.  10.j  If  a 
door  or  box  was  to  be  sealed, 
it  was  first  fastened  with  some 
ligament,  upon  which  clay  or 
wax  was  spread,  and  then  im¬ 
pressed  with  a  seal  or  signet. 
Frequently  a  ring  with  some 
inscription  on  it  was  used  as 
a  seal,  by  the  delivery  or  trans¬ 
fer  of  which  the  highest  offices 
of  the  kingdom  were  bestowed. 
(Gen.  xli.  42.  Esth.  iii.  10.) 
In  sealing  the  sepulchre, 
(Matt,  xxvii.  66,)  it  is  probable 
that  the  fastening  of  the  stone 
which  secured  the  entrance 
was  covered  with  clay,  or 
wax,  and  so  impressed  wita 
a  public  or  private  seal,  that 
any  violation  of  it  could  be 
discovered  at  once.  (See  Let¬ 
ters.) 

Modern  travellers  describe 
the  seals  used  in  the  east,  at 
the  present  day,  as  made  of 
cornelian,  or  agate,  with  the 
name  or  title  of  the  writer,  or 
some  verse  of  the  Koran,  or 
other  motto,  engraved  upon  it. 
(2  Tim.  ii.  19.)  It  is  fastened 
into  a  ring,  and  worn  on  the 
hand.  (SolTSong  viii.  6.)  When 
used,  it  is  either  applied  to  the 
wax,  or  is  covered  with  some 


SEA 

substance,  which, being  stamp¬ 
ed  on  the  paper,  leaves  the 
desired  impression.  The  fol¬ 
lowing  is  a  cut  of  an  eastern 
tig-net,  or  seal-ring. 


The  word  seal  is  used  figu¬ 
ratively  in  the  Bible,  to  denote 
an  act,  or  token,  or  process  of 
confirmation.  (Rom.  iv.  11. 
Eph.  iv.  30.) 

SEARED.  (ITim.  iv.  2.)  To 
sear  flesh  is  to  cauterize  or 
burn  it,  and  thus  deprive  it 
of  the  power  of  sensation.  As 
used  in  the  passage  cited,  it. 
denotes  the  effect  of  habitual 
sin,  by  which  the  conscience 
becomes  so  hardened  and  stu- 
pified,  as  to  be  insensible  to 
the  most  enormous  guilt  and 
the  most  fearful  threatenings 
of  punishment. 

SEASONS.  (Gen.  i.  14.)  The 
year  is  very  conveniently  di¬ 
vided  by  Hebrew  writers  into 
six  seasons,  which  are  all  men¬ 
tioned  in  the  promise  made  to 
Noali :  seed-time,  harvest,  cold, 
heat,  summer,  winter.  (Gen. 
viii.  22.)  There  is  the  same 
division  among  the  Arabs  at 
this  day. 

The  first  season,  or  harvest, 
is  from  the  middle  of  April 
until  near  the  middle  of  June. 
During  this  period  the  sky  is 
clear,  the  air  warm,  and  even 
hot  in  the  valleys  and  on  the 
coast,  very  much  like  the  be- 

f inning  of  summer  with  us. 

s  it  proceeds,  the  heat  in  the 
plains  is  severe. 

The  second  season,  or  the 
heat,  is  from  the  middle  of 
June  to  the  middle  of  August. 
The  Arabs  call  this  the  vernal 
summer.  The  heat  now  in¬ 
creases,  and  the  nights  are  so 
warm  that  the  people  sleep  in 


SEA 

the  open  air  upon  the  roofs 
of  their  houses. 

The  third  season,  or  sum¬ 
mer,  (season  of  fruits,)  is  from 
the  middle  of  August  to  the 
middle  of  November.  The 
intensity  of  the  heat  is  greater, 
almost  intolerable.  Towards 
the  end  of  summer  the  nights 
begin  to  be  cool. 

During  these  three  periods, 
up  to  the  beginning  or  middle 
of  September,  there  are  no 
showers,  rain  being  as  scarce 
in  summer  as  snow.  (1  Sam., 
xii.  17.)  Hence  the  proverb, 
Prov.  xxvi.  1.  From  the  end 
of  April  until  September  no* 
a  cloud  is  to  be  seen  upon  the 
face  of  the  heavens.  During 
all  this  time  the  earth  is  moist¬ 
ened  by  the  dew,  which  is, 
therefore,  a  frequent  emblem 
of  Divine  grace  and  goodness. 
Sometimes  a  cloud  appears  in 
the  morning;  but  it  disappears 
with  the  dew  as  soon  as  the 
sun  exerts  its  power.  (Hos.  vi. 
4.)  The  dry  grass  of  the  fields 
sometimes  takes  fire,  and  pro¬ 
duces  desolating  conflagration ; 
and  the  parched  earth  is  cleft 
and  broken  into  chasms.  This 
is  more  particularly  the  case 
when  the  east  wind  blows. 
(Gen.  xli.  6.  Hos.  xiii.  15.) 
Between  the  middle  of  Sep¬ 
tember  and  the  middle  of  Oc¬ 
tober  there  are  two  or  three 
days  of  rain,  which  suffices  to 
refresh  all  nature,  so  that  the 
whole  land  is  clad  in  verdure. 
This  prepares  the  earth  for 

The  fourth  season,  or  seed¬ 
time,  which  includes  from  early 
in  October  until  early  in  De¬ 
cember.  This  begins  with  the 
former  or  early  rain,  which  is 
so  needful  for  the  sower.  In 
the  parly  part  of  this  period  it 
is  still  quite  hot,  so  that  all  jour¬ 
neys  are  made  by  night,  as  the 
temperature  is  then  agreeable, 
and  the  sky  is  clear.  As  the 
year  advances,  however,  there 
are  alternations  of  heat  and 
cold,aswithusinautumn.  The 
558 


SEA 

weather  becomes  unsettled, 
and  there  are  fogs  and  clouds, 
even  when  there  is  no  rain, 
[n  the  mountains,  snow  some¬ 
times  falls  towards  the  middle 
of  December.  The  streams 
are  still  small,  and  many  of 
their  channels  altogether  dry. 
In  the  latter  part  of  November 
the  trees  lose  their  foliaae,  and 
fires  are  made  towards  the  last 
days  of  seed-time. 

The  fifth  season,  or  winter, 
includes  from  the  middle  of 
December  until  the  middle  of 
February.  Snow  falls,  but  sel¬ 
dom  lies  upon  the  ground  a 
day,  except  in  the  mountains. 
(Ps.  cxlvii.  17.)  In*  shady 
places  the  ice  will  occasion¬ 
ally  bear  a  man’s  weight,  but 
thaws  as  soon  as  the  sun  rises 
union  it.  The  roads  are  very 
bad.  (Matt.  xxiv.  20.)  The 
severe  cold  lasts  about  forty 
days,  from  the  12th  of  Decem¬ 
ber  to  the  20th  of  January. 
The  north  wind  is  now  exceed¬ 
ingly  penetrating.  (Gen.  xxxi. 
400  Yet,  in  the  level  coun¬ 
try,  when  the  sun  shines,  it  is 
quite  warm.  Josephus  says 
that  in  his  day  it  was  as  warm 
at  Cesarea,  on  the  coast,  in 
winter,  as  at  other  places  in 
summer.  In  this  season  hail 
and  thunder  storms  are  com¬ 
mon  ;  the  brooks  rise,  and  all 
the  streams  fill  their  chan¬ 
nels.  Towards  the  end  of 
January  the  fields  become 
green,  and  there  is  every 
appearance  of  approaching 
spring.  In  the  early  part  of 
February  the  trees  are  in  leaf; 
and  before  the  middle  of  the 
month  some  fruit  trees  are  in 
blossom,  first  the  almond,  then 
the  apricot,  peach,  and  plum. 
Other  trees  blossom  in  March. 

The  sixth  and  last  season, 
or  the  cold,  includes  from  the 
middle  of  February  until  the 
middle  of  April.  It  is  still 
cold,  but  less  so,  and  the  spring 
may  be  said  to  have  arrived. 
The  heats  of  noon  are  greater 


SEA 

and  greater,  especially  m  the 
flat  country.  The  rains  con¬ 
tinue,  but  in  smaller  and 
smaller  quantities.  Thunder 
and  hail  are  more  frequent. 
Towards  the  close  of  this  pe¬ 
riod  the  rains  cease,  and  the 
last  fails  in  the  early  part  of 
April,  and  is  called  the  latter 
rain,  which  seems  to  give 
strength  to  the  filling  grain. 

The  crops  of  grain  are  as 
much  advanced  in  February 
as  with  us  in  May  and  June. 
The  wheat  and  barley  have 
at  this  time  nearly  attained 
their  height. 

The  grain  has  fully  ripened 
in  the  southern  part  of  Pales¬ 
tine  by  the  middle  of  April, 
and  in  the  northern  and  moun¬ 
tainous  parts  three  weeks 
later;  and  sometimes  when 
the  sowing  has  been  in  Janu¬ 
ary,  the  grain  does  not.  come 
to  maturity  before  July  or 
August. 

Upon  the  sixteenth  day  after 
the  first  new  moon  in  April, 
there  was  a  solemn  presenta¬ 
tion  made  to  the  Lord  of  the 
first  sheaf  of  ripe  barley.  The 
grain,  however,  as  we  may 
readily  suppose,  was  mature, 
sometimes  earlier  and  some¬ 
times  later.  It  was  common 
to  reckon  four  months  from 
seed-time  to  harvest.  The 
cutting  and  securing  the  grain 
was  carried  on  for  about  seven 
weeks,  that  is,  from  the  Pass- 
over  until  Pentecost,  which 
last  is  therefore  called  the 
feast  of  weeks.  This  was  a 
season  of  very  great  enjoyment 
and  festivity,  when  the  harvest 
had  been  plentiful.  The  reap¬ 
ers,  that  is  to  say,  the  children, 
slaves,  and  other  domestics, 
indulged  in  mirth,  joined  in 
songs  suitable  to  the  occasion, 
and  in  congratulations  to  the 
master  of  the  harvest.  (Ps. 
cxxvi.  Isa.  ix.  3.)  The  grain 
was  then  gathered  and  bound 
into  sheaves,  as  with  us.  (See 
BIBLICAL  ANTiauiTiEs,  vol.  i. 


SEA 

eh.  i.  §  3,  and  Evening  Recre¬ 
ations,  vol.  i.  pp.  78— 82,  both 
by  Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

SEATS.  (Matt.  xxi.  12.)  The 
nations  of  the  east  seat  them¬ 
selves  upon  the  mats  or  car¬ 
pets  with  which  their  floors 
are  covered.  In  the  houses 
of  the  rich  there  are  spread 
pillows,  or  cushions,  stuffed 
with  cotton ;  or  in  some  cases, 

broad,  but  very  low,  sofa  or 
divan,  with  arms,  stuffed 
cushions,  and  costly  orna¬ 
ments.  Upon  these  divans,  as 
well  as  upon  the  floor  or  ground, 
they  sit  with  the  legs  bent 
under,  and  crossed,  in  a  half- 
kneeling  posture.  (See  p.  561.) 

The  ancient  Hebrews  used 
the  posture  which  has  just  been 
described.  After  the  captivity , 
however,  the  rich  and  noble 
adopted  the  Persian  method  of 
lyingdownat  tableupon  couch¬ 
es,  (Amos  vi.4,)whicn  was  like¬ 
wise  practised  by  the  Greeks 
and  Romans.  In  the  passage  of 
Amos,  it  is  said  of  the  luxurious 
Binners  who  lived  nearly  eight 
hundred  years  before  Christ, 
they  lie  upon  beds  of  ivory,  ana 
stretch  themselves  upon  their 
couches.  These  beds  of  ivory 
were  probably  divans,  such  as 
those  above  mentioned,  but 
richly  decorated  with  ivory. 
They  used  at  table  very  low 
and  broad  divans,  ana  the 
guests  stretched  themselves  at 
lull  length.  Each  divan  held 
three  persons.  The  back  was 
supported  by  a  cushion,  and 
the  face  so  turned  towards  the 
table,  that  the  head  was  held 
up  with  the  left  hand  upon 
another  cushion.  The  right 
hand  was  thus  free  to  reach 
the  food.  The  second  person 
lay  with  the  back  part  of  his 
head  towards  the  breast  of  the 
former;  and  the  third,  in  like 
manner,  with  the  back  part 
of  his  head  towards  the  second. 
Thus  they  lay,  so  to  speak,  in 
the  bosoms  of  their  neighbours. 
(Luke  xvi.  23.  John  xiii.  23.) 


SEA 

This  was  the  ordinary  posture 
at  meals,  and  the  feet  of  the 
guests  were  distant  from  the 
table.  Hence  we  can  readily 
form  an  idea  of  the  scene  in 
Luke  vii.  38. 

The  following  cut  shows 


the  reclining  position;  and 
those  on  the  next  page  show 
the  present  Turkish  method  of 
sitting  at  meat  and  in  conver¬ 
sation- 

In  the  eating  room  there 
were  commonly  three  such 
divans:  the  middle  place  of 
the  middle  divan  was  account¬ 
ed  most  honourable.  This  was 
the  seat  which  the  Pharisees 
so  much  affected  at  feasts, 
(1  Sam.  ix.  22.  Matt,  xxiii.  6. 
Luke  xiv.  8,  9.)  At  the  pre¬ 
sent  day,  the  corner  of  the 
bed-divan  is  the  seat  of  dig¬ 
nity,  and  so  it  was  in  ancient 
times  among  the  Hebrews,  at 
least  upon  ordinary  occasions. 
(Amos  iii.  12.)  This  manner 
of  reclining  at  meals,  it  is 
believed,  was  not  imitated  by 
the  women,  though  some  doubt 
upon  this  point  is  suggested 
by  Esth.  vii.  8.  It  is  to  be  re¬ 
membered  in  this  connexion, 
that  the  Hebrew  women,  like 
those  of  Greece,  ate  in  a  sepa¬ 
rate  apartment.  (Esth.  i.  9.) 

Moses’  seat  (Matt,  xxiii.  2) 
is  a  figurative  expression,  de¬ 
noting  the  assumption  of  the 
same  authority  or  office  as  be¬ 
longed  to  Moses. 


560 


SEE 


SEB 


SEBA.  (Isa.  xliii.  3.)  Ape- 
ninsular  district  of  African 
Ethiopia,  deriving  its  name 
from  the  eldest  son  of  Cush, 
(Gen.  x.  7,)  who  is  supposed  to 
have  been  the  progenitor  of  the 
Ethiopians.  It  is  called  Seba 
by  the  Hebrews,  and  by  the 


Romans,  Merofi.  Its  wealth  is 
alluded  to  by  the  sacred  writ¬ 
ers,  (Ps.  ixxii.  10  0  and  this 
circumstance,  as  well  as  the 
remarkable  stature  of  the  peo- 
pie,  (Isa.  xlv.  14,)  is  confirmed 
by  profane  history.  (See  .She- 


SEI 

SEBAT,  or  SHEBAT.  (See 
Month.) 

SECT,  (Acts  v.  17,)  or  party, 
not  necessarily  implying  any 
fundamental  error  of  doctrine. 
Christianity  was  originally  con¬ 
sidered  as  a  new  sect  of  Juda¬ 
ism;  hence  Tertullus,  accusing 
Paul  before  Felix,  says  that  he 
was  chief  of  the  seditious  sect 
of  the  Nazarenes,  (Acts  xxiv. 
5 ;)  and  the  Jews  of  Rome  said 
to  the  apostle,  when  he  arrived 
in  that  city,  that  as  to  this  sect, 
it  was  everywhere  spoken 
against.  (Acts  xxviii.  22.)  The 
word  heresy  in  Acts  xxiv.  14, 
is  the  same  i  n  the  original  with 
the  word  sect  in  Acts  xxiv.  5; 
so  that  the  apostle  replies  di¬ 
rectly  to  the  argument  of  Ter¬ 
tullus,  and  admits  that,  after 
the  manner  of  a  sect,  produc¬ 
ing  division  and  schism,  as  my 
persecutors  say,  so  worship  I 
the  God  of  my  fathers. 

SEED,  mingled.  (Lev.  xix. 
19.)  Travellers  tell  us  that  wo¬ 
men  are  employed  in  Aleppo 
and  elsewhere  in  cleansing  the 
mingled  seed  from  all  admix¬ 
ture,  to  prepare  it  for  sowing. 

SEED-TlME.(SeeSEASONs.) 

SEIR,  mount.  1.  (Gen.  xiv. 
6.)  A  most  rugged  and  desolate 
chain  of  mountains,  stretching 
from  the  southern  shore  of  the 
Dead  Sea  to  the  . eastern  gulf  of 
the  Red  Sea.  Mount  Hor  was 
one  of  its  summits;  and  the 
Hivites  are  mentioned  among 
its  inhabitants,  and  one  of  this 
people  was  named  Seir.  (Se6 
Edom,  Hor.) 

2.  (Josh.  xv.  10.)  Another 
mount  Seir  was  situated  near 
Kiriath-jearim. 

SELA,  or  SELAH.  (SeeJoK- 

THEEL.) 

SELAH.  (Hab.  iii.  3.  9.  13.) 
This  word,  which  occurs  no 
less  than  seventy-four  times  in 
the  Hebrew  text  of  the  Psalms, 
is  generally  construed  to  be  a 
note  of  admiration,  demanding 
a  solemn  pause.  It  is  usual¬ 
ly  placed  at  some  remarkable 


SEP 

passage,  and  seems  designed 
to  excite  and  quicken  the  at¬ 
tention  and  observation.  If,  as 
is  very  probable,  the  tunes  were 
expressly  composed  for  the 
words,  such  pauses  and  chang¬ 
es  of  voice  would  be  observed 
as  were  most  adapted  to  »ive 
litem  proper  emphasis;  and  the 
most  impressive  and  important 
passages  would  naturally  be 
repealed. 

SELEUCTA.  (Acts  xiii.  4 ) 
A  city  of  Syria,  on  the  shores 
of  the  Mediterranean,  west  of 
Antioch,  and  near  the  mouth 
of  the  Oronies. 

SENATE.  (Acts  v.  21.)  An 
assembly  of  aged  and  experi¬ 
enced  men,  not  members  of  the 
general  council,  but  called  in 
on  a  particular  emergency. 
They  may  have  been  the  same 
class  with  those  called  elders 
of  Israel,  (Acts  iv.  8,)  and  elders 
of  the  Jews.  (Acts  xxv.  15.) 
Such  persons  are  called  sena¬ 
tors,  Ps.  cv.  22. 

SENNACHERIB  (2  Kings 
xviii.  13)  was  king  of  Assyria 
when  Hezekiah  reigned  in  Ju¬ 
dah.  He  was  the  son  and  suc¬ 
cessor  of  Shalmaneser;  and 
having  invaded  and  laid  waste 
much  of  the  kingdom  of  Judah, 
was  contemplating  an  attack 
on  the  capital.  Hezekiah,  in 
this  extremity,  proposed  to  ca- 
itulate  on  certain  terms ;  but 
ennacherib  treated  his  em¬ 
bassy  with  the  utmost  inso¬ 
lence.  Hezekiah  made  sup¬ 
plication  to  God  for  deliver¬ 
ance,  and  his  prayer  was  an¬ 
swered,  (2  Kings  xix.  20;)  for 
the  Assyrian  army  was  mira¬ 
culously  cut  off,  Sennacherib 
hastily  retreated  to  Nineveh, 
and  was  finally  assassinated 
by  his  own  sons  while  he  was 
engaged  in  idolatrous  worship. 
(2  Kings  xix.  37.) 

SEPHARVAIM.  (2  Kings 
xvii.  24.)  A  province  of  Meso¬ 
potamia,  whence  colonies  emi¬ 
grated  to  Canaan  after  the  Is 
raelites  were  carried  beyond 
562 


SER 

the  Euphrates  by  Shalmane¬ 
ser.  The  Sepharvaim  of  the 
Bible  is  supposed  to  be  the 
same  with  the  Sipharaof  pro¬ 
fane  history. 

SEPULCHRE.  (See  Buri¬ 
al.! 

SERAPHIM.  (Isa.  vi.  2.  6.) 
This  is  the  name  given  by  the 
prophet  to  the  spirits  which 
wafted  by  the  throne  of  the 
Lord,  as  they  appeared  in  his 
sublime  and  wonderful  vision. 
The  number  of  them  is  not 
tated ;  but  the  description, 
their  appearance,  their  son" 
of  praise,  the  effect  produced 
upon  and  within  the  temple 
by  the  voice  of  one  of  them, 
the  office  which  another  exe¬ 
cuted  towards  the  prophet  him¬ 
self,  and,  indeed,  the  whole 
scene,  justifies  the  opinion  that 
they  were  from  the  most  ex¬ 
alted  order  of  the  angelic  host. 
(Heb.  i.  7.) 

SERGEANTS.  (Actsxvi.35. 
38.)  This  was  a  class  of  public 
officers  under  the  Roman  go¬ 
vernment.  They  were  appoint¬ 
ed  to  carry  th e  fasces,  or  bun¬ 
dle  of  rods,  before  the  supreme 
magistrates,  and  to  inflict  the 
punishment  of  scourging  and 
Deheading  upon  criminals. 

SERGIUS  PAULUS  (Acts 
xiii.7)  was  proconsul  ordeputy- 
governor  of  the  island  of  Cy¬ 
prus,  a  province  of  the  Roman 
empire.  He  was  a  man  of  in¬ 
telligence  and  candour,  (for 
this  the  word  prudent  imports,) 
and  sought  to  hear  the  gospel 
from  the  apostles  who  were  at 
the  island— probably  from  curi¬ 
osity,  or  from  a  laudable  desire 
to  obtain  information  of  the 
new  religion  from  its  advocates 
and  professors.  An  impostor  of 
considerable  influence,  named 
Elymas,  finding  his  own  occu¬ 
pation  in  danger,  attempted  to 
controvert  the  doctrines  of  the 
apostles,  and  to  divert  or  pre¬ 
judice  the  mind  of  the  govern¬ 
or.  Tor  his  sin  in  this  respect, 
he  was  severely  rebuked  and 


SER 

punished  by  the  immediate  in¬ 
terposition  of  Providence,  (see 
Barjesus;)  and  such  was  the 
effect  of  the  whole  scene  upon 
the  mind  of  the  governor,  thal 
he  embraced  the  faith  of  the 
gosppl. 

“  SERPENT.  (Gen.  iii.  I.)  An 
animal  distinguished  for  its 
subtlety,  (Matt.  x.  16,)  as  well 
as  for  the  instinctive  dread 
which  it  inspires  in  man  and 
in  most  animals.  Three  hun¬ 
dred  species  are  known,  the 
largest"  of  which  are  indeed 
terrific  in  their  power  and 
venom.  About  one-sixth  of  all 
the  species  known  are  venom¬ 
ous. 

The  devil  is  called  the  ser¬ 
pent,  and  the  old  serpent ,  (Rev. 
xii.  9.  14, 15,)  probably  in  allu¬ 
sion  to  his  subtlety  and  malice, 
and  also  to  the  fact  that  in 
tempting  our  first  parents  te 
disobey  God,  he  employed  a 
serpent,  or  assumed  the  form 
of  one.  (2  Cor.  xi.  3.) 

The  serpent  is  used  by  the 
sacred  writers  as  an  emblem 
of  wicked  ness,  (Matt,  xxiii.  33,) 
cruelty,  (Ps.  lviii.4.  Prov.  xxiii. 
32.  Eccl.  x.  1 1 ,)  and  treachery. 
(Gen.  xlix.  17.) 

Serpent,  brazen,  (Num. 
xxi.  9,)  was  erected  by  Moses 
in  the  camp  of  Israel,  at  the 
express  command  of  Jehovah. 
As  a  punishment  for  their  mur¬ 
muring  and  rebellion,  God  sent 
into  the  midst  of  the  camp  a 
venomous  serpent,  called  fiery 
probably  from  the  effect  of  its 
bite.  Modern  travellers  whe 
have  passed  through  the  valley 
where  this  judgment  was  suf 
fered  by  the  Israelites,  assure 
us  from  the  Arabs  and  from 
their  own  observation,  that  a 
vast  number  of  serpents  infest 
it.  The  destruction  of  life  was 
fearful,  and  the  people  sought 
to  Moses  to  intercede  for  their 
deliverance.  To  test  the  sin¬ 
cerity  of  their  penitence,  M  • 
ses  was  commanded  to  madia 
a  serpent  of  brass,  resembling 


* 


SKR 

tt\e  serpents  wh  ich  were  among 
them,  and  put  it  upon  a  pole, 
that  it  might  be  seen  from  all 
parts  of  the  camp;  and  then 
whoever  was  bitten  should  be 
healed  by  simply  looking  at 
the  brazen  figure:  and  it  was 
accordingly  done,  and  all  the 
promised'efTectsfollowed.  This 
passage  of  history  is  alluded  to 
by  our  Saviour  in  the  most  in¬ 
terestin'*  and  instructive  man¬ 
ner.  (John  iii.  14,  15.  For  a 
full  illustration  of  this  subject, 
see  The  Brazen  Serpent,  by 
Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

In  Egypt  and  other  eastern 
countries,  the  serpent  was  the 
common  symbol  of  power. 
Hence  it  was  embroidered  on 
the  robes  of  kings.  It  was  also 
an  object  of  religious  worship; 
and  is  often  seen  on  ancient 
medals  and  relics,  as  symboli¬ 
cal  of  power.  Rites  were  de¬ 
vised  and  temples  built  to  its 
honour;  and  priests  were  ap¬ 
pointed  to  conduct  the  ceremo¬ 
nies.  These  miserable  idola¬ 
ters  appeared  before  the  altars 
of  their  contemptible  deity  in 
gorgeous  vestments, their  heads 
adorned  with  serpents,  or  with 
the  figures  of  serpents  embroi¬ 
dered  on  their  tiaras,  when  the 
creatures  themselves  were  not 
to  be  had  ;  and  in  their  frantic 
exclamations  cried  out,  in  evi¬ 
dent  allusion  to  the  triumph 
which  the  old  serpent  obtained 
over  our  first  mother,  Eva, Eva. 
So  completely  was  Satan  per¬ 
mitted  to  insult  our  fallen  race, 
that  the  serpent,  his  chosen 
agent  in  accomplishing  our 
ruin,  was  actually  raised  to 
the  first  place  among  the  dei¬ 
ties  of  the  heathen  world,  and 
reverenced  by  the  most  solemn 
acts  of  worship.  The  figure  of 
the  serpent  adorned  the  portals 
tf  the  proudest  temples  in  the 
east.  Serpent-worship  in  its 
origin  was  probably  depreca¬ 
tory;  suggested  by  traditionary 
fears,  winch  regarded  the  ser¬ 
pent  as  the  personification  of 


SER 

all  evil.  They  worshipped  his 
image  to  avert  the  evil  he 
might  do  them. 

The  following  cuts  and  that 
under  the  article  Pitcher  ex¬ 
emplify  the  forms  in  which 
the  image  of  the  serpent  was 
anciently  preserved  in  the 
east. 


The  cut  on  the  following 
page  is  copied  from  the  altar 
of  an  idol  god  found  in  the 
564 


SEE 


SEE 


ruins  of  Herculaneum.  The 
serpent  i»  represented  as  glid¬ 
ing  round  the  altar,  and  con¬ 
suming  the  figs  or  other  fruits 
that  are  offered  in  sacrifice. 

SERVANT.  (Gen.  ix.  26.) 
The  Hebrews  had  several 
kinds  of  servants:  (1.)  Bond- 
men  and  bondwomen,  pro¬ 
cured  from  the  heathen.  (Lev. 
xxv.  44—46.)  The  Gibeonites 
were  cursed  with  a  perpetual 
bondage  to  a  particular  service, 
(Josh  ix.  23,)  as  a  punish¬ 
ment  for  the  deception  which 
they  practised  on  Joshua  and 
the  elders  of  Israel.  It  seems 
reasonable  to  suppose  that 
every  proselyted  and  circum¬ 
cised  servant  obtained  his 
liberty  on  the  same  conditions 
as  a  Hebrew  servant.  The 
48 


Mosaic  law  provided  that  ser¬ 
vants  and  prisoners,  of  all  de¬ 
scriptions,  went  out  free  a» 
the  jubilee:  and  the  punish¬ 
ment  of  one  who  should  steal 
a  fellow  being,  to  sell  him  for 
a  slave,  was  death.  (Ex.xxi.16. 
See  art.  Feasts,  II  Jubilee.) 

(2.)  The  second  class  of  ser¬ 
vants  among  the  Hebrews  were 
bondmen  and  bondmaidens  of 
their  brethren.  The  term  of 
service  for  these  could,  in  no 
event,  be  longer  than  six  years ; 
unless  in  the  case  of  the  ser¬ 
vant,  who  expressed  an  utter 
unwillingness  to  leave  his  mas. 
ter.  (See  Ex.  xxi.  5,  6.) 

(3.)  The  third  class  of  Hebrew 
servants  were  hirelings,  whose 
ordinary  time  of  service  seems 
to  have  been  three  years,  as  is 
665 


SER 


SEV 


inferred  from  its  being  said  that 
the  bondman  of  six  years  was 
worth  a  double  hired  servant. 
(Deut.  xv.  18.)  But  this  seems 
to  be  a  slender  foundation  for 
such  an  opinion.  It  might, 
indeed,  have  been  customary 
to  hire  for  three  years;  but  of 
this  there  is  no  intimation 
besides  in  the  whole  Bible. 
Hired  servants,  therefore,  were 
probably  employed,  as  was 
customary  in  the  time  of 
Christ,  by  the  day,  by  the 
month,  by  the  year,  or  for  any 
term  of  years  that  might  be 
agreed  upon. 

It  can  scarcely  be  denied 
that  there  were  persons  held 
in  involuntary  servitude  by 
the  Hebrews,  from  the  earli¬ 
est  times.  The  government 
of  the  master  was  strictly 
patriarchal,  and  secured  the 
safety  and  comfort  of  his  nu¬ 
merous  retinue.  Great  care 
was  taken  to  securft  for  them 
civil  and  religious  privileges. 
(Ex.  xx.  10.  Ex.  xxi.  20.  26,27. 
lieut.xii.  18;  xvi.ll.)  Involun¬ 
tary  servitude  originated,  pro- 
baldy,  in  one  or  more  of  the 
following  ways: 

1.  By  being  taken  captive 
in  war,  which  is  by  many  sup¬ 
posed  to  have  been  the  earliest 
kind  of  servitude.  (Deut.  xx. 
14;  xxi.  10.) 

2.  By  becoming  insolvent 
debtors.  (2  Kings  iv.  1.  Isa.  1. 
1.  Matt,  xviii.  25.) 

3.  By  the  crime  qf  theft , 
when  the  offender’s  property 
did  not  amount  to  the  lawful 
equivalent.  (Ex.  xxii.  3.  Neh. 
v.  4,  5.) 

4.  By  man-stealing,  as  when 
free  men,  by  deceit  or  violence, 
were  made  slaves.  In  Ex:  xxi. 
16,  death  is  fixed  as  the  punish¬ 
ment  of  this  crime ;  but  the  pe¬ 
nalty  is  more  fully  expounded 
in  Deut.  xxi  v.  7,  and  restricted 
to  the  case  where  the  thief,  by 

.  offering  the  slave  for  sale,  or 
keeping  him  confined,  evinces 


his  determination  not  to  libe¬ 
rate  him. 

6.  By  being  descended  from 
a  married  slave.  Such  slaves 
were  called  home-born,  bom  in 
the  house ,  son  of  the  bondwo¬ 
man,  or  son  qf  the  house.  Abra¬ 
ham  had  noless  than  three  hun¬ 
dred  and  eighteen.  (Gen.  xiv. 
14;  xv.  3;  xvii.23;  xxi.  10.) 

6.  By  sale,  as  when  a  free 
man,  who  could  not  get  a  live¬ 
lihood,  sold  himself  as  a  slave. 
A  Hebrew  might  thus  sell  him¬ 
self,  not  only  to  a  rich  man  of 
his  own  nation,  but  also  to  a 
foreigner  residing  in  Palestine, 
though  not  for  a  longer  term 
than  six  years,  as  already  in¬ 
timated.  The  condition  of 
such  a  one  was  plainly  dis- 
tinguished  from  that  of  other 
slaves.  (Lev.  xxv.  39.)  Even 
captives  in  war  seem  to  have 
been  sold,  and  those  who  had 
a  right  to  the  booty  received 
only  the  price.  (Num.  xxxi. 
12.  26-28.) 

In  the  east,  during  a  meal, 
the  servants  stand  with  great 
silence  and  respectful  demean¬ 
our  before  the  master  of  the 
house,  receiving  his  tokens 
and  obeying  his  orders.  By 
eastern  custom  the  commands 
of  tlie  master  are  communi¬ 
cated  chiefly  by  signs,  and 
these  are  regarded  with  singu¬ 
lar  earnestness  and  attention 
by  domestics.  This  illustrates 
the  words  of  the  psalmist. 
(Ps.  cxxiii.  2.)  Hence  also  the 
expressiveness  of  the  phrase 
to  stand  before  the  Lord,  that 
is  to  serve  him. 

SERVITOR.  (2  Kings  i  v.  43.) 
A  servant. 

SETH,  (Gen.  v.  3,)  son  of 
Adam  and  Eve,  was  born  when 
Adam  was  one  hundred  and 
thirty  years  old,  and  lived  nine 
hundred  and  twelve  years. 
Tradition  ascribes  to  Seth  the 
invention  of  letters. 

SEVEN.  (Gen.  xli.  2.)  As 
from  the  beginning  this  was 
566 


SHA 

Ine  number  of  days  in  the 
week,  so  it  has  ever  in  Scrip¬ 
ture  a  sort  of  emphasis  attached 
to  it,  and  is  very  often  and 
generally  used  as  a  round 
number,  or,  as  some  would 
say,  a  perfect  number.  Clean 
beasts  were  taken  into  the 
ark  by  sevens.  (Gen.  vii.  2.) 
The  years  of  plenty  and  famine 
in  Egypt  were  marked  by 
sevens.  (Gen.  xli.  2,  3.)  With 
the  Jews,  not  only  was  there  a 
seventh  day  sabbath,  but  every 
seventh  year  was  a  sabbath, 
and  every  seven  times  seventh 
year  was  a  jubilee.  Their  gfeat 
feasts  of  unleavened  bread  and 
of  tabernacles  were  observed 
for  seven  days;  the  number 
of  animals  in  many  of  their 
sacrifices  was  limited  to  seven. 
The  golden  candlestick  had 
seven  branches.  Seven  priests 
with  seven  trumpets  went 
around  the  walls  of  Jericho 
seven  days ;  and  seven  times 
on  the  seventh  day.  In  the 
Apocalypse  we  find  seven 
churches  addressed,  seven  can¬ 
dlesticks,  seven  spirits,  seven 
stars,  seven  seals,  seven  trum¬ 
pets,  seven  thunders,  seven 
vials,  seven  plagues,  and  seven 
angels  to  pour  them  out. 

Seven  is  often  put  for  any 
round  or  whole  number,  just 
as  we  use  ten,  or  a  dozen ;  so 
in  1  Sam.  ii.  5.  Job  v.  19.  Prov. 
xxvi.  16.  25.  Isa.  iv.  1.  Jer.  xv. 
9.  Matt.  xii.  45.  In  like  man¬ 
ner  seven  times,  or  seven-fold, 
means  often ,  abundantly,  com¬ 
pletely.  (Gen.  iv.  15.  24.  Lev. 
xxvi.  24.  Ps.  xii.  6 ;  lxxix.  12. 
Matt, xviii.  21.)  And  seventy 
times  seven  is  still  a  higher 
superlative.  (Matt.xviii.21, 22) 

SHAAR  AIM.  1.(1  Chron.iv. 
31.)  A  city  ofr  Simeon,  and 
probably  the  same  with  Sha- 
raim,  which  at  first  belonged 
to  Judah.  (Josh.  xv.  36.) 

2.  (IChron.  viii.  8.)  A  de¬ 
scendant  of  JSenjamin,  and 
the  ancestor  of  a  numerous 


SHA 

and  powerful  people.  (1  Chron. 
viii.  8—28.) 

SHADOW.  (Heb.  x.  1.)  Sha¬ 
dows  or  types  signify  those 
events  or  institutions  by  which 
some  other  future  event  or 
institution  is  represented  to 
us.  The  thing  thus  represent¬ 
ed  to  us  is  called  the  anti-type. 
For  example — the  slaying  of 
the  paschal  lamb  for  the  sins 
of  the  Jewish  worshippers  was 
a  broad  and  striking  repre¬ 
sentation  of  the  sacrifice  of  th 
Lamb  of  God  for  the  si  ns  of  th 
world.  In  determining  wha 
is  typical,  there  is  no  safe 
rule  but  the  declaration  of  the 
inspired  writers  themselveB. 
When  they  authorize  a  typical 
construction,  it  may  be  safely 
applied,  but  not  otherwise. 
(See  Types.) 

SHADRACH.  (See  Abei>- 

NEGO.) 

SHALLUM.  (2  Kings  xv.  10.) 
The  murderer  of  Zachariah 
kingof  Judah,  and  the  usurper 
of  his  crown.  At  the  end  of 
the  first  month  of  his  reign,  he 
was  himself  murdered  by  Men- 
ahem. 

SHALMAN.  (See  Shal¬ 
maneser.) 

SHALMANESER,  (2  Kings 
xvii.  3,)  king  of  Assyria,  was 
probably  the  son  of  Tielath- 
pileser.  He  commenced  his 
reign  B.  c.  724,  and  reigned 
fourteen  years.  He  found  the 
countries  of  Israel  and  Judah 
entirely  open  to  invasion.  He 
had  compelled  Hoshea,  king 
of  Israel,  to  pay  him  an  annual 
tribute :  but,  at  last,  being 
weary  of  this  exaction,  Hoshea 
combined  secretly  with  the 
king  of  Egypt  to  resist  it. 
Shalmaneser  brought  an  army 
against  him,  ravaged  Samaria, 
besieged  Hoshea  in  his  capi¬ 
tal,  and  notwithstanding  his 
long  resistance  of  three  years, 
(2  Kings  xvii. — xviii.  9 — 12,)  he 
took  the  city,  put  Hoshea  Into 
bonds,  and  carried  away  the 


SHA 

«  beyond  the  Euphrates. 

us  ruined  the  city  and 
kingdom  of  Samaria,  which 
had  subsisted  two  hundred  and 
fifty-four  years,  (2  Kings  xviii. 
9,10,)  from  b.  c.  970  to  717. 
He  was  succeeded  by  his  son 
Sennacherib.  Some  suppose 
that  Shalman  (Hos.  x.  14)  is 
the  same  with  Shalmaneser. 

SHAMBLES.  (1  Cor.  x.  25.) 
A  meat  market. 

SHARON.  (IChron.  xxvii. 
29.)  An  exceedingly  beauti¬ 
ful  and  fertile  plain  stretching 
along  the  Mediterraneanshore, 
south  of  mount  Carmel,  from 
Cesarea  to  Joppa.  Its  fertility 
and  beauty  are  often  alluded 
to  by  the  sacred  writers. 
(IChron.  v.  16;  xxvii.  29.  Sol- 
Song  ii.  1.  Isa.  xxxiii.  9 ;  xxxv. 
2.) 

In  the  spring  of  1834,  Mr. 
Thompson,  an  American  mis¬ 
sionary,  passed  over  this  plain. 
The  view  of  it  from  a  high 
tower  in  Ramla  is  thus  de¬ 
scribed  : 

“  The  whole  valley  of  Sha¬ 
ron,  from  the  mountains  of 
Jerusalem  to  the  sea,  and  from 
the  foot  of  Carmel  to  the  hills 
of  Gaza,  is  spread  before  you 
like  a  painted  map,  and  is  ex¬ 
tremely  beautiful,  especially 
at  evening,  when  the  last  rays 
of  the  setting  sun  gild  the  dis¬ 
tant  mountain  tops,  the  weary 
husbandman  returns  from  his 
labour,  and  the  bleating  flocks 
come  frisking  and  joyful  to 
their  fold.  At  such  a  time  I 
saw  it,  and  lingered  long  in 
pensive  meditation  until  the 
stars  looked  out  from  the  sky, 
and  the  cool  breezes  of  eve¬ 
ning  began  to  shed  soft  dews 
on  the  feverish  land.  What  a 
paradise  was  here  when  Solo¬ 
mon  reigned  in  Jerusalem,  and 
sang  of  the  roses  of  Sharon ! 
And  what  a  heaven  upon  earth 
will  be  here  again,  when  He 
that  is  greater  than  Solomon 
shall  sit  on  the  throne  of  David 
bis  father;  for  in  his  days  shall 


SHE 

the  righteous  flourish,  and 
abundance  of  peace  so  long  us 
the  moon  endurelhV 
SHAVE.  tNum.  vi.  9.)  The 
custom  of  shaving  the  head  as 
a  token  of  deep  affliction  is 
very  ancient.  (Job  i.  20.)  It 
seems,  however,  to  have  been 
generally  significant  of  repent¬ 
ance  and  humiliation  for  sin, 
or  of  bondage  and  reproach. 
(Jer.  xlviii.  37.) 

SHEAR.  (See  Sheep.) 
SHEBA,  (1  Kings  x.  I,)  or 
the  Saba  of  profane  history. 
A  province  in  the  northern 

gart  of  Arabia,  between  the 
.ed  Sea  and  the  Indian  Ocean. 
It  was  probably  settled  by 
Sheba,  a  descendant  of  Shem, 
and  the  inhabitants  are  called 
Sabeans.  (Job  i.  15.)  The  queen 
of  Sheba  may  well  be  supposed 
to  have  some  traditional  know¬ 
ledge  of  true  religion ;  and,  in 
the  commercial  intercourse  of 
her  country  with  that  of  the 
Hebrews,  might  have  heard 
much  of  the  wisdom  and  piety 
of  Solomon,  the  wisest  man 
and  one  of  the  greatest  kings 
that  ever  lived  on  the  eartn. 
To  see  and  converse  with  him, 
she  undertook  a  journey  from 
what  was  then  regarded  as  the 
uttermost  parts  of  the  earth. 
(Matt.  xii.  42.)  Of  this  jour¬ 
ney  the  present  Ethiopians  or 
Abyssines,  who  are  Christians 
of  the  Greek  church,  have  very 
ancient  traditions.  Among  the 
princely  presents  she  made 
to  Solomon,  were  gold,  ivory, 
and  spices;  and  the  Sabeans 
were  celebrated,  on  account 
of  their  important  commerce 
in  these  very  products,  among 
the  Greeks  also.  (Ps.  lxxii.  10. 
15.  Isa.  lx.  6.  Jer.  vi.  20.  Ezek. 
xxvii.  22.  Joel  iii.  8.) 

SHECHEM,  1.  a  place, 
(Gen.  xxxiii.  18,)  or  SYCHEM, 
(Acts  vii.  16,)  or  SYCHAR, 
(John  iv.  5,)  was  one  of  the 
most  ancient  cities  of  Canaan. 
The  change  to  Sychar  (a  Syriac 
word  signifying  drunkenness 


SHE 


SHE 


and  falsehood)  was  made  by 
the  Jews  to  stigmatize  the  vices 
of  the  place,  which  were  drunk¬ 
enness,  lying,  and  idolatry. 
Its  more  modern  name  is  A'e- 
apolis,  and  it  is  at  present 
known  as  Nablouse ,  or  Nap- 
louse.  It  is  situated  from  thirty- 
five  to  forty  miles  northerly 
from  Jerusalem,  and  was  made 
the  capital  of  the  kingdom  of 
Israel  in  the  reign  of  Jeroboam. 

Shechem  is  associated  with 
some  of  the  most 'interesting 
events  of  patriarchal  times, 
(Gen.  xlix.  29 — 32;  1. 13.  Josh, 
xxiv.  1.  32.  Judg.  ix.  46—49;) 
and  also  for  one  of  the  most 
interesting  of  our  Lord’s  dis¬ 
courses,  (John  iv.  4 — 42,)  the 
result  of  which  was  the  con¬ 
version  of  several  of  the  Sa¬ 
maritans  to  the  true  faith. 
(John  iv.  39.  41.) 

Shechem  is  situated  between 
mount  Ebal  on  the  north  and 
Gerizim  on  the  south.  The 
modern  town  has  two  long 
streets  running  parallel  with 
the  valley.  Nothing  can  be 
liner,  travellers  assure  us,  than 
the  view  of  the  city  from  the 
heights  around  it.  As  it  is  ap¬ 
proached  from  the  hills,  it  ap¬ 
pears  luxuriantly  embosomed 
in  the  most  delightful  and 
fragrant  bowers,  half  concealed 
by  rich  gardens  and  by  stately 
trees,  collected  into  groves,  all 
around  the  bold  and  beautiful 
valley  in  which  it  stands.  It 
contains  six  mosques,  a  church 
of  the  Greek  Christians,  pub¬ 
lic  baths,  and  a  varietyofmanu- 
fhctories  of  soap,  clothes,  &c. 
The  population  is  estimated  at 
eight  or  ten  thousand,  gene¬ 
rally  Mohammedans.  A  dozen 
or  fifteen  Jews  are  found  there ; 
fifty  to  one  hundred  Greek 
Christians,  and,  perhaps,  forty 
Samaritans.  These  last  have 
a  synagogue,  where  they  have 
service  every  Saturday.  They 
have  also  a  school,  where  their 
language  is  taught.  They  de¬ 
fend  their  worship  on  Geri¬ 


zim  by  Deut.  xxvii.  4,  where, 
for  the  word  Ebal,  they  put 
Gerizim,  alleging  that  the 
Jews  fraudulently  inserted 
Ebal  in  their  Scriptures,  out 
of  contempt  and  prejudice 
towards  their  nation. 

The  Samaritans,  notwith¬ 
standing  their  enmity  against 
the  Jews,  joined  them  in  their 
revolt  against  the  Romans, 
and,  in  the  issue,  eleven  thou¬ 
sand  of  them  were  put  to  the 
sword  by  the  Romans  on 
mount  Gerizim,  where  they 
had  posted  themselves,  trust¬ 
ing,  like  the  Jews,  to  the  pro¬ 
tection  of  their  temple.  Under 
the  emperor  Justinian,  another 
revolt  took  place,  in  the  course 
of  which  one  hundred  thou¬ 
sand  of  them  were  slain,  or 
sold  as  slaves,  converting  their 
once  fertile  province  into  a 
wilderness.  A  remnant,  how¬ 
ever,  rallied  on  mount  Geri¬ 
zim,  and  are  still  found  there. 

In  1811,  it  was  estimated  that 
not  more  than  two  hundred 
Samaritans  were  known  at 
the  then  present  day;  and  that 
these  reside  partly  at  Shechem 
and  partly  at  Joppa.  It  is  said 
they  have  synagogues  in  Da¬ 
mascus,  Cairo,  &c. ;  but  it  is 
not  on  authentic  evidence.  In 


their  manners,  rites,  and  reli¬ 
gious  ceremonies,  they  adhere 
strictly  to  the  Mosaic  law. 
Instead  of  the  temple  at  Jeru¬ 
salem,  they  worship  on  mount 
Gerizim,  where,  in  more  pros¬ 
perous  times,  they  celebrated 
their  festivals,  and  offered  sa¬ 
crifices.  The  worship  of  one 
God,  circumcision,  the  purifi¬ 
cations,  and  feasts,  (except  the 
Purim  and  the  feast  of  the 
dedication,)  they  have  in  com¬ 
mon  with  the  Jews.  They  be¬ 
lieve  in  the  existence  of  an¬ 
gels,  in  a  resurrection  and 
future  retribution,  and  expect 
the  coming  of  a  Messiah,  in 
whom  they  look  only  for  a  pro¬ 
phet.  Their  priests  are  of  the 
tribo  of  Levi,  and  are  treated 


SHE 

as  superiors.  On  account  of 
their  poverty,  their  only  sacri¬ 
fice  is  a  lamb  on  the  feast  of 
Pentecost.  In  the  synagogue, 
the  Samaritan  dialect  is  used ; 
but  they  generally  speak  Ara¬ 
bic,  and  they  are  distinguished 
by  a  white  turban.  They  sup¬ 
port  themselves  by  mechanical 
labour,  and  by  money  deal¬ 
ings.  They  avoid  any  con¬ 
nexions  with  other  sects,  and 
marry  only  among  their  own 
nation.  Each  man  is  allowed 
two  wives  on  his  first  mar¬ 
riage  ;  but  on  the  death  of  one 
of  them,  he  cannot  marry 
again.  In  case  both  of  them 
die,  he  is  suffered  to  have  one 
wife.  (See  Ebal,  Samaritans.) 

The  Samaritans  at  Shechem 
were  visited  by  Mr.  Fisk,  an 
American  missionary,  in  the 
autumn  of  1823.  He  says, 

“We  went  to  visit  the  Sa¬ 
maritans,  having  fir3t  sent  to 
the  kohen,  or  priest,  to  know 
If  a  visit  would  be  agreeable. 
He  received  us  in  a  neat  apart¬ 
ment,  and  we  immediately  en¬ 
tered  into  conversation.  Ten 
or  twelve  other  members  of  the 
sect  soon  came  in.  Our  con¬ 
versation  was  in  Arabic.  They 
represent  the  number  of  their 
houses  to  be  twenty  or  thirty. 
They  all  speak  Arabic,  but 
their  books  and  public  prayers 
are  in  Samaritan.  They  call 
their  language  Hebrew,  and 
that  which  we  call  Hebrew 
they  call  Jewish ;  for  they  say 
their  language  is  the  true  He¬ 
brew  in  which  the  law  was 
given.  The  difference  con¬ 
sists  in  the  -use  of  a  different 
alphabet  and  different  pro¬ 
nunciation.  They  go  three 
times  a  year  to  mount  Gerizim 
to  worship;  but  do  not  offer 
sacrifices  there  now,  as  they 
did  formerly,  lest  they  should 
be  molested  by  the  Turks. 
But  they  offer  their  sacrifices, 
in  a  more  private  way,  in  the 
city.  On  the  former  occasions 
they  meet  before  sunrise,  and 


SHE 

continue  reading  the  law  until 
noon.  We  understood  them 
to  say,  that  they  have  no  daily 
sacrifice.  We  visited  their 
synagogue.  It  is  a  smal  1,  dark, 
but  neat  room,  with  an  altar, 
but  -without  seats.  We  were 
obi  iged,  before  entering,  to  pull 
off  not  only  our  over-shoes,  but 
also  our  slippers,  which  are  not 
prohibited  even  in  mosques. 
They  expect  a  Messiah,  who 
is  to  be  a  prophet  and  king, 
but  a  mere  man,  to  live  one 
hundred  and  twenty  years,  as 
Moses  did,  and  to  reign  at 
Naplouse  over  all  the  world. 
Those  who  do  not  receive  him 
are  to  be  destroyed  with  the 
sword.  The  promise  concern¬ 
ing  the  woman’s  seed  does  not, 
they  believe,  refer  to  the  Mes¬ 
siah;  but  that  concerning  a 
prophet  like  unto  Moses  does 
refer  to  him,  as  does  also  that 
concerning  Shiloh.  (Gen.  xlix. 
10.)  They  admit  the  sense 
of  this  passage  as  given  in  our 
translation,  and  try  to  show 
that  there  is  still  a  sceptre 
somewhere  in  the  hands  of 
Judah.  The  Messiah  will 
come  when  Israel  repent. 
They  say  the  story  of  the 
separation  between  Israel  and 
Judah,  under  Jeroboam  and 
Rehoboam,  is  a  lie  of  the  Jews. 
The  city  of  Luz  or  Bethel, 
they  6ay,  was  on  mount  Ge¬ 
rizim.  (Gen.  xxviii.  19.)  Je- 
bus,  they  say,  was  also  on  this 
mount,  and  that  Judg.  xix.  10, 
as  it  stands  in  our  copies,  is 
not  true.  We  had  requested 
to  see  their  ancient  copy  of 
the  law.  The  kohen  objected, 
but  after  much  persuading, 
and  indirectly  presenting  the 
motive  which  generally  pre¬ 
vails  in  this  country,  i.  e.  the 
offer  of  money,  he  at  last  con¬ 
sented  to  show  it  to  us  this 
morning.  In  orde-  to  do  it, 
he  said  he  must  first  bathe, 
and  then  put  on  a  particular 
dress  for  the  occasion.  On  our 
arrival  at  the  synagogue,  we 


SHE 

waited  a  short  time,  and  he 
appeared,  entered  the  syna¬ 
gogue,  approached  the  altar, 
kneeled  and  put  his  face  to 
the  floor,  then  opened  the  little 
closet  which  contained  the 
holy  book,  kneeled  and  put 
his  face  to  the  floor  again,  then 

S' it  out  the  brass  case 
contained  the  roll,  and 
opened  it  so  as  to  show  us  the 
manuscript,  but  we  were  not 
allowed  to  touch  it.  It  is  in 
the  Samaritan  character,  and 
the  kohen  says  it  was  written 
by  Abishua,  the  grandson  of 
Aaron,  thirteen  years  after  the 
death  of  Moses,  and  three 
thousand  two  hundred  and 
sixty  years  ago.  (1  Chron.  vi. 
4.)  Another  brass  case  stood 
near  this,  containing  an  exact 
copy  of  the  original  manu¬ 
script,  said  to  have  been  made 
eight  hundred  years  ago.  On 
a  shelf,  in  the  synagogue,  were 
a  considerable  number  of  co¬ 
pies  of  the  Samaritan  Penta¬ 
teuch.  The  Bible  of  the  Sa¬ 
maritans  contains  only  the 
five  books  of  Moses.  They 
have,  however,  Joshua  and 
Judges,  but  in  separate  books. 
They  say  that  since  Joshua 
there  has  been  no  prophet. 
He  was  the  disciple  of  Moses, 
and  inferior  to  him.  David 
was  king  in  Jerusalem,  but 
not  a  prophet.  We  inquired 
whether  the  Samaritans  held 
It  lawful  to  read  the  books  of 
Christians.  They  said  there 
was  no  law  against  it,  and  we 
left  with  them  one  Testament 
in  Arabic,  and  another  in  He¬ 
brew.”  (See  Evening  Recre¬ 
ations,  vol.  ii.  pp.  27—30,  by 
Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

2.  A  person.  (See  Dinah.) 
SHEEP,  (Gen.  iv.  2,)  SHEP- 
HERD^Gen.xlvi.32,)  SHEEP- 
MASTER-  (2  Kings  iii.  4,) 
SHEEPCOTE,  (1  Sam.  xxiv. 
3,)  SHEEPFOLD,  &c.  (John 
x.  1.)  As  these  terms  are  inti¬ 
mately  blended  in  the  sacred 
writings,  they  are  treated  of 


SHE 

under  one  head.  Sheep  often 
constituted  the  chief  wealth 
of  a  man  in  patriarchal  times; 
and  hence  with  the  Jews  the 
care  of  sheep  was  among  the 
earliest  and  most  respectable 
employments,  (Gen.  iv.  2.  Ex. 
iii.  1.  1  Sam.  xvi.  11,)  though 
it  was  odious  to  the  Egyptians. 
(Gen.  xlvi.  34.)  The  passage 
1  Sam.  xvii.  20,  is  the  only  in¬ 
stance  in  which  the  hired  ser¬ 
vant  is  distinguished  from  the 
master,  or  one  of  his  family,  as 
a  shepherd.  Doeg  had  charge 
of  the  whole  pastoral  establish¬ 
ment  of  Saul.  (1  Sam.  xxi.  7.) 
The  office  of  chief  herdman 
was  abolished,  and  the  duties 
divided.  (1  Chron.  xxvii.  29.) 
'The  office  of  chief  shepherd 
(Heb.  xiii.  20,  and  1  Pet.  v.  4) 
is  often  mentioned  by  heathen 
writers.  It  was  an  office  of 
great  trust  and  responsibility, 
as  well  as  of  distinguished 
honour.  (2  Kings  iii.  4.)  Char¬ 
din  saw  a  clan  of  Turcoman 
shepherds,  whose  flocks  con¬ 
sisted  of  four  hundred  thousand 
beasts  of  carriage,  such  as 
camels,  horses,  oxen,  cows, 
and  asses,  and  three  million 
of  sheep  and  goats.  Dr.  Shaw 
confirms  his  statement. 

The  shepherd  or  sheep-mas¬ 
ter  was  constantly  with  his 
flocks  by  night  and  by  day, 
to  number,  gather,  feed,  con¬ 
duct,  and  guard  them,  (Gen. 
xxxi.  39.  Luke  ii.  8;)  and  was 
often  attended  with  a  dog.  (Job 
xxx.  1.)  His  care  of  the  sheep 
was  constant  and  tender,  and 
his  power  over  them  very  great. 
(Isa.  xl.  11.  John  x.  1—16.)  Rev. 
John  Hartley,  a  missionary  in 
Greece,  tells  us  that  he  was 
once  passing  by  a  flock  of 
sheep,  and,  naving  heard  it 
said  that  they  would  obey  the 
shepherd’s  voice,  he  asked 
him  to  call  one  of  his  sheep, 
which  instantly  left  its  pas¬ 
turage,  and  approached  the 
hand  of  the  shepherd  with  a 
prompt  obedience  which  ha 
671 


SHE 

never  saw  in  any  other  animal. 
It  is  also  universally  true  in 
that  country  that  a  stranger 
they  will  not  follow.  They 
flee'  from  him;  for  they  know 
not  the  voice  of  a  stranger. 

It  is  said  that  the  shepherds 
«f  Judea  gave  each  lamb  a 
distinct  name,  and  that  they 
promptly  obeyed  the  voice  of 
the  shepherd,  coming  and 
going  daily  at  his  call.  An 
ancient  Jewish  writer,  born 
and  bred  in  Egypt,  states  that 
the  sheep,  in  “the  season  of 
shearing,  would  run  to  the 
shepherd  at  his  call,  and, 
stooping  a  little,  put  them¬ 
selves  into  liis  hands  to  be 
shorn,  and  stand  quietly  until 
he  had  done. 

The  docility,  timidity,  and 
liability  to  wander,  all  which 
are  among  the  characteristics 
of  this  animal,  are  often  figu¬ 
ratively  employed  by  the  sa¬ 
cred  writers,  as’  2Chron.  xviii. 
16.  Ps.  cxix.  176.  Isa.xi.6;  liii. 
6,  7.  Mic.  v.  8.  Matt.  ix.  36.) 

In  the  Old  Testament,  the 
word  shepherd  is  used  figu¬ 
ratively  for  Jehovah,  (Ps.  lxxx. 
1.  Jer.  xxxi.  10,)  and  for  kings, 
(Ezek.  xxxiv.  10;)  but  in  the 
New  Testament  it  denotes 
Christ,  (John  x.  II,  & c.  Heb. 
xiii.  20.  IPet.  v.  4,)  and  also 
those  teachers  who  presided 
in  the  synagogues.  This  use 
of  the  word  gave  rise  to  the  ap¬ 
plication  of  the  word  shepherd 
or  pastor,  in  modern  times,  to 
ministers  of  the  gospel,  and 
thqse  under  their  spiritual  care 
are  called  th efold  or  fiock. 

It  was  the  business  of  the 
shepherd  to  count  the  sheep 
'  daily,  perhaps  oftener,  and  he 
was  accountable  for  any  that 
were  missing.  (Gen.  xxxi.  38, 
39.  Ex.xxii.  12, 13.  Lev.  xxvii. 
32.  Jer.  xxxiii.  13.  See  Ron.) 

The  ram,  on  the  call  of  the 
shepherd,  came  forth,  and  pre¬ 
ceded  the  flock  in  their  march 
as  leader  or  principal.  (Jer.  1. 


SHE 

8.)  Hence  the  expressions  in 
Ps.  lxxx.  1.  Jer.  xxv.  34,35. 

Sometimes  a  lamb  was  taken 
into  the  tent,  and  brought  up 
like  a  dog.  (2 Sam.  xii.  3.)  It 
is  common  in  Armenia  to  see 
shepherds  carrying  in  their 
bosoms  the  lambs  of  the  flocks 
they  were  tending.  They 
were  too  feeble  to  roam  with 
their  dams;  and  nothing 
evinces  more  tenderness  ana 
care  than  gently  leading  such 
as  have  young  lambs  to  which 
they  give  suck.  (Isa.  xl.  11.) 
Messrs.  Smith  and  Dwight, 
American  missionaries,  tell  us 
that  while  travelling  in  Ar¬ 
menia,  they  passed  several 
shepherds,  probably  from  the 
neighbouring  villages,  carry¬ 
ing  in  their  bosoms  the  lambs 
of  the  flocks  they  tended.  The 
same  scene  had  already  fre¬ 
quently  interested  them,  by 
presenting  the  source  of  the 
beautiful  imagery  of  the  pro¬ 
phet.  It  is  exhibited  only  at 
one  season  of  the  year;  when 
lambs  are  frequently  brought 
forth  during  the  day  at  a  dis¬ 
tance  from  the  fold.  The  new¬ 
comers,  being  too  weak  to  fol¬ 
low  the  flock  in  its  rovings 
after  grass,  are  carried  in  the 
bosom  of  the  shepherd,  and 
notunfrequently  they  multiply 
so  as  to  fill  his  arms  before 
night.  They  are  then  taken 
to  the  fold,  and  guarded  there 
until  sufficiently  strong  to  ram¬ 
ble  with  their  dams.  One  of 
these  enclosures,  when  the 
sheep  return  anxiously  bleat¬ 
ing  in  the  evening  from  their 
day’s  pasture,  and  scores  of 
hungry  young  ones  are  con¬ 
ducted  by  shepherd’s  boys 
each  to  its  own  mother,  pre¬ 
sents  an  amusing  scene. 

The  time  of  shearing  was  a 
season  of  great  festivity.  (1 
Sam.  xxv.8. 11.  2 Sam. xiii. 23.) 
The  flock  was  collected  in  an 
uncovered  enclosure  called  a 
sheepfold  or  sheepcote.  (Num. 


SHE 

xxxii.  16.  2  Sam.  vii.  8.  Jer. 
xxiii.  3.  Zeph.  ii.  6.  John  x. 
16.)  Here  their  legs  were  tied 
together;  and  the  shea  ring- 
house  (2 Kings  x.  12.  14)  lite¬ 
rally  means  the  tie-house. 
They  were  never  housed  at 
any  season  of  the  year. 

A  watch-house  was  often 
erected  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
flocks,  from  which  the  ap¬ 
proach  of  danger  could  be 
easily  descried.  This  ia  called 
the  tower  of  the  flock.  (Mic. 
iv.  8.)  The  wool  of  the  sheep 
was  probably  made  into  cloth 
(Lev.  xiii.  47.  Deut.  xxii.  11) 
by  women.  (Prov.  xxxi.  13.)  It 
formed  part  of  the  tribute  paid 
by  the  Moabites  to  Israel, 
(2 Kings  iii.  4,)  and  was  a  com¬ 
mon  article  of  merchandise. 
(Ezek.  xxvii.  18.) 

SHEETS,  (Judg.  xiv.  12, 13,) 
or  shirts ,  as  it  is  in  the  margin ; 
or  spoils,  or  apparel,  as  in 
verse  19  and  margin;  or  fine 
linen,  as  it  is  rendered  in  Prov. 
xxxi.  24,  and  Isa.  iii.  23;  all 
which  are  from  the  same  He¬ 
brew  word.  The  word  which 
corresponds  with  this  in  Greek 
is  translated  linen  cloth  in 
Matt,  xxvii.  59;  fine  linen, 
(Mark  xv.  46.)  and  linen.  (Luke 
xxiii.  53.)  The  word  doubtless 
means  a  bed-covering,  as  well 
as  a  garment,  (see  Clothes,) 
and  corresponds  with  the  hyke 
of  the  Arabs.  These  hykes,  or 
blankets,  as  we  should  call 
them,  are  of  different  sizes, 
and  of  different  qualities  and 
fineness.  The  usual  size  of 
them  is  six  yards  long,  and 
five  or  six  feet  broad,  serving 
the  Kabyle  or  Arab  as  a  com¬ 
plete  dress  in  the  day;  and, 
as  they  sleep  in  their  raiment, 
as  the  Israelites  did  of  old, 
(Deut.  xxiv.  13,)  it  served  like¬ 
wise  for  his  bed  and  covering 
by  night.  The  plaid  of  the 
Highlander  of  Scotland  is  the 
very  same. 

SHEKEL.  (See  Measures.) 

SHEM.  (Gen-  vi.  10.)  Second 


Sill 

son  of  Noah,  from  whom  de¬ 
scended  the  Jews,  and  through 
them  the  Messiah.  He  had 
five  sons,  who  peopled  the 
finest  provinces  of  the  east. 
The  languages  of  these  nations 
are  still  called  the  Shemitish 
languages,  including  the  He¬ 
brew,  Chaldee,  Syriac,  Arabic, 
Ethiopic,  &c. 

SHEMINITH.  (See  Harp.) 

SHENIR.  (See  Hermon.) 

SHEPHERD.  (See  Sheep.) 

SHESHACH.  (See  Baby- 

LON.) 

SHEW-BREAD.  (See 
Bread.) 

SHIBBOLETH.  (Judg.  xii. 
6.)  In  the  course  of  a  war 
between  the  Ephraimites  and 
the  Gileadites,  the  former  were 
routed,  and  fled  towards  the 
Jordan.  The  Gileadites  had 
taken  care  to  post  a  party  at 
the  fords,  and  when  an  Ephra- 
imite  who  had  escaped  came 
to  the  river  side,  and  desired 
to  pass  over,  they  asked  him 
if  he  were  not  an  Ephraimiie. 
If  he  said,  No,  they  bade  him 
pronounce  shibboleth,  (signi¬ 
fying  a  stream ;)  and  if  he  pro¬ 
nounced  it  sibboleth,  accord¬ 
ing  to  the  dialect  of  the  Ephra¬ 
imites,  they  killed  him.  Thus 
fell  forty-two  thousand  Ephra- 
imiies  in  a  single  day.  (Comp. 
Matt.  xxvi.  73.) 

SHIELD.  (See  Armour.) 

SHIGGAION.  (Ps.  vii.  title.) 
The  plural  of  this  word  occurs 
in  Hab.  iii.  1.  We  find  various 
conjectures  as  to  the  import  of 
it,  but  they  are  all  very  unsatis¬ 
factory,  nor  ia  the  knowledge 
of  it  important.  It  probably 
means  a  song  or  ode  of  praise. 

SHIHOR.  (See  Egypt,  ri¬ 
ver  op.) 

SHILOAH.  (See  Sii.oam.) 

SHILOH,  1.  (Josh,  xviii.  1) 
where  Samuel  began  to  prophe- 
sv,  (1  Sam.  iii.  21,)  and  where 
Abijah  lived,  (1  Kings  xiv.  2,) 
was  a  city  of  Ephraim,  between 
Lebanon  and  Bethel,  ten  miles 
soui.h  of  Shechem,  and  twenty 


SHI 

five  north  of  Jerusalem.  Here 
Joshua  erected  the  tabernacle, 
and  divided  the  land  of  pro¬ 
mise,  by  lot,  among  the  tribes. 
The  tabernacle  remained  at 
Shiloh  upwards  of  three  hun¬ 
dred  years,  and  was  then  re¬ 
moved  thence  during  the  ad¬ 
ministration  of  Eli,  and  taken 
by  the  Philistines.  Its  ruinous 
condition  was  proverbial  in 
after  times.  (Jer.  vii.  13—15 ; 
xxvi.  6 — 9.) 

2.  (Gen.  xlix.  10.)  A  title 
of  Messiah  the  king;  but 
whether  it  signifies  one  who 
is  sent,  or  one  whose  right  it  is 
to  reign,  or  the  peace-maker, 
or  him  in  whom  the  kingdom 
of  Judah  should  have  an  end, 
is  not  agreed.  All  these  in¬ 
terpretations  have  been  given 
to  it  by  different  writers,  and 
all  of  them  are  significant  and 
appropriate.  That  the  Mes¬ 
siah  is  intended  is  evident  from 
the  literal  fulfilment  of  the 
prophecy.  Within  a  single 
generation  after  the  death  of 
Christ,  the  temple  and  the  city 
of  Jerusalem  were  destroyed, 
their  whole  civil  and  ecclesi¬ 
astical  government  subverted, 
and  the  people  themselves 
scattered  abroad  over  the  earth, 
a  poor,  weak,  despised,  and 
oppressed  remnant  of  a  great 
nation.  Thus  the  sceptre  de¬ 
parted  from  Judah,  where  it 
had  remained  until  the  Mes¬ 
siah  came,  and  has  never  been 
restored. 

SHIMEI.  (2  Sam.  xvi.  5.)  A 
relative  of  Saul,  who  met  Da¬ 
vid  as  he  was  leaving  Jerusa¬ 
lem,  in  the  time  of  Absalom’s 
revolt,  and  treated  him  and  his 
retinue  with  the  grossest  in¬ 
dignity.  (2  Sam.  xvi.  6—13.) 
For  this  offence  Shimei  after¬ 
wards  sought  David’s  forgive¬ 
ness,  who  not  only  spared  his 
life  then,  but  covenanted  with 
him  never  to  put  him  to  death. 
(2  Sam.  xix.  23.)  On  his  death¬ 
bed,  however,  he  charged  So¬ 
lomon  to  remember  Shimei  as 


SHI 

a  guilty  man,  who,  having  re¬ 
ceived  such  a  charge,  forbade 
him  to  leave  Jerusalem  on 
pain  of  death.  This  prohibi 
tion  he  violated,  by  going  to 
Gath  in  search  of  two  fugitive 
servants,  and  suffered  the 
threatened  penalty. 

SHINAR.  (Gen.  x.  10.)  An 
extensive  and  fertile  plain,  ly¬ 
ing  between  Mesopotamia  on 
the  west  and  Persia  on  the 
east,  and  watered  by  the  Eu¬ 
phrates.  It  was  upon  this  plain 
that  Noah’s  posterity  attempted 
to  build  the  tower  of  Babel, 
and  the  site  of  the  great  city 
of  Babylon  was  also  here. 
(Dan.  i.  1, 2.)  The  territory  i9 
now  within  the  pashalic  of 
Bagdad,  but  its  ancient  bounds 
are  not  known. 

SHIPS.  (Gen.xlix.13.)  Some 
of  the  ancient  ships  were  very 
large.  An  account  of  one  is 
given  by  Athenaeus,  which  was 
nearly  five  hundred  feet  in 
length,  and  sixty  in  breadth. 
Upwards  of  four  thousand  row¬ 
ers,  and  at  least  three  thou¬ 
sand  other  persons,  were  em¬ 
ployed  in  the  navigation  of  it. 
The  art  of  navigation  was,  how¬ 
ever,  but  little  understood.  The 
Phenicians  were  principally 
concerned  in  it,  (Ezek.  xxvii. 
xxviii.,)  and  had  ports  of  their 
own  in  almost  every  country, 
(Isa.  xxiii.,)  the  most  famous 
of  which  were  Carthage  and 
Tarshish  in  Spain.  The  ships 
from  Tarshish  undertook  dis. 
tant  voyages,  and  hence  any 
vessels  that  were  capable  of 
such  voyages  were  called  ships 
of  Tarshish,.  (Isa.  xxiii.  1.) 

The  galley  is  a  low,  flat-built 
vessel,  navigated  with  oars 
and  sails,  and  used  particularly 
in  the  Mediterranean.  The 
expression  in  Isa.  xxxiii.  21, 
denotes  that  Jerusalem  would 
be  a  glorious  city,  though  des¬ 
titute  of  the  commercial  ad¬ 
vantages  enjoyed  by  most  other 

SHISHAK.  (1  Kings  xiv.  25.) 

574 


SHI 

A  king  of  Egypt,  and  supposed 
to  be  the  Sesostris  ofvprofane 
history.  In  the  reign  of  Reho- 
boam,  he  invaded  Judea  with 
an  immense  army,  took  pos¬ 
session  of  Jerusalem,  pillaged 
the  temple,  and  bore  off  the 
treasures  of  the  king.  (1  Kings 
xiv.  26.  2Chron.  xii.  9.) 

The  Scripture  account  of  this 
invasion  is  confirmed  in  the 
most  satisfactory  manner,  by 
recent  discoveries  in  Egypt. 
Upon  a  ruined  colonnade  at 
Thebes  is  a  representation  of 
Shishak  dragging  at  the  feet 
of  the  Egyptian  gods  more  than 
thirty  'vanquished  nations, 
among  which  is  written,  at  lull 
length,  in  the  oriental  lan¬ 
guage,  The  kingdom  of  the 
Jews,  or  of  Judah. 

Other  inscriptions  give  a 
particular  list  of  the  fenced  ci¬ 
ties  mentioned  in  2  Chron.  xii. 
4,  as  having  been  taken  in  this 
expedition;  and  exhibit,  also, 
various  effigies  commemora¬ 
tive  of  the  victory  over  the 
jews,  and  even  the  name  of 
the  conquered  Rehoboam  is 
still  preserved  in  Egyptian 
sculpture,  after  the  lapse  of 
2700  years.  .  „ 

SHITTIM.  (Joel  in.  18.) 
This  term,  as  used  in  this  pas¬ 
sage,  probably  denoted  some 
valley  well  known  as  abound¬ 
ing  in  shittim-wood ;  or  it  may 
be  poetically  used  to  denote 
any  barren  or  uncultivated 
place. 

Shittim  wood,  (Ex.  xxv.  5.) 
from  the  Shittah  tree,  (Isa. 
Xii.  19,)  is  a  tough  and  very 
durable  wood,  much  used  in 
■the  structure  and  furniture  of 
the  tabernacle.  It  is  generally 
supposed  to  be  a  species  of  the 
acacia,  which  abounds  in  all 
deserts  from  northern  Arabia 
to  Ethiopia,  and  from  which  is 
obtained  our  gum-arabic.  It  is 
a  beautiful  tree,  with  spreading 
branches  and  fragrant  flowers, 
and  hence  is  figuratively  em¬ 
ployed  by  the  prophet,  in  the 


SHO 

above-cited  passage,  to  repre¬ 
sent  the  happy  influence  of  a 

feneral  diffusion  of  divine 
:nowledge. 

SHOCOH,  (1  Sam.  xvii.  ],) 
or  SOCOH,  (josh.  xv.  35,)  or 
SHOCO.  (2Chron.  xi.  7.)  There 
were  probably  two  places  to 
which  one  or  more  of  these 
names  was  applied.  Both  of 
them  were  in  Judah,  and  in 
one  of  them,  near  Azekah,  Da¬ 
vid  gave  battle  to  Goliath. 

SHOES.  (Acts  vii.  33.)  In 
addition  to  what  is  said  under 
the  article  Clothes,  it  may 
be  remarked  that  to  take  off 
the  shoes  in  token  of  reverenoe 
was  an  early  custom,  (Josh.  v. 
15 ;)  and  as  no  mention  Is 
made  of  them  in  the  articles 
of  the  high-priest’s  official 
dress,  it  is  inferred  that  they 
officiated  with  the  feet  unco¬ 
vered.  To  remove  the  shoe 
was  also  a  token  of  humiliation 
and  subjection.  (2  Sam.  xv.  30. 
Isa.  xx.  2 — 4.  Ezek.  xxiv.  17.) 
Hence  the  expression,  Ps.  lx.  8; 
cviii.  9,  imports  the  subjuga¬ 
tion  of  the  country  over  which 
the  shoe  is  cast.  The  pluck¬ 
ing  off  one’s  shoe  and  giving 
it  to  another  was  a  significant 
token  of  a  surrendered  right  of 
privilege.  (Deut.  xxv.  9.  Ruth 
iv.  7.  See  Youth’s  Friend 
April,  1837,  and  The  Affec. 
tionate  Daughter-in-law, 
pp.  44—47,  both  by  Am.  S.  S 
Union.) 

The  phrase  (Deut.  xxxiii.25) 
thy  shoes  shall  be  iron  and. 
brass  is  prophetical  of  the 
abundance  of  precious  metals 
with  which  the  soil  of  Asher’s 
inheritance  should  be  supplied. 

Shoe  latchet.  (See 

Clothes.) 

SHOSHANNIM,  (Ps.  xlv. 
lxix.  title,)  or  SHOSHANNIM 
EDUTH,  (Ps.  lxxx.  title,)  pro ' 
bably  signifies  a  particular 
musical  instrument.  Soma 
have  regarded  it  as  the  title  of 
a  bridal  song;  and  if  it  only 
occurred  in  Ps.  xlv.,  we  might 


SHU 

admit  this  interpretation;  but 
gurely  nothing  can  be  farther 
from  a  song  of  delight  and  fes¬ 
tivity  than  the  other  two 
psalms  which  have  a  corres¬ 
ponding  title. 

SHOULDER.  (Gen.  xlix. 
15.)  To  bare  the  shoulder  is 
significant  of  servitude,  and  to 
withdraw  it  denotes  rebellion. 
(Neh.  ix.  29.)  To  bear  upon 
the  shoulder  is  to  sustain.  (Isa. 
ix.  6 ;  xxii.  22.) 

SHRINE.  (See  Diana.) 

|  SHUHITE.  (See  Bildad.) 

SHULAMITE.  (Sol.  Song, 
vi.  13.)  A  poetical  figurative 
title  of  the  church  personified. 

SHUNAMMITE1  (See  Shu- 

NEM.) 

SHUNEM.  (Josh.  xix.  18.) 
A  town  in  the  territory  of  Issa- 
char,  and  a  little  south  of  Nain. 
It  is  associated  with  several 
important  incidents  of  Jewish 
history,  (1  Sam.  xxviii.  4.  I 
Kings  i.  3.  2  Kings  viii.  1—16,) 
and  especially  as  the  place 
where  Elisha  tarried  on  his 
journeys  between  Gilgal  and 
Carmel,  and  where  he  per¬ 
formed  a  miracle  under  cir¬ 
cumstances  of  unusual  interest. 
(2  Kings  iv.  8—37.)  The  inha¬ 
bitants  were  called  Shunam- 
mites. 

SHUR.  (Ex.  xv.  22.)  The 
name  of  a  wilderness  (and 
perhaps  a  town  also)  lying 
north-east  of  the  gulf  of  Suez, 
into  which  the  children  of  Is¬ 
rael  entered  after  the  passage 
of  the  Red  Sea.  It  is  now  call¬ 
ed  Thofar. 

SHUSHAN.  (Neh.  i.  1.)  An 
ancient,  extensive,  and  mag¬ 
nificent  city,  (called  by  the 
Greeks  Susa,  or  the  city  of 
lilies ,)  situated  on  the  river 
Glai,  (now  Kerrah.)  It  was  in 
the  province  of  Elam,  in  Per¬ 
sia,  now  known  as  Khusistan, 
and  formerly  as  Susiana.  Shu- 
shan  was  the  capital,  and  the 
residence  of  the  kings,  (Esth. 
i.  5.  Dan.  viii.  2,)  and  is  said 
to  have  been  fifteen  miles  in 


SHU 

circumference.  It  is  now  a 
heap  of  ruins,  about  thirty 
miles  west  of  Shouster,  the 
present  capital  of  the  province 
of  Khusistan,  occupy  inga  space 
of  from  six  to  twelve  miles  in 
extent,  and  consisting  of  hil¬ 
locks  of  earth  and  rubbish,  co¬ 
vered  with  broken  pieces  of 
brick  and  coloured  tile.  The 
largest  is  a  mile  in  circumfe¬ 
rence,  and  nearly  one  hundred 
feet  in  height.  They  are  form¬ 
ed  of  clay  and  pieces  of  tile, 
with  irregular  layers  of  brick 
and  mortar,  five  or  six  feet  in 
thickness,  to  serve,  as  it  should 
seem,  as  a  kind  of  prop  to  the 
mass.  Large  blocks  of  mar¬ 
ble,  covered  with  hierogly 
hies,  are  not  unfreqaently 
ere  discovered  by  the  Arabs, 
when  digging  in  search  of  hid¬ 
den  treasure ;  and  at  the  foot 
of  the  most  elevated  of  the 
ruins,  stands  the  tomb  of  Da¬ 
niel,  a  small  and  apparently  a 
modern  building,  erected  on 
the  spot  where  the  relics  of 
that  prophet  are  said  to  rest. 

Intelligent  modern  travellers 
are  of  the  opinion  that  these 
are  no  other  than  the  ruins  of 
the  ancient  Shushan.  One  of 
the  most  intelligent  of  them 
(Sir  John  Malcom)  observes 
of  the  tomb  of  Daniel,  that  “  It 
serves  to  shelter  some  der¬ 
vishes  who  watch  the  supposed 
relics  of  the  prophet,  and  are 
supported  by  the  alms  of  pil¬ 
grims  ;  that  these  dervishes 
are  the  only  inhabitants  of  the 
place  ;  anti  that  every  species 
of  wild  beast  roams  at  large 
over  the  spot  on  which  som 
of  the  proudest  palaces  ever 
raised  by  human  art  once 
stood.”  (See  Elam.) 

Shushan-eduth.  (Ps.  lx. 
title.)  The  same  with  Sho- 
shannim.  (See  Shoshannim.) 

SHUTTLE.  (Job  vii.  6.)  A 
well  known  instrument,  used 
by  weavers  for  throwing  the 
thread  of  the  woof  across  the 
warp.  As  it  moves  with  great 
676 


SID 

swiftness  from  one  side  to  the 
other,  so  as  scarcely  to  be  seen 
in  its  passage,. it  is  used  figu¬ 
ratively  to  denote,  the  rapid 
flight  of  time, 

SIBBOLETH.  (See  Shib¬ 
boleth.) 

SIBMAH,  (Isa.  xvi.  8,  9,)  or 
SHIBMAH.  (Num.  xxxii.  38.) 
A  city  of  Reuben,  near  by  Hesh- 
bon,  celebrated  for  the  luxuri¬ 
ant  growth  of  the  vine.  (Jer. 
xi  viii.  32.)  It  fell  into  the  hands 
of  the  Moabites  after  the  cap¬ 
tivity  of  Reuben,  Gad,  and  Ma- 
nasseh  by  Tiglath-pileser;  and 
hence  the  prophets  Isaiah  and 
Jeremiah  weep  for  Moab,  be¬ 
cause  the  spoiler  had  broken 
the  vines  of  Sibmah. 

Probably  the  expression  in 
the  passage  from  Jeremiah  re¬ 
fers  either  to  the  universal 
reputation  of  the  vines  of  Sib¬ 
mah,  or  it  is  poetically  used  to 
denote  the  luxuriance  of  their 
growth.  The  sea  of  Jazer 
was  perhaps  fifteen  or  twenty 
miles  from  Sibmah. 

SICHEM.  (See  Shechem.) 

SICKLE.  (Deui.  xvi.  9.)  We 
have  preserved  in  Egyptian 
monuments  the  form  ofttie  an¬ 
cient  sickle,  and  it  bears  a 
very  close  resemblance  to  that 
implement  in  modern  times. 

SIDDIM,  vale  of,  (Gen.  xiv. 
3,)  now  covered  by  the  waters 
of  the  Dead  Sea,  is  supposed 
to  have  been  the  site  of  Sodom 
and  Gomorrah. 

SID.ON,  (Matt.  xi.  21,)  or  ZI- 
DON.  (Judg.  i.  31.)  A  city  of 
Phenicia,  deriving  its  name 
probably  from  Sidon,  the  eld¬ 
est  son  of  Caanan.  (Gen.  x. 
15;  xlix.  13.)  It  was  situated 
at  the  north-west  angle  of  the 
land  of  Canaan,about20or30 
miles  north  of  Tyre.  It  was 
assigned  to  Asher,  (Judg.  xviii. 
28,)  but  the  aborigines  were 
never  wholly  expelled,  (Judg. 
i.  31,)  and  proved  an  annoy¬ 
ance  to  the  Israelites.  (Judg. 
x.  12.)  Its  position  on  the 
shore  of  the  Mediterranean, 


SID 

the  fame  of  its  timber,  and 
skilful  workmen,  and  its  ex- 
.cellence  in  many  ingenious 
and  useful  arts,  made  its  com¬ 
mercial  advantages  peculiar;, 
and  they  are  noticed  in  pro¬ 
fane  history.  Their  prosperous, 
and  luxurious  habits  led  them 
into  a  careless  and  secure 
mode  of  life,  which  is  alluded1 
to,  Judg.  xviii.  7.  It  is  called'; 
Great  Zidon.  (Josh.  xi. 8;  xix. 
28.)  This  city  is  the  subject 
of  some  very  remarkable  pro- 
phecies.  (Isa.  xxiii.  4— 18.  Jer 
xxv.  17—38.  Ezek.  xxviii- 
21 — 24.)  It  was  subdaed  suc¬ 
cessively  by  the  Babylonians* 
Egyptians,  and  Romans,  the 
latter  of  whom  deprived  it  of 
its  freedom. 

Messrs.  Fisk  and  King.  Ame¬ 
rican  missionaries*  “passed, 
through  Sidon  in  the  summer 
of  1823,  and  estimated  the  po¬ 
pulation,  as  others  have  esti¬ 
mated  it,  at  eight  or  ten  thou¬ 
sand  ;  but  Mr.  Goodell,. another. 
American  missionary,  took  up 
his  residence  there  in  June,. 
1824,  for  the  purpose  of.  study¬ 
ing  the  Armenian  language 
with  a  bishop  of  the  Arme¬ 
nian  church  who  lives  there, 
and  of  course  had  far  belter 
opportunities  to  know  the  sta¬ 
tistics  of  the  place.  He  tells 
us  there  are  six  Mohammedan 
mosques,  a  Jewish  synagogue, 
a  Maronite,  Latin,  and  Greek 
church.  The  number  of  inha¬ 
bitants  may  be  estimated  at 
three  thousand,  of  whom  one- 
half  may  be  Mussulmans. 
From  Tyre  and  Sidon  it  was, 
that  part  of  that  great  multi¬ 
tude  was  made  up,  who,  on  one 
occasion, came  to  Jesus,  having 
heard  what  great  things  he  did. 
(Mark  iii.  8;)  And  on  these 
coasts  it  was  that  the  woman 
of  Canaan  manifested  a  faith 
which  received  the  approba¬ 
tion  of  the  Saviour,  and  which 
will  be  tolld  for  a  memorial 
of  her  wherever  the  gospel 
shall  be  preached.  (Mark  vii. 


S  IE 

84 — SO.)  “For  several  days,” 
says  Mr.  Goodell,  “I  have  been 
much  affected  with  the  con¬ 
sideration,  that  probably  no 
such  individual  can  now  be 
found  here  ;  that  there  is  pro¬ 
bably  no  one  who  knows  any 
thing  of  the  spirit  of  adoption, 
or  of  communion  with  God  in 
prayer ;  and  have  endeavoured 
to  intercede  for  them,  as  if  the 
Way  to  the  throne  of  grace  was 
known  to'Tio  other,  and  every 
thing  was  depending  upon  the 
prayers  which  1  made.  May 
all  who  love  to  read  of  this 
Syrophenician  by  nation,  lift 
up  their  hearts  in  prayer,  that 
the  Lord  Jesus  may  again  pass 
this  way,  and  again  mani¬ 
fest  his  glory  on  these  coasts, 
in  giving  sight  to  the  blind, 
health  to  the  sick,  and  life  to 
the  dead.” 

The  apostle  Paul  visited  Si- 
don  on  his  voyage  to  Rome. 
(Acts  xxvii.  3.)  At  present 
the  name  of  the  place  is  Saide. 
It  is  a  trading  town  of  some 
Importance.  The  harbour  is 
rendered  comparatively  use¬ 
less,  however,  by  sandbars, 
and  the  town  itself  is  badly 
built,  and  very  dirty.  The  in¬ 
habitants  are  called  Sidonians. 
(Deut.  iii.  9.) 

SIEGE.  (Deut.  xx.  19.)  The 
surrounding  of  a  city  or  castle 
with  an  army,  in  order  to  starve 
ar  force  the  inhabitants  to  sur¬ 
render.  The  sieges  of  Sama¬ 
ria,  Nineveh,  Babylon,  Jerusa¬ 
lem,  and  Tyre  are  most  noted. 
The  judgments  of  God,  reduc¬ 
ing  men  to  great  hardships,  are 
figuratively  called  sieges.  (Isa. 
xxix.  3.) 

SIEVE.  (Isa.  xxx.  28.)  The 
bolter,  or  sieve,  which  is  so  ne¬ 
cessary  an  article  in  our  day, 
in  the  preparation  of  meal  for 
bread, &c.,  was  in  ancient  times 
made  of  rushes,  or  papyrus. 
Ancient  writers -say  that  only 
the  Gauls  had  sieves  of  horse 
bhir.  What  was  left  in  the 
boiler  Wai)  put  into  the  mill  a 


SIL 

second  time.  Sieves  of  various 
degrees  of  fineness  were  no 
doubt  used,  for"  the  same  au 
thors  tell  us  of  four  diBerent 
qualities  of  meal. 

SIGNET.  (See  Seal.) 

SIGNS  (John  iv.  48)  and 
wonders  (as  they  are  usually 
connected)  sometimes  denote 
those  proofs  or  demonstrations 
of  power  and  authority  which 
were  furnished  by  miracles, 
and  by  other  tokens  of  the  di¬ 
vine  presence,  as  in  Acts  ii.22. 
And  at  other  times  those  un¬ 
usual  appearances  which  be¬ 
token  the  approach  of  a  great 
gvent,  as  in  Luke  xxi.  11.  25. 

SIHON.  (Num.  xxi.  21— 31.) 
A  king  of  the  Amontes,  who 
lost  his  dominions  in  conse¬ 
quence  of  his,  refusal  to  permit 
the  Hebrews  to  pass  through 
■  them  on  their  way  from  Egypt 
to  Canaan.  Sihon  himself  was 
slain  in  battle,  his  army  was 
routed,  Heshbon  his  capital 
was  taken,  and  his  country  dis¬ 
tributed  among  the  Israelites. 
(Ps.  cxxxv.  10—12:  cxxxvt. 
18, 19.) 

S1HOR.  (See  Egypt,  river 
op.) 

SILAS,  (Acts  xv.  40,)  con¬ 
tracted  from  SYLVANUS,  <2 
Cor.  i.  19,)  is  called  one  of  the 
chief  of  the  brethren,  (Acts  xv. 
22,)  and  a  faithful  brother.  (1 
Pet.  v.  12.)  He  is  supposed  to 
have  been  a  native  of  Antioch, 
and  a  member  of  the  Christian 
church  there.  (Actsxv.  37—41.) 
He  was  the  associate  of  Paul 
in  several  of  his  missionary 
lours,  and  his  fellow  prisonei 
at  Philippi.  (Acts  xv.  40 ;  xvi. 
425.  29  ;  xvii.  4.  10.  15.)  He  is 
called  a  prophet,  (Acts  xv.  32 ;) 
but  what  was  the  precise  na¬ 
ture  of  this  office  in  the  days 
of  the  apostles  is  not  clear. 

SILIL  (Prov.  xxxi.  22.)  Per¬ 
haps  the  ancient  Hebrews 
knew  nothing  of  silk ;  and  the 
word  may  signify  cotton,  ei 
fmefiax.  (Isa.  xix.  9.) 

In  E*ek.  xvi.  10.  13,  an  arli- 

m 


S1L 

tie  called  picked  silk ,  is  doubt- 1 
less  intended;  and  Pliny  says 
that  silk  was  brought  from 
Eastern  Asia  to  Greece,  in 
robes  which  were  only  half 
silk,  and  was  then  unravelled 
or  picked  out,  and  made  up 
attain  into  garments  of  entire 
silk.  (Rev.  xviii.  12.) 

SILOAH,  (Neh.  iii.  15,)  or 
SILOAM,  (John  ix.  7.  11,)  or 
SHILOAH.  (Isa.  viii.  G.)  A  ri¬ 
vulet  on  the  south-east  of  Jeru¬ 
salem,  at  the  foot  of  Zion  and 
Moriah ;  supposed  by  some  to 
he  the  same  with  En-rogel  and 
Sihon.  There  seem  to  have 
teen  two  pools,  the  upper ,  (Isa. 
vii.  3,)  or  king’s  pool,  (Neh.  ii. 
14,)  and  the  lower  pool.  (Isa. 
txii.  9.  See  Conduit.)  A 
modern  traveller  says,  “We 
passed  the  Jewish  burying 
ground,  south-east  of  the  city 
it  Jerusalem,  and  came  to  the 
pool  of  Siloam,  whose  waters g o 
tofUy :  they  have  a  current, 
hut  it  is  almost  imperceptible. 

I  alighted  to  descend  more  than 
twenty  steps,  and  taste  the 
waters  of  this  fountain,  at 
which,  in  ancient  times,  the 
lews  were  wont  to  celebrate  a 
festival,  singing  the  twelfth 
chapter  of  Isaiah.  On  the 
other  side  of  the  projecting  hdl, 
(Ophel,)  after  passing  under 
.ground  two  or  three  hundred 
feet,  these  waters  re-appear; 
and  here  they  are  drawn  off  to 
Irrigate  a  lovely  spot,  consist¬ 
ing  of  gardens  and  small  fields. 
These  gardens  are  in  summer 
often  frequented  by  the  Turks. 
Over  against  the  pool,  on  the 
slope  of  a  lofty  mountain,  is  a 
village  they  call  Siloa.” 

Messrs.  Fisk  and  King,  Ame¬ 
rican  missionaries,  visited  the 
pool  of  Siloam  in  the  spring  of 
1S23,  and  thus  describe  it : 

“  Near  the  south-east  corner 
of  the  city,  at  the  foot  of  Zion 
and  Moriah,  is  the  pool  of  Si- 
toah,  whose  waters  flow  with 
eutle  murmur  from  under  the 
oly  mountain  of  Zion,  or  rather 


SIL 

from  under  Ophel,  having  Zicii 
on  the  west,  and  Moriah  on  tho 
north.  The  very  fountain  is¬ 
sues  from  a  rock,  twenty  or 
thirty  feet  below  the  surface  ot 
the  ground,  to  which  we  de¬ 
scended  by  two  flights  of  steps. 
Here  it  flows  out  without  a  sin¬ 
gle  murmur,  and  appears  clear 
as  crystal.  From  this  place  it 
winds  its  way  several  rods  un¬ 
der  the  mountain,  then  makes 
its  appearance  with  gentle  gur¬ 
gling,  and,  forming  a  beautiful 
rill,  takes  its  way  down  into 
the  valley,  towards  the  south¬ 
east.  (See  Selumiel,  ch.  vi., 
by  Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

Tower  in  Siloam  (Luke 
xiii.  4)  was  probably  a  high 
wall  or  tower,  contiguous  to  the 
pool  of  Siloam,  by  the  sudden 
fall  of  which  eighteen  lives 
were  lost.  This  being  a  noto- 
torious  event,  as  the  like  inci¬ 
dent  in  New  York  or  Philadel¬ 
phia  would  be  now  in  our  coun¬ 
try,  it  was  alluded  to  by  our 
Saviour  to  illustrate  the  fact 
that  such  events  are  not  al¬ 
ways  to  be  regarded  as  special 
judgments  for  an  unusual  de¬ 
gree  of  guilt.  *  .  „  „  . 

SILVER.  (Gen.  xm.  2.)  A 
well  known  precious  metal, 
obtained  chiefly  from  South 
America.  Many  suppose  that 
the  Tarshish  of  the  Old  Testa¬ 
ment  was  in  Spain,  aruj  henc® 
that  we  obtain  a  portion  of  our 
silver  from  the  same  mines 
which  furnished  it  in  the  days 
of  Solomon..  (1  Kings  x.  22.) 

That  silver  was  known  at  a 
very  early  period  is  evident. 
(Gen.  xliv.2.  Ex.  xi.  2;  xxv. 
3.  Job  xxviii.  1.)  And  the 
reason  probably  is,  that  like 
gold,  it  is  often  found  in  a  state 
of  purity  in  the  earth,  and 
therefore  easily  discovered.  _  It 
was  used  in  the  construction 
of  the  temple,  (Ex.  xxvi.  19 
32,)  and  for  its  furniture,  (1 
Chron.  xxtfiii*14 — 17 ;)  and  als# 
for  musical  instruments,  (Nura. 
x. -2,)  and  for  adorning  idols. 
u  era 


SIM 

(Isa.  xl.  19.)  And  that  it  was 
abundant  in  that  day  appears 
from  1  Kings  x.  27. 

Silver  constituted  the  chief 
medium  of  trade,  though  it  was 
not  coined,  but  used  by  weight. 
(Gen.  xxiii.  16.)  The  pieces  of 
silver  (thirty  of  which  were 
iven  as  the  price  of  innocent 
lood,  Matt.  xxvi.  15;  xxvii.  3) 
Were  probably  shekels  of  sil¬ 
ver,  worth  fifty  cents  each. 

The  silverling  (Isa.  vii.  23) 
is  supposed  to  nave  been  of 

lilro  vnlup 

SIMEON.  1.  (Gen.xxix.  33.) 
Son  of  Jacob  and  Leah.  Ac¬ 
cording  to  the  prediction  of  Ja¬ 
cob,  (Gen.  xlix.  5 — 7,)  and  as  a 
punishment  for  his  offence  in 
the  matter  of  the  Shechemites, 
(Gen.  xxxiv.— see  Dinah,)  his 
posterity  dwindled,  (comp. 
Num.  i.  22;  xxvi.  14,  15,)  and 
their  inheritance  was  only  a 
dismembered  portion  of  the 
territory  of  Judah.  (Josh.  xix.  1.) 

Tribe  of, occupied  nineteen 
cities,  within  the  boundsof  Ju¬ 
dah,  principally  south  of  Dan, 
on  the  coast.  (Josh.  xix.  2—7.) 
In  Hezekiah’s  time  they  pos¬ 
sessed  parts  of  mount  Seir.  (1 
Chron.  iv.  42.) 

2.  (Luke  ii.  25.)  A  man  of 
singular  piety,  residing  at  Je¬ 
rusalem.  He  had  been  favour¬ 
ed  with  a  divine  intimation 
that  he  should  live  to  see  the 
incarnateRedeemer,  the  Lord’s 
Christ.  And  being  led  by  the 
Spirit  into  the  temple  at  the 
particular  time  when  the  in¬ 
fant  Jesus  was  brought  thither 
by  his  parents,  according  to 
the  requirement  of  the  law, 
'(Ex.  xiii.  12;  xxii.  29,)  he  took 
him  up  in  his  arms  and  uttered 
the  most  devout  thanksgivings 
to  God,  accompanied  with  a 
remarkable  prediction  respect¬ 
ing  the  various  effects  of  his 
advent 

3.  (Acts  xiii.  1.)  Was  among 
the  prophets  and  teachers  of 
the  Christian  church  at  Anti¬ 
och.  Some  have  supposed 


-  SIN 

(though  without  warrant)  that 
he  is  the  same  with  Simon  the 
Cyrenian.  (Matt,  xxvii.  32.) 

4.  (Acts  xv.  14.)  Simeon  is 
a  Hebrew  name,  and  in  this 
passage  is  the  same  with  Si¬ 
mon. 

SIMON.  (Actsviii.9.)  A  na¬ 
tive  of  Samaria,  and  a  famous 
sorcerer,  who  professed  to  be  a 
convert  to  the  Christian  faith, 
and  was  baptized  as  such  by 
Philip ;  but  was  severely  re¬ 
buked  by  Peter  as  a  hypocrite, 
because,  under  the  influence 
of  mercenary  motives,  he  de 
sired  apostolic  gifts.  Hence 
the  buying  and  selling  of  ec¬ 
clesiastical  rights,  benefits,  or 
privileges,  is  called  simony , 
a  high  offence  against  the  pu¬ 
rity  and  integrity  of  the  Chris¬ 
tian  faith,  and  one  of  which 
the  seller  and  buyer  is  equally 
guilty. 

6.  Simon  Petes.  (See  Petbr.) 

7.  Simon  the  Canaanite, 
(Matt.  x.  4,)  or  Simon  Zelotes, 
(or  the  zealous,)  one  of  the 
twelve  disciples,  was  perhaps 
a  native  of  Cana;  though  some 
suppose  the  word  Canaanite, 
like  Zelotes,  denotes  his  cha¬ 
racteristic  zeal.  Several  other 
persons  of  this  name  are  meiv 
tioned,  as  the  Pharisee,  (Luke 
vii.  36,)  the  leper,  (Matt.  xxvi. 
6.)  the  father  of-Judas  Iscariot, 
(John  vi.  71,)  and  the  tanner 
at  Joppa,  with  whom  Peter 
lodged.  (Acts  ix.  43.) 

SIN  (Gen .  iv.  7)  is  the  trans- 

ression  of  the  law  of  God.  (1 

ohn  iii.  4.)  Any  departure  in 
thought,  word,  or  deed,  from 
the  rule  of  conduct  which  re¬ 
quires  us  to  love  the  Lord  our 
God  with  all  the  heart,  and 
soul,  and  mind,  and  strength, 
and  our  neighbours  as  our¬ 
selves,  is  sin.  (I  John  v.  17.) 
The  word  is  sometimes  used 
for  a  sin-offering,  as  in  Hos.  iv. 
8.  Rom.  viii.3.  2  Cor.  v.21.  In 
the  text  first  cited,  reference 
is  had  to  the  eating  of  that 
which  was  brought  as  a  sin-of- 
680 


SIN 

fering,  either  from  greediness* 
or  in  violation  of  the  law.  The 
d  isobed  ience  of  our  first  parents 
to  the  positive  command  of 
God  introduced  sin  with  all  its 
dreadful  consequences  into  our 
world. 

The  sin  not  unto  death,  and 
the  sin  unto  death ,  ( 1  John 
v.  16,)  have  been  variously 
interpreted.  As  there  are  of¬ 
fences  under  human  govern¬ 
ments  which  are  capital,  in¬ 
volving  the  certain  penalty  of 
death  without  the  hope  of  par¬ 
don,  so  under  the  divine  go¬ 
vernment  there  are  sins  ofsuch 
malignancy  and  aggravation, 
evincing  an  impious  and  unal¬ 
terable  determination  to  reject 
the  offered  mercy  of  God,  that 
we  have  little,  if  any  ground, 
for  the  prayer  of  faith,  or 
even  for  the  hope  that  the 
offender  may  be  forgiven.  It 
seems  difficult  y  to  suppose  a 
case,  however,  in  the  existing 
state  of  God’s  government,  in 
which  the  character  of  a  sin 
can  be  so  determined  by  any 
human  tribunal,  as  to  make 
him  who  commits  it  no  longer  a 
subject  of  prayer.  (John  iii. 
15.  Actsxvii.30.  2  Pet.  iii.  9.) 
Some  have  supposed  that  ex¬ 
clusive  reference  is  had  to  a 
distinction  in  the  Jewish  law 
between  offences  capital  and 
not  capital ;  or  to  the  civil  law 
of  some  particular  place,  by 
which  some  offences  were  pu¬ 
nishable  with  death,  without 
the  possibility  of  pardon.  These 
were  sins  unto  death*  for  no 
entreaty  availed  to  avert  the 
punishment.  But  there  were 
other  capital  cases  in  which 
the  law  authorized  a  commu¬ 
tation  of  punishment,  if  the 
circumstances  justified  it. 
These  were  si  ns  not  unto  death; 
for  the  powerful  intercession  of 
friends  for  the  offender  might 
cave  him.  Whether  what  is 
called  the  unpardonable  sin 
(Matt.  xii.  31,  32)  can  be  com¬ 
mitted  except  by  such  as  were 
40* 


SIN 

witnesses  of  the  mighty  works 
wrought  by  Christ,  and  by  his 
apostles  through  the  power  of 
the  Holy  Ghost,  is  considered 
doubtful  by  many.  Front  the 
connexion  of  the  alx>ve  cited 
passage  from  Matthew  we  have 
a  very  explicit  illustration  of 
one  species  of  this  sin;  and 
perhaps  the  unpardonable  sin 
is  the  same  with  the  sin  unto 
death.  (See  Sacrifice.) 

Sin  (Ezek.  xxx.  15,  16)  is 
the  Pelusium  of  the  Greeks^ 
and  is  called  the  strength  of 
Egypt  because  of  its  position 
as  a  bulwark.  The  ruins  of  it 
are  supposed  to  have  been  dis¬ 
covered  by  the  French  army, 
in  the  invasion  of  Egypt  under 
Bonaparte. 

Sin,  desert  of,  or  wilder¬ 
ness  of,  (Num.  xxxiii.  11,)  was 
entered  by  the  Israelites  imme¬ 
diately  after  they  passed  the 
Red  Sea.  (Ex.  xvi.  1.)  It  was 
between  Elim  and  Sinai,  and 
was  the  place  where  manna 
was  supplied.  (SeeZiN.) 

SIN-OFFERINGS.  (See  Sa¬ 
crifice.) 

SIN-MONEY.  •  (2  Kings  xii. 
16)  Money  sent  by  persons  at 
a  distance,  with  which  to  buy 
the  required  offerings;  and  as 
there  was  usually  some  sur¬ 
plus,  it  was  the  perquisite  of 
the  priest,  and  was  called  sin- 
money,  or  sin-offering  money. 
(Num.  xviii.  9.) 

SINAI.  (Ex.  xvi.  1.)  We 
have  already  given,  under  the 
article  Horeb,  a  general  view 
of  the  district  of  Arabia  in 
which  Sinai  is  situated.  We 
subjoin  a  description  of  the  as¬ 
cent  and  position  of  this  sin¬ 
gular  spot,  associated  with  one. 
of  the  most  sublime  and  mo¬ 
mentous  events  recorded  in  sa¬ 
cred  history;  which,  connected 
with  the  former  article,  furnish¬ 
es  a  clear  view  of  the  whole 
region.  (See  Map,  pp.  520, 521.) 

An  English  missionary  who 
visited  mount  Sinai  in  the 
summer  of  1834,  savs, 

881 


,  SIN 


SIN 


took  our  dinner  on  a  high 
plain,  where  was  much  ver¬ 
dure;  and  we  had  very  inte¬ 
resting  views  on  every  side; 
the  whole  country  being  filled 
with  bold  granite  mountains, 
from  which,  in  a  certain  revo¬ 
lution  in  our  earth,  the  water 
appears  to  have  washed  all  the 
cultivatable  earth  down  into 
the  valleys :  for  you  see  on  the 
mountains  nothing  but  bare 
granite;  except  here  and  there, 
in  a  recess,  some  fertile  ground, 
covered  with  shrubs.  We  first 
ascended  a  little;  then  descend¬ 
ed  very  much  into  a  deep  val¬ 
ley,  shut  up  on  every  side  by 
high  mountains.  Here  the  tem¬ 
perature  was  raised  to  such  a 
height  at  once,  that  I  do  not 
recollect  ever  to  have  felt  so 
great  a  heat;  but  we  passed 
this  valley  in  less  than  a  quar¬ 
ter  of  an  hour.  In  the  middle 
of  this  passage,  through  which 
our  camels  passed,  but  with 
great  danger,  we  took  some  re¬ 
pose  in  a  small  ravine,  Where 
we  found  a  well  with  very  good 
water,  and  a  few  small  palm 
Wees.  We  took  our  dinner 


here,  under  the  shade  of  a 
rock;  and  .then  again  ascend¬ 
ed,  until  we  had  reached,  I 
think,  the  height  of  one  thou¬ 
sand  feet  above  the  level  of 
the  sea.  Here  we  found  our¬ 
selves  in  a  fine  large  plain, 
situated  between  two  high  ridg¬ 
es  of  mountains  on  both  sides, 
between  which  it  runs,  south¬ 
ward,  to  the  foot  of  the  moun¬ 
tains  of  Horeb.  In  my  humble 
opinion,  this  must  have  been 
the  place  where  the  Israelites 
made  their  encampment  dur¬ 
ing  their  stay  at  mount  Sinai ; 
because  none  of  the  surround¬ 
ing  valleys  which  we  observed 
there  were  so  fit  to  receive  so 
large  an  army  for  a  whole 
year.  In  front  of  this  plain, 
to  the  south,  was  a  cluster  of 
mountains,  which  I  think  are 
the  mountains  of  Horeb.  From 
the  circumstance  thattheScriip- 
tures  speak  of  mount  Sinai  only 
on  one  occasion— that  of  the 
giving  of  the  law,— while,  on 
the  contrary,  the  name  of  Ho¬ 
reb  is  mentioned  on  different 
occasions,  I  infer,  that  Horeb 
is  applied  by  Scripture  to  the 
682 


SIN 

whole  collection  of  mountains 
which  stand  here  together,  as 
the  common  name;  and  the 
name  of  Sinai  to  one  mountain 
only,  namely,  that  on  the  top 
of  which  the  law  was  given. 
As  we  are  in  so  many  instances 
led  into  mistakes  by  tradition, 
so  I  think  here,  also,  a  mistake 
has  taken  place.  The  name 
of  Horeb  has  been  applied,  by 
tradition,  to  one  mount  only, 
namely,  that  fthich  I  should 
consider  to  be  mount  Sinai, 
because  it  faces  the  valley 
where  the  Israelites  lay.  If 
we  suppose  that  this  was  the 
case,  then  the  whole  army 
could  witness  the  important 
transaction,  and  receive  the 
most  powerful  impression  from 
it:  whereas  the  supposed  mount 
Sinai,  ovdjebel  Mousa,  although 
a  little  higher  than  the  former, 
is  yet  so  far  situated  behind, 
that  whatever  passed  on  the 
top  of  it  could  only  be  seen  by 
that  part  of  the  army  which 
lay  at  the  utmost  distance, 
where,  through  a  space  left 
between  what  is  called  mount 
Horeb  and  mount  Catherine, 
they  could  have  seen  the  top 
of  djebel  Mousa. 

“  The  first  view  I  enjoyed 
of  mount  Sinai  made  the 
deepest  impression  upon  my 
mind.  I  fell  myself,  as  it  were, 
transported  among  the  Israel¬ 
ites,  whom  the  Lord  here  had 
separated  from  the  rest  of  the 
world,  and  led  into  this  soli¬ 
tude,  in  order  to  declare  them 
his  chosen  people.  I  saw,  as 
it  were,  Jehovah  in  the  pil¬ 
lar  of  cloud,  on  the  summit  of 
that  bold  mountain;  and  when 
he  lifted  his  voice,  saying,  I 
am  the  Lord  thy  God ,  the  thun¬ 
der  of  his  voice  re-echoed  from 
all  the  surrounding  mountains. 

“  The  convent  of  St.  Cathe¬ 
rine  lies  in  a  small  valley  to 
the  east  of  Horeb,  where  the 
basis  of  cljebel  Mousa  joins  that 
of  the  so  called  mount  Horeb. 
Before  we  arrived  at  it,  we 


SIN 

passed  the  garden  belonging  to 
it,  surrounded  with  a  high  wall, 
in  which  an  abundance  of  Eu¬ 
ropean  and  Asiatic  plants  grow, 
particularly  a  quantity  of  fine 
cypresses.  The  convent,  from 
without,  looks  like  a  castle, 
and,  from  within,  like  a  small 
town.  It  has  no  entrance  be¬ 
low,  except  one  that  is  shut  up 
with  stones,  and  is  opened  only 
at  the  arrival  of  a  new  bishop 
for  the  convent.  On  our  arri¬ 
val,  some  friars,  standing  at  a 
large  window  above,  and  ob¬ 
serving  us,  let  down  a  rope,  to 
which  we  first  fixed  our  letters 
of  recommendation :  these  were 
taken  up  and  looked  at.  An¬ 
other  rope  was  then  let  down 
for  our  baggage ;  and,  at  last, 
one  for  ourselves,  which  we, 
had  to  put  round  our  bodies-? 
whereupon  we  made  an  aerial 
passage,  forty  feel  high;  and 
entered  the  convent  through 
the  window,  at  which  the  su¬ 
perior  waited  to  give  us  a 
friendly  welcome. 

“We  went  up  to  the  moun 
tain  by  steps  which  have  been 
made  on  purpose  for  the  pil¬ 
grims,  by  putting  stone  upon 
stone  from  the  bottom  to  the 
top  of  the  mountain,  except  at 
a  few  even  places,  where  no 
stairs  are  necessary.  On  our 
way  upward,  we  found  several 
fine  spots,  where  fountains  of 
sweet  water  refreshed  us.  We 
soon  arrived  at  the  chapel  de¬ 
dicated  to  Elias  the  prophet, 
where  is  shown  the  place  of 
his  taking  refuge  from  Jeze¬ 
bel.  Near  this  chapel  we  saw 
what  is  called  Elias’  well, 
where  there  is  a  valley,  from 
which  the  lops  of  several 
mountains  diverge;  and  also 
the  place  where  Muses  is  said 
to  have  sat  with  Aaron  and 
Hur  during  the  battle  with 
the  Amalekites ;  the  steep  and 
small  valley  which  is  observed 
below  this,  being  the  supposed 
valley  of  Rephidiin.”  (See 
Bedouin  Arabs,  ch.  xiv. ;  see 


SMY 

also  engraving  and  descrip¬ 
tion  in  Youth’s  Fkiend  for 
June,  1829.  and  May,  1833 ;  all 
oy  Am.  S'  S.  Union.) 

SINCERITY  (2  Cor.  i.  12) 
stands  opposed  to  dissimula¬ 
tion  or  hypocrisy,  and  implies 
the  entire  correspondence  of 
the  heart  with  the  expressions 
of  the  lips.  The  original  word 
refers  to  .the  bright  and  pene¬ 
trating  light  of  the  sun,  and 
denotes  such  things  as,  on 
being  examined  by  the  bright¬ 
est  light,  are  found  pure  and 
unadulterated. 

SION.  (See  Zion.) 

SIRION.  (See  Hermon.) 
SISERA.  (See  Barak,  De¬ 
borah,  Jael.) 

SIVAN.  (See  Month.) 
SKINS.  (See  Clothing.) 
SLAVE.  (See  Servant.) 
SLIME.  (See  Pitch.) 
SLING.  (See  Arms.) 
SMYRNA.  (Rev.  ii.  8—10.) 
A  celebrated  Ionian  city,  and 
one  of  the  finest  of  the  Levant, 
is  situated  about  fifty  miles 
north  of  Ephesus,  and  the 
same  distance  from  the  coi*3t, 
on  a  bay  formed  by  the  river 
Melas,  on  the  western  coast  of 
Asia  Minor.  It  was  extolled 
by  the  ancients  as  the  crown 
of  Ionia,  the  jewel  of  Asia, 
overflowing  with  wealth,  and 
beautiful  in  works  of  art.  It 
has  been  overthrown  at  least 
six  times  by  earthquakes,  lost 
sixty  thousand  inhabitants  by 
the  plague  in  1814,  and  was 
severely  scourged  by  the  cho¬ 
lera  in  1831.  It  is  now  called 
by  the  Turks  Ismir,  and  is 
about  four  miles  in  circum¬ 
ference.  The  harbour  is  capa¬ 
cious,  land  affords  the  finest 
anchorage  for  ships  of  the  larg¬ 
est  class.  The  city  contains  a 
■  population  of  from  100,000  to 
130,000 ;  among  whom  arp  up¬ 
wards  of 20,000  to  30,000  Greeks, 
10,000  Jews,  8000  Armenians ; 
and  the  residue  principally 
Turks.  The  city  has  twenty 
mosques,  besides  churches  and 


8,0 

monasteries;  and  some  of  the 
ruins  of  its  former  magnificence 
are  still  visible. 

The  church  in  this  place  is 
one  of  the  seven  addressed  in 
the  Apocalypse.  And  in  the 
efforts  of  the  present  day  to 
evangelize  the  world,  Smyrna 
is  one  of  the  most  important 
centres  of  action.  Several 
newspapers  are  published,  one 
or  two  of  which  are  decidedly 
religious  in  their  character: 
and  the  schools,  presses,  and 
agencies  established  by  .Shris- 
tian  benevcdence  in  this  inte¬ 
resting  city  promise  well  for 
religion. 

SNAIL.  (Lev.  xi.  30.)  A 
species  of  worm.  In  the  pas¬ 
sage  above  cited,  the  original 
word  is  thought  to  denote  some 
species  of  lizard.  And  in  Ps. 
lviii.  8,  the  only  place  besides 
in  which  it  occurs,  reference 
may  be  had  to  the  common 
snail,  or  slug,  which  is  found  in 
cellars  and  damp  places,  and 
which  seems  to  waste  itself  by 
covering  its  path  with  a  thick, 
shining  slime. 

SNOW.  (2  Sam.  xxiii.  20.) 
Vapour  congealed  in  the. air 
and  often  falling  in  large  broad 
flakes  resembling  wool.  (Ps. 
cxlvii.  16.)  The  allusion  us 
snow  in  the  sacred  writings, 
especially  to  its  whiteness,  are 
frequent.  (Ex.  iv.  6.  Num.  xii. 
10.  2  Kings  v.  27.  Ps.  li.7.  Isa. 
i.  18.)  ThecomparisoninProv. 
xxv.  13,  has  reference  to  the 
use  of  snow  brought  from  the 
mountains  to  cool  the  drink  of 
the  reapers  in  the  heat  of  har¬ 
vest,  as  we  use  ice.  Snow¬ 
water  is  softer  and  more  deter- 

fent  than  common  water ; 

ence  the  allusion,  Job  ix.  30. 
Mr.  Fisk,  an  American  mis¬ 
sionary,  found  snow  on  mount 
Lebanon  upwards  of  two  feet 
deep,  Oct.  4,  1823 ;  and  hence 
concludes  that  it  lies  through 
the  year. 

SO.  (2  Kings  xvii.  4.)  An 
Ethiopian  king,  and  supposed 
584 


SOL 


SOL 


to  be  the  same  with  Sabacua 
or  Sabacon  of  profane  history. 
He  is  called  king  of  Egypt  in 
the  above  passage  because  he 
invaded  Egypt,  and  reigned  for 
a  term  of  years  over  that  coun¬ 
try,  during  which  time  he  re¬ 
ceived  the  proposition  Of  an 
alliance  from  Hoshea,  king  of 
Israel;  which  incensed  Shal¬ 
maneser,  king  of  Assyria,  to 
attack  the  country.- 
.  SOAP.  (See  Nitre.) 

SOCHOH.  (SeeSHocoH.) 

SODOM  (Gen.  xiii.  13)  and 
Gomorrah,  two  of  the  cities 
of  the  plain  which  were  mira¬ 
culously  destroyed  becauseof 
tbedeep  and  almost  universal 
corruption  of  the  inhabitants. 
(See  Salt  Sea.  See  also 
Ev.  Recreations,  vol.  ii.  pp. 
46 — 50.  by  Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

SOLDIERS.  (See  Armies.) 

SOLOMON,  (2  Sam.  v.  14,) 
king  of  Israel,  was  the  son  and 
successor  of  David.  His  cha¬ 
racter,  and  the  general  condi¬ 
tion  of  the  country  during  his 
reign,  were  predicted  in  re¬ 
markable  terms,  (1  Chron.  xxii. 
9,  10;)  and  especially  remark¬ 
able,  as  the  prediction  is  sup¬ 
posed  to  have  ultimate  and 
more  comprehensive  reference 
to  the  Messiah  and  his  reign. 
Soon  after  the  birth  of  Solo¬ 
mon,  the  prophet  Nathan  was 
sent  by  divine  authority  to  give 
him  the  name  of  Jedidiah,  sig¬ 
nifying  beloved  of  the  Lord. 

Towards  the  close  of  David’s 
life,  a  conspiracy  was  detected 
to  place  Adonijah  on  the  throne. 
To  settle  the  government  in 
he  order  of  the  divine  appoint¬ 
ment,  David  caused  Solomon 
to  be  invested  with  the  robes 
of  royalty,  and  resigned  to  him 
voluntarily  the  sceptre  of  go¬ 
vernment,  giving  him  a  solemn 
charge  respecting  the  adminis¬ 
tration  of  it.  The  early  part 
ot  his  reign  was  exceedingly 
prosperous,  and  was  marked  by 
several  public  acts  which  dis¬ 
played  his  wisdom  and  piety. 


(1  Kings  ii.  19.  27.  31;  ill.  1.9. 
16—28.)  He  was  also  favoured 
with  a  remarkable  promise  of 
the  divine  favour.  (1  Kings  iii. 
12—14.)  His  court  was  distin¬ 
guished  for  its  magnificence; 
his  dominions  and  revenue 
were  vast ;  his  personal  cha¬ 
racter  exalted ;  his  wisdom  pro¬ 
verbial;  and  his  capital  and 
palace  renowned  for  wealth 
and  splendour.  (1  Kings  iv. 
and  x.)  The  great  event  of 
his  reign,  however,  was  the 
erection  of  the  temple  in  Jeru¬ 
salem,  (hence  called  Solomon’s 
temple,)  which  was  designed 
by  David  his  father.  (1  Chron. 
xxii.  1—11.)  The  plan  and 
materials  of  the  house,  and  the 
furniture,  as  well  as  of  the 
royal  palace,  are  minutely  de¬ 
scribed,  1  Kings  vi.  vii.,  (see 
Temple,)  as  are  also  the  ser¬ 
vices  at  the  dedication  of  it, 
1  Kings  viii.  After  this,  Solo¬ 
mon  received  a  renewed  as¬ 
surance  of  the  divine  favour, 
and  of  a  gracious  answer  to  his 
prayers  and  supplications ;  and 
at  the  same  time,  one  of  the 
most  fearful  denunciations  of 
wrath  in  case  they  should  for¬ 
sake  God’s  law.  (1  Kings  ix. 
1 — 10.)  In  the  latter  part  of 
Solomon’s  reign,  he  was  led 
into  the  practice  of  idolatry 
and  other  abominable  sins, 
which  drew  upon  him  and  the 
country  heavy  judgments.  (1 
Kings  xi.)  We  are  told  that 
the  Arabs  call  the  southern 
side  of  the  mount  of  Olives  the 
mount  of  Solomon,  because  his 
idolatrous  altars  were  built 
here.  It  is  called  the  mount 
of  Corruption  (2  Kings  xxiii. 
13)  from  the  same  cause.  He 
reigned  forty  years,  and  was 
succeeded  by  his  son  Rehobo- 
am.  (1  Kings  xi.  42,  43.  See 
Life  of  David,  ch.  xxiv. ;  by 
Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

We  are  told  of  the  book  of 
the  acts  of  Solomon,  (1  Kings 
xi.  41,)  and  elsewhere  that  his 
acts  were  written  in  the  book 
585 


sot 

#f  Nathan,  the  prophecy  of 
Ahiiah,  and  the  visions  of  Iclilo 
asainst  Jeroboam,  (2  Chron.  ix. 
S9;)  but  no  other  knowledge 
of  these  books  has  come  down 
to  us ;  and  perhaps  they  were 
chiefly  genealogical,  and  were 
destroyed  with  other  Jewish 
writings  in  the  frequent  revo¬ 
lutions  of  the  country- 

Pools  of.  (Eccl.  ii.  6  )  We 
have  from  Mr.  Whiting,  an 
American  missionary,  the  fol¬ 
lowing  description  of  what  are 
called  the  pools  of  Solomon , 
upon  the  supposition  that  they 
were  erected  by  him.  “  These 
pools  are  on  the  road  to  He¬ 
bron,  about  three  miles  south¬ 
west  of  Bethlehem,  in  a  nar¬ 
row  sloping  valley.  They  are 
three  in  number,  placed  one 
above  another  in  the  valley. 
They  are  immensely  large  cis¬ 
terns,  built  of  stone  and  mortar, 
and  plastered  within.  The 
length  of  the  uppermost  is  one 
hundred  and  sixty  yards,  the 
second  we  estimated  at  two 
hundred  yards  in  length,  and 
the  third  is  still  longer.  The 
width  of  the  three  is  nearly  the 
same,  and  is  perhaps  somewhat 
less  than  one  hundred  yards. 
They  may  be  thirty  feet  in 
depth.  At  the  distance  of 
thirty  or  forty  rods  from  the 
upper  pool  are  the  subterra¬ 
nean  springs,  sometimes  call¬ 
ed  the  Sealed  Fountains,  from 
which  the  pools  are  supplied. 
Descending  through  a  small 
hole,  like  the  mouth  of  a  well, 
to  the  depth  of  ten  or  twelve 
feet,  you  find  yourself  in  an' 
excavated,  vaulted  room,  or 
rather  two  rooms  connected  by 
a  door,  at  one  side  of  which  the 
water  flows  out  of  the  rock  in 
a  copious  and  pure  stream,  and 
descends  by  an  underground 
conduit  to  the  pools.  From 
the  pools  it  is  conveyed  by  an 
aqueduct  around  on  the  sides 
*of  the  hills  to  Jerusalem.  The 
tradition  is  that  these  pools 
were  built  by  Solomon,  which 


SOL 

is  perhaps  not  improbable^ 
They  certainly  are  ancient. 
It  is  somewhat  remarkable 
that  no  history  extant  informs 
us  of  their  origin,  or  makes 
any  evident  mention  of  them. 
If  we  consider  them  the  work 
of  the  Jewish  monarch,  and 
that  this  valley  was  once 
adorned  with  gardens,  groves, 
and  palaces,  it  must  have  been 
a  delightful  retreat.  A  short 
distance  below  the  pools,  in 
the  valley,  there  are  still  some 
beautiful  gardens,  watered  from 
the  aqueduct.” 

Proverbs  of.  (See  Pro¬ 
verbs.) 

Solomon’s  porch.  (See 
Temple.) 

Sons  of  Solomon.  This  is 
the  twenty-second  in  the  order 
of  the  books  of  the  Old  Testa¬ 
ment.  A  Greek  translation  of 
it  is  extant,  which  fs  ascribed 
without  contradiction  to  the 
authors  of  the  Septuagint.  who 
lived  about  two  centuries  before 
Christ.  The  ancient  Jews,  with¬ 
out  exception,  regarded  it  as  a 
sacred  book;  Josephus  inserts 
it  in  his  catalogue  of  sacred 
books ;  and  it  is  cited  as  of  di¬ 
vine  authority, from  the  earliest 
period  of  the  Christian  church. 
That  it  is  in  the  highest  degree 
figurative, must  be  allowed;  but 
whether  it  is  to  be  regarded  as 
a  poem,  or  a  series  of  poems,  or 
as  a  nuptial  dialogue,  or  as  a 
drama,  is  not  determined.  The 
prevailing  opinion  is,  that  the 
book  consists  of  twelve  distinct 
poems  or  idyls,  such  as  .are 
common  among  Arabian  poets, 
and  that  it  should  be  divided 
thus: 


Idyl  1 
2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 
9 

10 

11 

12 


Chap.  i.  1—8. 

■  i.  9—  ii.  7. 

ii.  8— 17. 

iii.  1 — 5. 

iii.  6 — iv.  7. 

iv.  8 — v.  1. 

v.  2 — vi.  10 

vi.  11—13 

vii.  1—9. 

vii.  10 — viii.  4* 

viii.  5 — 7. 
viii.  8—14 

566 


SON 

The  allusions  with  which 
diis  book  abounds  are  made  to 
scenes  and  customs  of  which 
our  knowledge  is  very  imper¬ 
fect;  and  hence  much  per¬ 
plexity  must  attend  any  at¬ 
tempt  to  analyze  the  truths  it 
teaches;  and  much  care  and 
Hidgment  are  necessary  so  to 
use  this  part  of  divine  truth  as 
not  to  abuse  it. 

SON  OF  MAN-  (Matt.  viii. 
20.)  This  title  is  given  to  our 
Saviour  eighty  times  in  the 
New  Testament,  and  in  thir¬ 
ty  instances  he  applies  it  to 
himself.  It  is  also  applied  to 
nim  by  Daniel,  (vii.  13.)  The 
Jews  perfectly  understood  it  to 
denote  the  Messiah.  It  pro¬ 
bably  denotes  his  peculiar  and 
intimate  relation  to  mankind 
in  his  incarnate  state,  as  the 
phrase  Son  of  God  denotes  his 
peculiar  relation  to  the  Divine 
Being. 

The  term  Son  of  man  is  ap¬ 
plied  to  Ezekiel  not  less  than 
eighty-nine  times,  and  may  be 
accounted  for  on  the  ground 
that  this  prophet  was,  in  many 
respects,  an  eminent  type  of 
Christ.  ... 

Son  of  Gon.  (Dan.  ill.  2o.) 
This  is  one  of  the  titles  of  our 
Divine  Redeemer,  and  is  ap¬ 
plied  to  none  else,  except  in  a 
connexion  which  shows  the 
sense.  It  is  applied  to  angels, 
(Job  xxxviii.  7,)  and  to  Adam, 
(Luke  i i i . 38,)  as  created  imme¬ 
diately  by  his  hand,  and  to  be¬ 
lievers,  (Rom.  viii.  14,  15.  2 
Cor.  vi.  18,)  as  adopted  into 
God’s  spiritual  family  ;  but 
when  applied  to  Christ,  it  is  in 
a  peculiar  and  exalted  sense, 
which  cannot  be  mistaken. 

Sons  of  Gon.  (Gen.  vi.  2.) 
The  original  word,  translated 
God  in  this  passage,  is  some¬ 
times,  rendered  pnnees ,  or  dis¬ 
tinguished  persons;  and  the 
reading  might  properly  be, 
‘  sons  of  the  patriarchs,’  or 
eminent  men  mentioned  in 


SOR 

the  preceding  chapter.  (See 
Adoption.) 

SOOTHSAYER  (Dan.  ii.27} 
was  one  who  pretended  to  tore* 
tell  future  events.  The  ori¬ 
ginal  word  is  supposed  to  de¬ 
note  that  they  dissected  the 
entrails  of  animals,  for  the  pur¬ 
pose  of  discerning  what  would 
come  to  pass.  The  Philistines 
appear  to  have  been  notorious 
for  their  practice  of  this  magic 
imposition.  (Isa.  ii.  6.)  This 
was  a  common  mode  of  divin¬ 
ing  among  the  Romans. 

SOP.  (John  xiii.  26.)  Out 
ordinary  table  utensils  were 
unknown  among  the  Hebrews. 
Hence  in  eating  broth  or  milk, 
it  was  either  taken  with  the 
hollow  of  the  hand,  _  or  the 
bread  was  dipped  into  it.  This 
is  at  present  the  usage  in  all 
the  oriental  countries,  even  £tl 
the  table  of  the  Persian  king. 
Thus  the  reapers  of  Boaz  dip¬ 
ped  their  morsel  in  the  vine¬ 
gar,  (Ruth  ii.  14;)  and  thus  our 
Saviour  dipped  the  sop  or  mor- 
sel,  and  ’gave  it  to  the  traitor 
Judas. 

SORCERY.  (Acts  viii.  9; 
xiii.  6.)  One  of  the  arts  of  the 
magicians,  (Ex.  vii.  11,  hence 
called  sorcerers,)  by  the  use 
of  which  they  pretended  to 
predict  future  events,  cure 
diseases,  work  miracles,  &e. 
The  practice  of  sorcery,  or 
any  confidence  in  it,  is  threat¬ 
ened  with  the  severest  judg 
ments.  (Mai.  iii.  5.  Rev.  xxu 
8;  xxii.  15.)  .  , 

SOREK.  (Judg.  xvi.  4.)  A 
brook  and  vale  in  the  south 
of  the  territory  of  Dan,  where 
Delilah  dwelt.  It  probably 
derived  its  name  from  its 
choice  grapes ,  and  was  but  a 
mile  or  two  from  Eshcol.  The 
brook  empties  into  the  Medi¬ 
terranean  near  Askelon. 

SORROWS  OF  HELL  and 
SORROWS  OF  DEATH,  (Pa 
xviii.  4,  5,)  signifies  pangr,  oi 
pains j  as  in  Acts  ii.  24.  In  both 
907 


SPA 

passages  the  word  cords  may 
be  read.  Death  is  personified 
in  many  systems  of  pagan  wor¬ 
ship.  There  is  a  Hindoo  deity 
Yama,  or  the  catcher  of  the 
souls  of  men ,  whose  image  is 
represented  as  holding  a  cord 
or  snare,  which  he  throws  over 
his  victim,  and  thus  secures 
him. 

SOSIPATER,  (Rom.xvi.  21,) 
or  SOPATER.  (Acts  xx.  4.)  A 
native  of  Berea,  and  a  kins¬ 
man  of  Paul. 

SOSTHENES.  (Acts  xviii. 
17.)  A  ruler  of  the  Jewish 
synagogue  at  Corinth.  He  was 
seized  and  beaten  by  a  party 
of  Greeks  in  that  city,  who 
were  excited  thus  to  acts  of 
violence  by  what  they  thought 
the  unjustifiable  and  malicious 
persecution  of  Paul.  It  is 
thought" that  he  afterwards  be¬ 
came  a  convert  to  the  Chris¬ 
tian  faith.  (1  Cor.  i.  1,  2.) 

SOUL.  (Gen.  ii.  7.)  The 
Scriptures  evidently  distin¬ 
guish  between  the  spirit  and 
soul.  (1  Thess.  v.  23.  Heb.  iv. 
12.)  The  word  which  we  call 
soul  is  used  to  denote  mere 
animal  life,  the  seat  of  sensa¬ 
tions,  appetites,  and  passions. 
(Gen.  i.  20.)  Here  the  word 
translated  life  is  the  same  with 
that  which  is  elsewhere  trans¬ 
lated  soul.  Hence  it  may  be 
inferred,  that  as  we  have  our 
bodies  and  animal  life  in  com¬ 
mon  with  brutes,  it  must  be 
the  spirit  which  was  created 
in  the  likeness  or  image  of  God, 
and  which  raises  man  above 
the  brutes  that  perish,  and 
makes  him  a  rational  and 
accountable  being.  We  can¬ 
not  comprehend  the  exact  con¬ 
nexion  and  relation  of  these 
various  parts  of  our  being;  but 
that  they  exist  is  the  declara¬ 
tion  of  Scripture,  fully  sup¬ 
ported  by  observation  and  ex¬ 
perience. 

SPAIN.  (Rom.  xv.  24.)  For¬ 
merly  this  term  included  the 
whole  Spanish  peninsula,  em- 


SPI 

bracing  Portugal.  In  Paul’s 
time  it  was  subject  to  Rome, 
and  tlje  resort  of  many  Jews. 
It  is  uncertain  whether  that 
apostle’s  intention  to  visit 
Spain  was  ever  executed.  (See 
Life  of  Paul,  chap,  xxi.,  by 
Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

SPAN.  (See  Measures.) 

SPARROW  (Ps.  lxxxiv.  3) 
is  well  known  to  be  one  of  the 
smallest  and  least  valuable 
of  all  birds.  Hence  the  force 
of  the  allusion,  Matt.  x.  2i). 
Luke  xii.  6.  The  original 
word  is  generic,  and  means  a 
bird  generally,  as  in  Ps.  cii.  7. 
The  probable  allusion  in  Ps. 
lxxxiv.  3,  may  be  better  under¬ 
stood  by  placing  the  former 
part  of  the  third  verse  in  a 
parenthesis,  and  thus  connect¬ 
ing  the  latter  part  with  the 
second  verse,  thus,  My  soul 
longeth,  yea,  even  fainlelh, for 
the  courts  of  the  Lord:  my 
heart  and  my  flesh  crieth  out 
for  the  living  God,  ( Yea,  the 
sparroio  hath  found  a  house, 
and  the  swallow  a  nest  for 
herself,  where  she  may  lay  her 
youngs  even  thine  altars,  O 
Lord  of  hosts,  my  King ,  and 
my  God.  Then  the  desire  of 
the  psalmist  to  go  up  to  the 
courts  of  the  Lord’s  house  is 
beautifully  compared  with  the 
instinctive  desire  of  the  bird 
for  its  nest— its  home. 

SPEAR.  (See  Armour.) 

SPICES.  (Gen.  xliii.  11.) 
This  term,  as  used  by  the  sa¬ 
cred  writers,  is  much  more 
comprehensive  than  the  mo¬ 
dern  use  of  it.  With  them  it 
includes  not  only  fragrant 
gums,  as  myrrh,  and  also  roots 
and  barks,  as  cassia,  cinna¬ 
mon,  cane,  Ac.,  but  the  odours 
of  flowers  ana  various  per¬ 
fumes.  (Sol.  Song  iv.  14,  15.) 
Spices  were  imported  into 
Judea  chiefly  from  southern 
Arabia.  Sweet  spices  (Mark 
xvi.  1)  are  merely  aromatic 
substances  used  in  embalm¬ 
ing,  The  word  spices  fully 


SPI 

expressed  the  meaning  of  the 
original  word  without  the  ad¬ 
jective. 

SPIDER.  (Job  viii.  14.)  A 
well  known  insect  of  very 
singular  structure  and  habits. 
Its  method  of  weaving  its  web, 
—the  thinness  and  frailty  of 
which  are  strikingly  emble¬ 
matical  of  a  false  hope,  and  of 
the  schemes  of  wicked  men, 
(Isa.  lix.  5,)— and  the  remark¬ 
able  construction  of  its  foot  so 
as  to  resemble  a  part  of  the 
human  hand,  will  be  found 
fully  illustrated  with  engrav¬ 
ings,  &c.  in  Bible  Natural 
History,  art.  Spider,  by  Am. 
S.  S.  Union. 

The  expression  in  Prov. 
xxx.  28,  is  supposed  by  some 
to  refer  to  some  other  and 
larger  animal;  but  the  strik¬ 
ing  correspondence  between 
the  construction  of  the  spider’s 
foot  and  the  terms  used  to  ex¬ 
press  its  method  of  working, 
goes  far  to  establish  the  cor¬ 
rectness  of  the  present  render¬ 
ing-  „  , 

SPIKENARD.  (John  xu. 
3—5.)  A  plant  of  the  grass 
kind,  of  strong  aromatic  taste 
and  smell,  and  found  chiefly 
in  India.  The  ointment  made 
of  the  genuine  Indian  nard 
was  very  precious,  (Mark  xiv. 
3,)  a  single  pound  costing,  in 
our  Saviour’s  day,  what,  in 
the  modern  value  of  money, 
would  be  upwards  of  forty 
dollars.  Profane  history  tells 
us  that  the  crude  vegetable 
was  worth  one  hundred  denarii 
(or  nearly  forty-five  dollars)  a 
pound,  at  Rome,  in  the  time 
of  Christ.  Like  other  unguents 
and  perfumes,  it  was  carried 
in  a  box  closely  sealed,  so  as 
to  be  air-tight.  Opening  this 
seal  is  called  breaking  the  box. 

SPIRIT.  (Gen.  vi.3.)  This 
term  is  often  employed  figu¬ 
ratively  by  the  sacred  writers, 
and  its  import  may  be  gene¬ 
rally  determined  by  its  con 
nexion. 

ou 


SPR 

The  Holy  Spirit  is  the  title 
of  that  divine  Agent— the  Com¬ 
forter,  the  Holy  Ghost,  plainly 
distinguished  from  the  Father 
and  the  Son,  (John  xiv.  26; 
xvi.  7, 8;)  by  whose  influence 
the  truth  is  received,  under¬ 
stood,  believed  and  obeyed. 
He  quickens  those  who  are 
dead  in  trespasses  and  sins, 
purifies  and  sanctifies  them, 
and  thus  prepares  them  to  glo¬ 
rify  God  and  enjoy  him  for 
ever.  (John  xv.  1—6.  Rom.  v 
5;  viii.  16.  See  Discernin 

OF  SPIRITS.) 

SPIRITUAL  BODY.  (1  Cor. 
XV.  44.)  We  are  probably  to 
understand  by  this  that  the 
body  which  will  be  raised  will 
be  divested  of  all  sensual  and 
animal  appetites;  and  while 
it  will  retain  a  bodily  shape  or 
form,  it  will  be  perfectly  fitted 
for  pure  spiritual  exercises  and 
enjoyments,  in  perfect  unison 
with  the  redeemed  and  sanc¬ 
tified  soul.  _ 

SPOIL.  (Ex.  iii.  22.)  The 
original  word  in  this  passage 
means  to  recover  property 
taken  away  by  violence.  (1 
Sam.  xxx.  22.) 

SPONGE.  (Matt.  xxvu.  48.) 
A  submarine  substance,  com¬ 
posed  of  fibres  interwoven  in 
a  surprising  manner,  and  sur¬ 
rounded  by  thin  membranes, 
which  arrange  themselves  in 
a  cellular  form.  It  imbibes  a 
great  quantity  of  fluid,  and 
parts  with  it  upon  a  strong 
pressure.  Drink  could  be  easily 
conveyed  in  this  form  where 
cups  could  not  be  used.  It  is 
inhabited  by  animals,  like  the 
coral,  who  use  the  openings  of 
the  sponge  to  suck  in  and  throw 
out  water. 

SPRINKLING,  blood  op. 
(Heb.  xii.  24.)  The  Jewish 
high-priest,  on  the  great  day 
of  atonement,  carried  blood 
into  the  inner  sanctuary,  and 
sprinkled  it  upon  the  mercy 
seal.  It  was  by  this  sprink¬ 
ling  of  blood  that  an  atonement 
589 


ST  A 

was  made  for  the  holy  place , 
because  if  the  uncleanness  of 
the  children  of  Israel.  (Lev. 
xvi.  16.)  The  blood  of  sprink¬ 
ling  was  typical  of  the  aton¬ 
ing  blood  of  Christ.  When 
this  has  been  applied  to  the 
soul  of  the  believer,  he  may 
approach  the  presence  of  a 
holy  God,  in  the  name  of  the 
great  Advocate  and  Redeemer, 
confident  of  a  gracious  recep¬ 
tion.  The  blood  of  Abel,  al¬ 
luded  to  in  the  above  passage 
from  Hebrews,  called  only  tor 
vengeance,  (Gen.  iv.  10,  11;) 
but  the  blood  of  Christ  speaks 
of  pardon,  peace,  and  eternal 
life. 

STACTE.  (Ex.  xxx.  34.) 
One  of  the  prescribed  ingre¬ 
dients  of  the  sacred  incense. 
It  is  the  Greek  name  for  the 
purest  myrrh;  or  that  which 
flows  freely  from  the  tree  with¬ 
out  incision. 

STARS.  (Deut.  iv.  19.)  Un¬ 
der  the  name  of  stars,  the  He¬ 
brews  comprehended  all  con¬ 
stellations,  planets,  and  hea¬ 
venly  bodies;  all  luminaries, 
except  the  sun  and  moon.  The 
psalmist,  to  exalt  the  power 
and  omniscience  of  Goa,  (Ps. 
cxlvii.  4,)  describes  him  tak¬ 
ing  a  survey  of  the  stars,  as  a 
king  taking  a  review  of  his 
army,  and  knowing  the  name 
of  every  one  of  his  soldiers. 
To  express  a  very  extraordi¬ 
nary  increase  and  multiplica¬ 
tion,  the  sacred  writers  use 
the  similitude  of  the  stars  of 
heaven,  or  of  the  sands  of 
the  sea.  (Gen.  xv.  5;  xxii.  17; 
xxvi.  4.  Ex.  xxxii.  13,  &c.) 

No  part  of  the  visible  crea¬ 
tion  exhibits  the  glory  of  the 
Creator  more  illustriously  than 
the  starry  heavens.  (Ps.  xix. 
I.)  When  we  seriously  con¬ 
template  the  moon  and  stars, 
the  work  of  the  fingers  of  God, 
we  cannot  but  be  astonished 
that  he  should  condescend  to 
pay  any  attention  to  rnen.  (Ps. 
'Viii.  3.) 


STE 

The  star  of  Bethlehem,  which 
appeared  to  the  Magi,  to  direct 
them  to  the  birthplace  of  th# 
Messiah, was  not  a  natural  phe¬ 
nomenon,  but  evidently  mi 
raculous,  and,  when  it  had  an 
swered  its  purpose,  it  vanished. 

It  is  a  fact,  however,  that  of  the 
fixed  stars  some  have  entirely 
disappeared ;  while  others  not 
marked  in  any  catalogue  have 
become  visible,  where  they 
could  not  have  existed  before 
without  being  noticed. 

Jesus  Christ  is  called  the 
Morning  Star,  (Rev.  xxii.  160 
as  he  introduced  the  light  of 
the  gospel  day,  and  made  a 
fuller  manifestation  of  the 
truths  of  God  than  the  pro¬ 
phets,  whose  predictions  are 
now  accomplished. 

STEEL.  (Ps.  xviii.34.)  The 
degree  of  strength  and  agility 
which  one  possessed  was  often 
shown  among  the  ancient  na¬ 
tions  in  the  use  of  the  bow. 
The  word  rendered  steel  in 
this  passage  might  (according 
to  some  critics)  be  more  pro¬ 
perly  rendered  copper.  So  of 
Job  xx.  24.  (Comp.  Jer.  xv.  12. 
Ezek.  xxvii.  19.) 

STEPHANAS  (1  Cor.  i.  16) 
was  one  of  the  earliest  con¬ 
verts  to  Christianity  in  Corinth. 

(1  Cor.  xvi.  15,)  and  received 
baptism  at  the  hands  of  Paul. 

STEPHEN,  (Acts  vi.  5,) 
usually  known  as  the  first 
martyr,  was  one  of  the  seven 
men  of  honest  report  who  were 
elected,  at  the  suggestion  of  the 
twelve  apostles,  to  relieve  them 
of  a  particular  class  of  their 
labours.  His  character  is  given 
by  the  sacred  historian  as  a 
man  full  of  faith  and  of  the 
Holy  Ghost;  and  he  was  en¬ 
dowed,  in  a  remarkable  de¬ 
gree,  with  divine  power  and 
grace.  (Acts  vi.  8.  10.)  His 
defence  against  the  false  and 
malicious  charges  of  his  oppo,,, 
nents,  (Acts  vii.  2—53,)  among 
whom  was  Saul  of  Tarsus,  is 
a  masterly  exhibition  of  truth, 
590 


STO 

and  go  direct  was  its  appeal  to 
the  consciences  of  the  popu¬ 
lace,  that  they  were  excited 
to  madness,  (Acts  vii.  54,)  and 
fell  upon  Stephen  like  wild 
beasts,  shouting,  and  stopping 
their  ears;  and  after  they  had 
forced  him  beyond  the  walls  of 
the  city,  (Lev.  xxiv.  14,)  they 
Stoned  him  to  death,  Saul  being 
present  and  conspicuous  in 
this  barbarous  transaction.  The 
last  breath  of  the  martyr  was 
spent,  like  that  of  his  divine 
Master, in  praverfortheforgive- 
ness  of  his  murderers.  It  is 
worthy  of  remark  that  this 
prayer  of  Stephen’s  is  directed 
to  the  Lord  Jesus,  or  rather  it 
seems  to  be  a  continuation  of 
the  prayer  respecting  himself 
which  was  addressed  imme¬ 
diately  to  Christ;  the  word 
God  in  verse  59  of  our  trans¬ 
lation  not  being  in  any  ancient 
manuscript  or  version. 

STEWARD.  (Gen.  xv.  2.) 
The  chief  overseer  of  the 
household.  (Comp.  Gen.  xxiv. 
2,  with  passage  first  cited. 
See  Eliezeb,  Joanna.) 

STOCKS.  (Jobxiii.  27.)  The 


STO 

name  of  a  machine  or  inetru 
ment  by  which  the  feet  and 
arms  of  prisoners  are  secured 
It  is  said  that  the  jailer  at  Phi 
lippi,.to  whose  custody  Paul 
and  Silas  were  committed  with 
a  strict  charge  to  keep  them 
safely,  not  only  put  them  in  an 
inner  prison  or  dungeon,  but 
made  their  feet  fast  in  the 
stocks.  The  form  of  this  in¬ 
strument,  as  seen  in  the  east 
at  this  day,  is  given  in  the 
following  cuts. 


The  upper  half  (n)  being  re¬ 
moved,  each  leg  is  placed,  just 
above  the  ankle,  in  the  groove 
of  the  lower  half,  and  then  the 
upper  part  is  fastened  down 
so  as  to  confine  them  inex¬ 
tricably.  The  instrument  for 
confining  the  hands  is  formed 
on  the  same  principle,  and  is 
represented  in  the  subjoined 
!  cut.  (For  still  another  form. 


and  more  nearly  resembling 
that  in  modern  use,  see  Chris¬ 
tian  Maettrs,  p.  71,  by  Am. 

S.  S.  Union.) 

STOICS  (Acts  xvii.  18) 
were  a  sect  of  heathen  philo¬ 
sophers,  (much  like  the  Phari- 
gees,)  who  took  their  rise  from 
one  Zeno,  a  Cyprian.  It  is 
gaid,  he  borrowed  many  of  his 
opinions  from  the  Jewish  Scrip¬ 
tures;  but  it  is  certain  that 
Socrates  and  Plato  had  taught 


some  of  them  before.  The 
Greek  word  for  porch  is  stoa. 
and  from  the  circumstance  of 
his  teaching  his  scholars  in  a 
famous  public  portico  or  porch 
at  Athens,  his  followers  were 
called  Stoics.  They  gene, 
rally  taught,  that  it  is  wisdom 
alone  that  renders  men  happy ; 
that  the  ills  of  life  are  but  fan¬ 
cied  evils;  and  that  a  wise 
man  ought  not  to  be  moved 
either  with  joy  or  erief;  and 
591 


STO 


in  their  practice,  they  affect¬ 
ed  much  patience,  austerity, 
and  insensibility.  The  Stoics 
were  known  for  many  ages, 
especially  at  Athens,  where 
some  of  them  encountered 
Paul. 

Of  all  the  ancient  sects,  the 
Stoics  were  most  strict  An 
their  regard  to  moral  virtue. 
They  believed  in  the  unity 
of  the  Divine  Being ;  the  crea¬ 
tion  of  the  world  by  the  Logos 
r  Word,  and  a  superintend¬ 
ing  providence  administered 
in  conformity  with  the  will 
and  purpose  of  God ;  but  all 
their  opinions  were  mingled 
with  the  grossest  error. 

STONE.  (Gen.  xxxv.  14.) 
Houses  of  stone  were  as  com¬ 
mon  among  the  Hebrews  as 
among  ourselves.  The  more 
elegant  structures  were  \>uilt 
of  hewn  and  squared  stones. 
Amos  says  to  the  luxurious 
Israelites,  Ye  have  built  houses 
Of  heion  stone ,  but  ye  shall  not 
dwell  in  them.  (Amos  v.  11.) 
When  Solomon  was  about  to 
raise  the  temple,  he  command¬ 
ed,  and  they  brought  great 
stones,  costly  stones,  and 
hewed  stones,  to  lay  the  foun¬ 
dation  of  the  house.  (1  Kings 
v.  17.) 

Stones  were  often  used  as 
we  use  knives,  (Ex.  iv.  25. 
Josh.  v.  2;)  and  we  are  told 
that  stone  knives  were  used 


by  the  Egyptians  in  preparing 
dead  bodies  for  the  process  of 
embalming.  The  disciples  of 
Christ  are  called  stones,  or 
lively  (living)  stones,  (1  Pet. 
ii.  5,)  in  allusion  to  their  con¬ 
nexion  with  Christ, upon  whom 
they  are  built  up  compactly 
together,  as  upon  the  one 
only  foundation  which  God 
has  laid,  the  living  stone, 
(1  Pet.  ii.  4,)  or  the  source  of 
life.  A  heart  of  stone  is  a  figu¬ 
rative  expression,  importing 
great  hardness  and  impeni- 
tency.  A  stone  is  sometimes 
put  for  an  idol.  (Hab.  ii.  19.) 


STO 

Heaps  of  stones  were  raised 
to  mark  some  signal  provi¬ 
dence  of  God,  in  the  way  either 
of  deliverance  or  punishment. 
(Josh.  iv.  5—7.)  The  weights 
of  the  Hebrews  were  also  called 
stones. 

White  stone,  (Rev.  ii.  17,) 
here,  is  supposed  by  many  to 
be  an  allusion  to  the  practice 
of  some  ancient  nations  of  pass¬ 
ing  judgment  on  an  accused 
person.  Those  in  favour  of 
acquitting  him  cast  a  white 
ball  into  an  urn,  and  these  who 
adjudged  him  guilty  cast  in  a 
black  ball ;  and  if  the  number 
of  the  former  exceeded  that  of 
the  latter,  the  prisoner  was  dis¬ 
charged.  Others  think  refer¬ 
ence  is  made  to  the  white  stones 
which  were  given  to  conquerors 
in  the  Olympian  games,  with 
their  nameswritten  upon  them, 
and  the  value  of  the  prize 
they  won.  So  the  new  name 
mentioned  in  Isa.  lxii.  2,  may 
denote  the  adoption  of  the  in¬ 
dividual  into  the  family  of  God, 
by  which  he  is  admitted  to  pri¬ 
vileges  and  blessings  known 
only  to  him  who  possesses  them. 

STONING  was  the  most  ge¬ 
neral  punishment  inflicted  on 
notorious  criminals,  and  is 
usually  meant  where  no  other 
description  of  punishment  is 
expressly  mentioned,  as  in 
Lev.  xx.  10.  Idolaters,  blas¬ 
phemers,  Sabbath-breakers,  in¬ 
cestuous  persons,  and  stubborn 
or  rebellious  children,  were  lia¬ 
ble  to  it.  The  culprit  was  led 
out  of  the  city,  and,  as  some 
have  supposed,  was  bound. 
The  witnesses  against  him 
were  required  to  commence 
the  work  of  death ;  and  proba¬ 
bly  they  divested  themselves 
of  clothing,  that  it  might  be 
done  more  effectually.  (Acts 
vii.  58.)  At  the  murder  of  Ste¬ 
phen  they  committed  the  cus¬ 
tody  of  their  clothes  to  Saul, 
who  was  not  improbably,  from 
his  talents  and  ardour,  a  ring¬ 
leader  of  the  mob,  and  one  of 
593 


STO 


STR 


the  most  violent  of  the  perse¬ 
cutors  ;  and  the  multitude  fol¬ 
lowed  the  example  of  the  lead¬ 
ers,  until  the  victim  was  beaten 
to  death.  It  is  said  that  the 
frequent  taking  up  of  stones 
by  the  Jews  to  throw  at  our  Sa¬ 
viour,  and  the  stoning  of  Ste¬ 
phen,  (Acts  vii.  59J  and  of  Paul, 
(Acts  xiv.  19.)  were  vestiges  of 
a  punishment  called  the  rebels' 
beating ,  inflicted  by  the  mob, 
with  fists,  staves,  or  stones, 
on  the  excitement  of  the  mo¬ 
ment. 


STORK.  (Jer.  viii.  7.)  A 
bird  of  passage,  formed  much 
like  the  crane,  but  larger.  It 
feeds  on  insects  and  frogs,  and 
was  reckoned  among  tne  un¬ 
clean  birds.  (Lev.  xi.  19.)  It 
has  long  legs,  with  which  it 
seeks  food  in  marshes  and  wa¬ 
tery  places,  and  its  bill  is 
formed  so  as  to  retain  its  slip¬ 
pery  prey.  It  builds  its  nest 
sometimes  in  trees, (Ps. civ.  17,) 
and  sometimes  in  high  ruined 
towers.  Its  name,  in  the  He¬ 
brew,  means  mercy ,  or  piety  ; 
and  its  English  name,  taken 
(indirectly  at  least)  from  the 
Greek  storge,  signifies  natural 
affection.  This  accords  with 
our  knowledge  of  its  character, 
which  is  remarkable  for  ten¬ 
derness,  especially  in  the 
young  towards  the  old  birds. 
An  eminent  naturalist  tells  us 
of  a  Dane,  who  related,  from  his 
own  personal  knowledge,  facts 
whicn  occurred  in  the  southern 
part  of  Jutland,  that  the  two 
parent  birds  guard  and  feed  the 
brood  alternately,.  one  always 
remaining  in  the  nestwhilethe 
other  goes  for  food ;  and  after 
their  young  become  old  enough 
to  fly,  the  parent  birds  bring 
them  back  at  night,  and  long 
preserve  the  nest  as  their  na¬ 
tural  and  proper  home.  The 
old  birds  teach  their  young; 
with  great  care  how  to  find  and 
distinguish  proper  food.  In  the 
autumn  they  fly  to  a  warm  cli¬ 
mate,  and  returning  in  the 


spring,  betake  themselves  and 
families  to  their  several  nests. 
The  people  of  the  country  often 
assemble  to  see  them  come,  as 
there  are  certain  superstitious 
observances  connected  with 
their  return  ;  and  it  is  not  un 
common  to  see  several  of  the 
old  birds,  which  are  tired  and 
feeble  with  the  long  flight, 
supported  attimes  on  the  backs 
of  the  young ;  and  the  peasants 
speak  of  it  as  well  known,  that 
such  are  carefully  laid  in  their 
old  nests,  and  cherished  by  the 
young  ones  whom  they  reared 
there  the  spring  before.  A 
modern  traveller  speaks  of  the 
storks  which  build  their  nests 
in  the  old  ruins  of  Pergamus, 
and  he  says  he  saw  their  habits, 
and  that  the  male  bird  would 
often  caress  his  mate  before 
he  left  her,  and  then  stretch 
his  broad,  snow-white  wings, 
and  fly  away  to  provide  for  his 
faithful  partner  at  home.  (For 
further  description  and  illus¬ 
trative  engravi  ngs,see  Youth's 
Friend,  for  Feb.  1829,  by  Am. 
S.  S.  Union.) 

STRANGER.  (Gen.  xv.  13.) 
This  word  has  a  variety  of  sig¬ 
nifications  in  the  sacred  writ¬ 
ings;  as,  1.  One  who  is  in  a 
foreign  land,  at  a  distance  from 
the  place  of  his  nativity.  (Gen. 
xxiii.  4.)  2.  One  who  is  not  a 
Jew.  (Ex.  xx.  10.  Isa.  xiv.  1.) 
3.  One  not  of  Aaron’s  family. 
(Num.  iii.  10 ;  xvi.  40.)  4.  One 
that  is  not  of  the  royal  stock 
and  family.  (Matt.  xvii.  25,26  ) 
5.  Unknown,  disregarded.  (Ps. 
Ixix.  8.) 

The  Jewish  laws  had  many 
provisions  for  the  protection 
and  comfort  of  the  stranger  or 
loreigner.  Those  who  are  called 
strangers,  in  1  Chron.  xxii.  2, 
were  probably  persons  taken 
in  war,  and  so  by  the  custom 
of  nations  liable  to  any  service 
imposed  upon  them.  Hospi¬ 
tality  to  strangers  is  a  duty  en¬ 
joined  by  the  sacred  writers, 
both  in  precept  and  example. 


SUM 

(Judg.  xix.  15—20.  Job  xxxi. 
32.  1  Tim.  v.  10.  Heb.  xiii.  2.) 

STRAW.  (Gen.  xxiv.  25.) 
The  straw  wanted  by  the  Jews 
for  bricks  (Ex.  v.  7—18)  was 
to  lay  them  on  when  fresh 
moulded.  For  want  of  it  their 
mould  fell  in  pieces,  and  their 
work  was  vain. 

STREET.  (Gen.  xix.  2.)  The 
streets  of  oriental  cities  are 
usually  narrow.  Mats  are  some¬ 
times  spread  across  from  roof 
to  roof  to  shade  the  streets  from 
the  sun.  The  streets  were 
named  as  in  modern  times, 
(Ezra  x.  9.  Acts  ix.  11 ;)  but 
it  is  supposed  that  in  other  pas¬ 
sages,  (2  Chron.  xxxii.  6.  Neh. 
viii.  1.  3.  16,)  the  word  trans¬ 
lated  streets  means  squares,  or 
open  places  around  the  gates. 
Modern  travellers  often  men¬ 
tion  it  as  a  common  custom  in 
the  eastern  countries  to  sit  in 
the  streets.  (1  Sam.  iv.  13.  Job 
xxix.  7.  See  Bake,  City.) 

SUBURBS.  (See  City.) 

SUCCOTH.  (Josh.  xiii.  27. 
Judg.  viii.  15.)  The  place  men¬ 
tioned  in  Num.  xxxiii.  5,  was 
probably  a  resting  place  for 
caravans  to  and  from  Egypt. 
In  other  passages,  Succotn  de¬ 
notes  a  city  or  valley  on  the 
east  of  Jordan,  between  it 
and  Jabbok,  where  Abra¬ 
ham  pitched  his  tent  on  his 
return  from  Mesopotamia. 
(Gen.  xxxiii.  17.)  It  was  al¬ 
lotted  to  the  tribe  of  Gad,  and 
its  inhabitants,  for  insolent 
language  to  Gideon,  were  se¬ 
verely  punished  by  him.  (Judg. 
viii.  15.)  It  is  called  the  val¬ 
ley  of  Succoth,  (Ps.  lx.  6,)  or 
booths,  because  of  Jacob’s  build¬ 
ing  booths  there  for  his  cattle. 

SUKK11MS.  (2  Chron.  xii. 
3.)  The  name  of  a  portion  of 
the  allies  of  Shishak,  king  of 
Egypt,  in  the  invasion  of  Ju¬ 
dea.  They  are  supposed  lo 
have  been  a  tribe  of  Ethiopi¬ 
ans  from  the  shores  of  the  Red 

SUMMER.  (See  Seasons.) 


SUR 

.  Summer  house.  (See 
Dwell  inos.) 

SUPERSCRIPTION.  (See 

SUPERSTITIOUS.  (Acts 
xvii.  22.)  This  term  in  the 
original  is  at  best  ambiguous. 
Perhaps  it  signifies  nothing  of¬ 
fensive,  but  simply  that  the 
Athenians  were  remarkably 
addicted  toworship.  They  had 
more  gods,  more  temples,  more 
festivals,  in  short,  more  reli¬ 
gious  observances,  than  the 
apostle  had  seen  elsewhere ; 
and  he  was  about  to  tell  them 
what  he  thought  were  errors  in  - 
these  services. 

SUPPER.  (See  Meals.) 

SUPPLICATION.  (1  Tim. 
ii.  1—5.)  It  is  supposed  that  the 
distinction  made  in  this  pas¬ 
sage  between  prayers  and  sup¬ 
plications  is,  that  the  latter 
rather  respected  the  averting 
of  threatened  or  the  removal 
of  inflicted  judgments,  and  the 
former  the  bestowing  of  bless¬ 
ings. 

SURETY.  (Heb.  vii.  22.) 
Some  have  supposed  that  the 
word  thus  translatedmeans  one 
who  draws  nigh  to  God,  or 
brings  others  nigh.  Thus,  as  . 
in  Heb.  vii.  19,  the  apostle  had 
spoken  of  the  introduction  of  a 
better  hope,  by  which  we  draw 
nigh  unto  Goa,  so  (ver.  22)  he 
speaks  of  Jesusashim  by  whom 
toe  draw  nigh,  thus  denoting 
the  effect  of  his  mediation. 
The  word  sponsor,  pledge,  or 
surety,  is  of  equal  significancy. 
The  better  hope  had  been 
mentioned':  If  it  were  asked 
what  security  there  is  that  it 
!  will  be  realized,  it  might  be 
:  answered  that  Jesus  is  the 
suretyof  thedispensation  which 
affords  or  supports  this  hope. 

The  danger  of  becoming 
surety  flir  others  is  strongly  re¬ 
presented.  (Prov.  vi.  1 ;  xi.  15; 
xvii.  18;  xx.  16;  xxii.  26.)  The 
striking  or  joining  of  hands  was 
a  token  of  suretiship.  (Job 
■  xvii.  3.) 


594 


S  WE 

SWALLOW.  (Prov.  xxvi.  2.). 
A  well  known  bird  of  passage, 
whose  instinctive  knowledge 
of  its  time  of  migration  is  used 
by  the  prophet  (Jer.  viii.  7)  to 
reprove  the  infidelity  of  the 
Jews.  The  allusion  in  Prov. 
xxvi.  2,  probably  signifies  that 
the  curses  or  imprecations  of 
the  wicked,  when  uttered 
against  the  innocent,  pass 
away  like  the  birds  in  their 
flight.  The  short,  broken  twit¬ 
tering  of  the  swallow  is  alluded 
to,  Isa.  xxxviii.  14. 

SWAN.  (Deut.  xiv.  16.)  A 
large  and  very  beautiful  water 
bird,  unclean  by  the  ceremo¬ 
nial  law,  (Lev.  xi.  18,)  though 
it  is  very  doubtful  whether 
some  other  bird  is  not  intended 
in  this  passage. 

SWEAR.  (See  Oath.) 

SWEARING,  voice  of. 
(Lev.  v.  1.)  The  import  of  this 
expression  in  the  Hebrew  is, 
“  hear  the  voice  of  adjuration, 
execration,  oath,  or  curse,”  i.  e. 
hears  this  voice  when  one  is 
adjured  or  put  upon  his  oath  as 
a  witness  in  court.  The  pre¬ 
cept  unquestionably  relates, 
not  to  the  duty  of  informing 
against  a  common  swearer,  but 
to  the  case  of  one  who  is  sum¬ 
moned  to  give  evidence  before 
the  civil  magistrate.  Judges 
among  the  Jews  had  power  to 
adjure  not  only  the  witnesses, 
but  the  persons  suspected,  as 
appears  from  the  high-priest’s 
adjuring  ourSaviour,who  there¬ 
upon  answered,  though  he  had 
before  been  silent.  (Matt.  xxvi. 
63.)  If  a  person  heard  the  voice 
of  swearing ,  i.  e.  if  he  were  ad¬ 
jured  by  an  oath  of  the  Lord  to 
testify  what  he  knew  in  rela¬ 
tion  to  any  matter  of  fact  in 
question,  and  yet,  through  fear 
or  favour,  refused  to  give  evi¬ 
dence,  or  gave  it  but  in  part, 
he  was  to  bear  his  iniquity.  It 
seems  to  be  implied  that  sucn 
a  one  should  be  considered  in 
the  sight  of  God  as  guilty  of  the 


SYC 

transgression  which  he  has 
thus  endeavoured  to  conceal. 

SWINE,  (Deut.  xiv. -8,)  or 
hog,  was  unclean  by  the  ritual 
law,  and  an  object  of  utter  ab¬ 
horrence  to  the  Jews.  Hence 
the  employment  of  the  prodi¬ 
gal  son  implies  the  most  con¬ 
temptible  degradation.  (Luke 
xv. 15.)  Eating  thefleshof  swine 
is  mentioned  among  the  sinful 
practices  of  the  Jews.  (Isa. 
lxv.  4;  lxvi.  17.)  The  filthy 
habits  of  this  animal  illustrate 
one  feature  in  the  charactei  of 
sinners.  (2  Pet.  ii.  22.) 

The  herd  of  swine  miracu¬ 
lously  destroyed  (Malt.  viii. 
32)  perhaps  belonged  to  Jews, 
and  were  of  course  kept  in  vio¬ 
lation  of  their  own  law.  (Lev. 
xi.  7.) 

To  cast  pearls  before  swine 
(Matt.  vii.  6)  is  not  more  vain 
and  wasteful  than  to  offer  the 
words  of  truth  and  wisdom  to 
those  who  are  known  to  de¬ 
spise  them,  and  who  would 
only  return  the  offer  with  in¬ 
sult  and  abuse. 

SWORD.  (See  Akms.) 

SYCAMINE.  (Luke  xvii. 
6.)  A  tree  common  in  Egypt, 
and  closely  resembling  the 
mulberry  tree  in  its  general 
appearance. 

SYrCAMORE.  (Luke  xix.  4.) 
A  common  tree  in  Judea,  and 
the  east  generally.  The  name 
is  applied  (though  improperly) 
to  our  buttonwood,  or  plane 
tree,  and  also  to  a  species  of 
maple.  The  sycamore  of  the 
Scriptures  is  the  Egyptian  fig 
tree.  Its  fruit,  which  closely 
resembles  figs,  is  much  esteem¬ 
ed,  and  the  gathering  of  it  was 
intrusted  to  special  officers. 
(1  Chron.  xxvii.  28.  Amos  vii. 
14.)  The  wood  was  used  for 
building,  anl  though  much 
less  valuable  than  the  cedar, 
(1  Kings  x.  27.  Isa.  ix.  10,)  was 
very  durable.  Egyptian  co.- 
fins,  made  of  sycamore  wood, 
have  been  found  in  a  sound 


SYN 

stale  after  the  (supposed)  lapse 
of  3000  years.  (For  description 
and  engravingof  tree  and  fruit, 
see  Youth’s  Friend  for  Janu¬ 
ary,  1829,  by  Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

SYCHAR.  (See  Shechem.) 

SYCHEM.  (See  Shechem.) 

SYENE.  (Ezek.  xxix.  10.) 
A  very  ancient  city,  on  the 
southern  frontier  of  Egypt,  near 
the  ruins  of  which  is  the  mo¬ 
dern  city  of  Assooar,  or  Asiran. 
The  site  of  Syene  shows  some 
granite  columns  and  a  confused 
uixtureofmonuments.  “Here,” 
ays  a  celebrated  modern  geo¬ 
grapher,  “  the  Pharaohs  and 
the  Ptolemies  raised  the  tem¬ 
ples  and  the  palaces  which  are 
found  Half  buried  under  the 
drifting  sand.  Here  are  the 
quarries  from  which  the  obe¬ 
lisks  and  colossal  statues  of 
the  Egyptian  temples  were  dug. 
And  on  the  polished  surface 
of  some  of  the  native  rocks  are 
found  hieroglyphic,  sculptured 
representations  of  Egyptian 
deities.” 

SYLVANUS.  (See  Silas.) 

SYRACUSE.  (Acts  xxviii. 
12.)  A  wealthy  and  important 
city  on  the  eastern  coast  of  the 
island  ofSicily.  It  was  founded 
B.  c.  730,  and  is  distinguished 
as  the  birthplace  of  Archime¬ 
des.  Syracuse  was  on  the  di¬ 
rect  course  from  Malta  to  Rome, 
and  the  apostle  stopped  there 
two  or  three  days.  It  is  now 
called  Syracusa,  or  Syragossa, 
and  contains  about  18,000  in¬ 
habitants. 

SYNAGOGUE.  (Matt.  xii. 
9.)  There  is  no  conclusive 
evidence  that  stated  meetings 
of  the  people  for  social  re¬ 
ligious  services,  or  meetings 
for  receiving  public  instruc¬ 
tion,  were  known  among  the 
Jews  before  the  captivity.  Af¬ 
ter  that  event  such  meetings 
became  common,  and  were 
called  synagogues.  They  were 
probably  held  at  first  in  private 
houses  or  in  the  open  air.  Af¬ 
ter  a  time,  however,  buildings 


SYN 

were  erected  expressly  for  their 
use,  and  these  were  called  sy¬ 
nagogues,  signifying  properly 
the  collection  of  worshippers, 
but  figuratively  the  place  of 
meeting.  Tradition  says  there 
were  no  less  titan  four  hundred 
and  eighty  of  these  buildings 
in  the  city  of  Jerusalem  before 
it  was  subdued  by  the  Romans. 
Probably  this  is  an  exaggera¬ 
tion.  To  build  a  synagogue 
was  considered  a  deed  ofpiety 
and  public  advantage.  (Luke 
vii.  5.)  They  might  be  built 
in  any  place  where  there  were 
worshippers  enough  to  asso¬ 
ciate  lor  the  purpose.  There 
was  some  resemblance  be¬ 
tween  the  construction  of  these 
synagogues  and  that  of  the 
temple.  The  centre  building, 
which  was  called  the  temple, 
was  furnished  with  an  ark,  or 
chest,  containing  the  copy  of 
the  law  which  was  read.  A 
low  desk  or  pulpit  was  erected 
about  the  middle  of  the  syna- 
ogue.  Some  of  the  seats  were 
igher  than  others,  and  were 
assigned  to  the  elders.  They 
were  called  chief  or  uppermost 
seats.  (Matt,  xxiii.  t>.)  Each 
synagogue  had  its  proper  of¬ 
ficers.  The  council,  to  whom 
the  supreme  direction  be¬ 
longed,  consisted  of  elders,  or 
aged  and  influential  men.  The 
president  of  this  council  was 
called  the  ruler,  or  chief  ruler 
of  the  synagogue.  (Mark  v. 
22.  Acts  xiii.  15;  xviii.  8.1 
The  rulers  of  the  synagogue 
had  power  to  excommunicate 
and toscourge offenders.  (Math 
x.  17.  John  xvi.  2.)  The  put¬ 
ting  one  out  of  the  synagogue 
was  a  punishment  greatly 
dreaded  by'  the  Jews— much 
more  than  scourging.  It  would 
seem,  also,  that  judicial  pro¬ 
ceedings  were  sometimes  had 
in  the  synagogues,  where  cer¬ 
tain  offences  were  tried,  the 
punishment  of  which  was 
scourging.  The  stripes  were 
inflicted  under  the  directku 
596 


SYN 

of  the  tribunal,  in  the  syna¬ 
gogue,  (Acts  xxii.  19;  xxvi.  11,) 
by  an  appointed  person. 

When  the  apostles  were  ex¬ 
cluded  from  the  Jewish  syna¬ 
gogues,  they  held  their  reli¬ 
gious  meetings  in  private 
houses.  Hence  we  repeatedly 
hear  of  churches  in  houses. 
(Acts  ii.  46;  v.  42.  Rom. 
xvi.  5.  ICor.  xvi.  19.  Col.  iv. 
15.  See  Biblical  Antiq.ui- 
Ties,  vol.  ii.  ch.  viii.,  and  Se- 
Pumiel,  ch.  xi.,  both  by  Am. 
S.  S.  Union.) 

The  service  of  the  synagogue 
was  as  follows.  The  people 
being  seated,  the  minister,  or 
angel  of  the  synagogue,  as¬ 
cended  the  pulpit,  and  offered 
up  the  public  prayers;  the 
people  rising  from  their  seats, 
and  standing  in  a  posture  of 
deep  devotion.  (Matt.  vi.  5. 
Mark  xi.  23.  Luke  xviii.  11. 
13.)  The  prayers  were  nine¬ 
teen  in  number,  and  were 
closed  by  reading  the  execra¬ 
tion.  The  next  thin»  was  the 
repetition  of  their  phylacteries; 
after  which  came  the  reading 
of  the  law  and  the  prophets. 
The  former  was  divided  into 
fifty-four  sections,  with  which 
were  united  corresponding  por¬ 
tions  from  the  prophets,  (see 
Acts  xi  ii.  15.  27 ;  xv.  21 ;)  and 
these  were  read  through  once 
in  the  course  of  the  year.  After 
the  return  from  the  captivity, 
an  interpreter  was  employed 
in  reading  the  law  and  the 
prophets,  (Neh.  viii.  2 — 8,) 
who  interpreted  them  into  the 
Syro-Chaldaic  dialect,  which 
was  then  spoken  by  the  people. 
The  last  part  of  the  service 
was  the  expounding  of-  the 
Scriptures,  and  preaching  from 
them  to  me  people.  This  was 
done  either  by  one  of  the  of¬ 
ficers,  or  by  some  distinguished 
person  who  happened  to  be 
present.  This  happened  with 
our  Saviour,  (Luke  iv.  17—20,) 
and  there  are  several  other 
instances  recorded  of  himself 


SYR 

and  his  disciples  teaching  il 
the  synagogues.  (Matt.  xiii. 

54.  Mark  vi.  2.  John  xviii.  20 
Acts  xiii.  5. 15.  44;  xiv.  1 ;  xvii. 

2  —A.  10.  17 ;  xviii.  4.  26 ;  xix. 

8.)  The  whole  service  con¬ 
cluded  with  a  short  prayer,  or 
benediction.  (For  an  accurate 
engraving  of  the  interior  of  a 
modern  Jewish  synagogue,  and 
a  description  of  the  service  y 
see  Youth’s  Friend  for  Janu  ^ 
ary,  1836,  by  Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

SYRIA  (2 Sam.  viii.  12.) 
When  Babylon,  instead  of 
Nineveh,  was  the  seat  of  su 
preme  power,  the  words  Baby 
Ionia  and  Chaldea  were  equi 
valent  to  Assyria,  and  com 
prehended  two  extensive  re¬ 
gions  on  opposite  sides  of  the 
Euphrates.  These  are  called 
by  the  sacred  writers  Aram 
beyond  the  river,  (2  Sam.  x.  16,) 
and  Aram  on  this  side  of  the 
river.  To  the  former,  by  way 
of  distinction,  the  Greeks  gave 
the  name  Assyria,  and  to  the 
latter  the  name  of  Syria,  of 
which  Zobah  first,  and  after¬ 
wards  Damascus,  (Isa.  vii.  8,) 
was  the  capital.  (See  As¬ 
syria.) 

The  word  Syria,  called  in 
the  Hebrew  Aram,  from  a  son 
of  Shem,  (Gen.  x.  22,)  in  its 
largest  acceptation,  extended 
from  the  Mediterranean  and 
the  river  Cydnus  to  the  Eu¬ 
phrates,  and’  from  mount  Tau¬ 
rus  on  the  north  to  Arabia  and 
the  border  of  Egypt  on  the 
south.  It  was  divided  into 
Syria  Palestina,  including 
Canaan  and  Phenicia,  CaXe- 
Si/ria,  between  two  ridges 
of  mount  Lebanon,  and  Upper 
Syria.  The  last  was  known 
as  Syria  in  a  restricted  sense. 
The  kings  of  these  provinces 
were  engaged  in  frequent  wars 
with  the  children  of  Israel, 
sometimes  subject  to  them, 
sometimes  independent,  some¬ 
times  opposed,  and  sometimes 
in  alliance  with  them.  Syria 
was  successively  subject  to  the 


SYR 

Assyrian,  Babylonian,  Persian, 
Macedonian,  Selencidan,  Ro¬ 
man,  and  Mohammedan  do¬ 
minion,  to  which  last  it  now 
belongs. 

The  leading  features  in  the 
physical  aspect  of  Syria  con¬ 
sist  of  the  great  mountainous 
chains  of  Lebanon,  or  Lilianus, 
and  Anti-Libanus,  extending 
from  north  to  south,  and  the 
great  desert  lying  on  the  south¬ 
east  and  east.  The  valleys 
are  of  great  fertility,  and  yield 
abundance  of  grain,  vines, 
mulberries,  tobacco,  olives, 
excellent  fruits,  as  oranges, 
figs,  pistachios,  &c..  The  cli¬ 
mate,  in  the  inhabited  parts, 
is  exceedingly  fine.  Syria  is 
inhabited  by  various  descrip¬ 
tions  of  people,  but  Turks  and 
Greeks  form  the  basis  of  the 
population  in  the  cities.  The 
only  tribes  that  can  be  con¬ 
sidered  as  peculiar  to  Syria 
are  the  tenants  of  the  heights 
of  Lebanon.  The  most  remark¬ 
able  of  these  are  the  Druses 
and  Maronites.  The  general 
language  is  Arabic:  the  sol- 
diers  and  officers  of  govern¬ 
ment  speak  Turkish.  Of  the 
old  Syriac  no  traces  exist. 

No  country  was  more  cele¬ 
brated  in  antiquity  than  Syria. 
In  the  south-west  was  the  land 
of  promise,  the  country  of  the 
Israelites,  and  the  cradle  of 
Christianity.  Phenicia,  par¬ 
ticularly  its  cities  of  Tyre  and 
Sidon,  were  famous  for  com¬ 
merce.  Damascus  was  long 
the  capital  of  a  powerful  king¬ 
dom,  and  Antioch  was  once  a 
royal  residence,  and  accounted 
the  third  city  in  the  world  in 
wealth  and  population.  Balbec 
andPalmyra  still  exhibit  splen¬ 
did  ruins  of  their  ancient  great¬ 
ness.  Here  have  the  Assyrians, 
Jews,  Greeks,  Parthians,  Ro¬ 
mans,  Saracens,  the  crusaders, 
and  the  Turks,  struggled  at 
different  periods  for  possession. 
Ninus,  Semiramis,  Sesostris, 
Alexander,  Pompey,  Antony, 


SYlt 

Cresar,  Titus,  Aurelian,  Set. ; 
at  a  later  period,  Godfrey  of 
Bouillon,  Richard  Coour  de 
Lion,  Saladin,  &c. ;  and,  still 
more  recently,  Napoleon  and 
Mohammed  Ali,  have  in  turn 
acted  a  part  on  the  plains  of 
Syria.  Ignorance,  superstition, 
and  barbarism  now  cover  the 
land,  and  no  traces  of  its  civil¬ 
ization  remain  but  ruins. 

The  Nestorians  of  the  pre¬ 
sent  day  call  themselves  Syrian 
Christians,  because  they  use 
the  ancient  Syriac  in  their 
forms  of  worship ;  and  they 
possess  the  New  Testament  in 
this  language.  At  present  the 
Arabic  language  prevails  in 
Syria,  and  the  Bible  is  there¬ 
fore  within  their  power. 

Syria  is  one  of  the  most  in¬ 
teresting  fields  of  missionary 
effort  known  in  our  times. 
Within  its  limits  are  to  be 
found  nine-tenths  of  the  scenes 
of  the  sacred  history.  It  was 
the  only  home  for  tne  church 
for  thousands  of  years:  it  was 
the  candlestick  lor  the  only 
light  which  shined  in  a  dark 
world  for  nearly  twenty  cen¬ 
turies  :  all  parts  of  it  have  been 
trodden  by  the  feet  of  the  Son 
of  God,  or  by  his  prophets  and 
apostles:  scarcely  a  hill  or  a 
valley  but  has  resounded  with 
the  songs  of  Moses,  of  David, 
and  of  Isaiah :  while,  above  all, 
here  was  shed  that  blood  which 
taketh  away  the  sin  of  thi 
world.  The  whole  country  is 
one  vast  living  commentary 
on  the  word  of  God,  spread  out 
for  the  perusal  of  every  age, 
and  for  the  confusion  of  every 
skeptic. 

And  if  these  countries  are 
unrivalled  in  the  thrilling  in¬ 
terest  of  their  past  hiSory,  they 
are  equally  so  in  the  singular 
features  of  their  present  con¬ 
dition,  and  in  the  solempity 
of  their  future  expectations. 
Palestine,  robbed  and  spoiled, 
sits  in  desolate  widowhood 
amidst  uhe  dust  and  ruins  of 
598 


SYR 

Ber  former  greatness ;  and  the 
remnant  of  the  Jewish  nation, 
once  the  entire  church  of  God, 
live  like  aliens  and  bond-ser¬ 
vants  in  the  land  of  their  fa¬ 
thers.  But  if  we  have  notsead 
the  word  of  God  in  vain,  there 
is  much  of  unfulfilled  prophecy 
and  promise  scattered  along 
the  whole  track  of  revelation, 
which,  touching  and  glancing 
on  every  age,  throw  a  strong 
and  cheering  light  over  the 
happy  future ;  and  faith  rests 
assured,  that 

44  These  ruins  shall  be  built  again, 
And  all  this  dust  shall  r^se.,, 

The  present  number  of  in¬ 
habitants  is  variously  estimated 


SYR 

from  800,000  to  2,500,000.  P  w 
bably  it  does  not  differ  far  froL* 
1,000,000.  This  last  estimate 
is  somewhat  confirmed  by  that 
part  of  the  census  which  ha. 
already  been  taken  by  tht 
present  new  government. 

Several  missionary  station* 
have  been  advantageously 
taken.  Nine  male  mission¬ 
aries  are  now  (1837)  on  lh* 
ground;  ten  or  twelve  schod* 
are  established;  and  the  sic 
cess  of  their  proceedings  W 
encouraging. 

SvRiA-MAACHAii.Thesani*” 
with  Aram-Maar.hah.  (S«* 
Aram.) 

SYRO-FHENICIA.  (Set 
Phenicia.) 


TAB 

TAANACH,  (Josh,  xii.21,)  or 
TANACH,  (Josh.  xxi.  25.) 
was  a  city  of  Manasseh,  though 
within  the  boundaries  of  Issa- 
char.  It  was  not  far  from  Me- 
giddo,  in  connexion  with  which 
u  is  usually  mentioned. 

TABERAH.  (Num.  xi.  3.) 
An  encampment  of  the  Israel¬ 
ites  in  the  wilderness  of  Haran. 
This  name  was  given  to  it  to 
commemorate  the  judgment  by 
fire  that  came  on  the  people 
for  their  murmurings  at  Inis 
place.  (Num.  xi.  3-^34.) 

TABERNACLE  (Ex.  xxv. 
9)  properly  means  a  tent,  or 
moveable  dwelling-place.  In 
this  sense  it  is  used,  Num. 
xxiv.  5.  Job  xi.  14;  xxii.  23. 
Malt.  xvii.  4;  but,  in  the 
Scriptures  generally,  it  is  ap¬ 
plied  to  the  structure  which 
was  prepared  by  Moses,  under 
the  divine  direction,  for  the 
Jews  to  worship  in.  The  la- 
bernade  of  the  congregation 
(Ex.  xxxiii.  7)  was  erected  by 
Moses  for  his  own  use.  In  it 
he  gave  audience  to  the  people, 
heard  and  decided  controver¬ 
sies,  and  sought  divine  direc¬ 
tion.  Probably  the  public 


TAB 

offices  of  religion  were  als« 
performed  here,  and  hence  tin 
name.  Another  tabernacl* 
was  erected  by  David  for  th« 
reception  of  the  ark.  (2  Sam 
vi.  17.  IChron.  xvi.  1.)  Bui 
the  tabernacle,  pre-eminenll) 
so  called,  was  built,  as  above 
intimated,  by  Moses  for  God, 
partly  to  be  the  palace  of  hi 
presence  as  the  King  of  Israel, 
and  partly  as  the  place  of  thi 
most  solemn  acts  of  public 
worship.  It  was  constructed 
with  extraordinary  magnifi 
cence  in  every  part,  according 
to  the  express  instruction  of 
Jehovah,  and  evidently  with 
typical  design  and  use.  (Heb 
ix.  1 — 8.)  The  means  of  build 
ing  it  were  furnished  in  super 
abuudance  by  the  voluntary 
contributions  of  the  people, 
(Ex.  xxxv.  4—9 ;  xxxvi.  3—7,) 
who  had  enriched  themselves 
with  the  spoils  of  the  Egyp¬ 
tians,  which  they  were  directed 
to  take  as  a  remuneration  fot 
their  labour.  (Ex.  iii.  21,  24 
See  Spoil.)  The  oversight  of 
the  work  was  intrusted  to  Be- 
zaleel  and  Aholiab,  who  were 
endued  with  supernatural  skill 


TAB 

for  that  purpose.  (Ex.  xxxi.  1 — 
6.)  The  plan,  size,  materials, 
furniture,  &c.,  to  the  most  mi¬ 
nute  particular,  were  revealed 
to  Moses  in  mount  Sinai.  (Ex. 
xxv.  9 — 40.)  The  whole  space 
enclosed  for  the  tabernacle 
was  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet 
by  seventy-five.  This  space 
was  surrounded  by  fine  linen 
curtains,  nearly  eight  feet  in 
height,  and  hung  from  brazen 
(or  copper)  pillars.  They  were 
Sicureu  by  rods  or  cords  at- 


TAB 

tached  to  the  top,  and  stretched 
so  as  to  fasten  to  wooden  or 
metal  pins  in  the  ground,  as 
represented  in  the  annexed 
cut.  Twenty  of  these  pillars 
or  columns  were  on  each  side, 
and  ten  on  each  end.  The 
entrance  or  gate  of  the  court 
was  closed  with  a  curtain  of 
different  colour  and  texture 
from  the  rest,  stretched  on  four 
of  the  pillars,  and  so  hung  as 
to  be  drawn  up  or  let  down  at 
pleasure.  (Ex.  xxvii.  9—18.) 


At  the  upper  part  of  this 
enclosure,  and  facing  the  en¬ 
trance,  was  the  tabernacle 
properly  so  called ;  represent¬ 
ed  in  its  proper  place  in  the 
above  cut,  and  in  a  more  dis¬ 
tinct  form  on  the  following 
page.  This  was  forty-five  by 
fifteen  feet,  and  fifteen  feet 
high.  The  sides  and  rear 
were  enclosed  with  boards, 
and  the  front  was  open.  Over 
the  top  was  thrown  a  rich, 
gorgeous  fabric,  of  various  ma¬ 
terials,  the  connexion  and  dis¬ 
position  of  which,  as  well  as 
of  the  other  parts  of  the  cover¬ 


ing,  are  prescribed  with  the 
utmost  minuteness.  (Ex.  xxvi. 
1—30.)  The  entrance  or  door 
of  the  tabernacle  was  covered 
with  a  beautifully  embroidered 
curtain,  suspended  on  five 
columns.  The  interior  was 
subdivided  into  two  apart¬ 
ments,  and  separated,  each 
from  the  other,  by  a  richly 
wrought  curtain  hanging  en¬ 
tirely  across,  and  reaching 
from  the  top  to  the  bottom. 
This  was  called  the  veil ,  or 
serond  veil,  (Heb.  ix.  3,)  be¬ 
cause  the  first  entrance  was 
also  curtained.  The  outer 
600 


TAB 


TAB 


apartment  was  called  the  holy 
place,  or  sanctuary ,  or  the  first 
tabernacle.,  and  the  inner  was 
the  second  tabernacle,  or  the 
most  holy  place,  or  the  holiest 
qf  all,  (Heb.  ix.  2 — 8.) 

-As  to  the  furniture  of  the 
court,  there  were — (1.)  The 
altar  of  burnt-offering,  which 
stood  near  the  centre  of  the  en¬ 
closure.  (See  Altar.)  (2.)  The 
brazen  laver,  (Ex.  xxx.  18,  cor¬ 
responding  to  the  molten  sea, 
1  Kings  vn.  23,)  which  stood 
between  the  altar  and  the 
tabernacle,  in  its  shape  re¬ 
sembling  an  urn.  It  contained 
water  for  washing  the  hands 
and  feet  of  the  priests,  when 
they  were  about  to  enter  the 
sanctuary. 

As  to  the  furniture  of  the 
tabernacle  itself,  there  was — 
(1.)  The  golden  candlestick, 
standing  on  the  left  of  a  person 
entering  the  sanctuary.  (See 
Candlestick.)  (25  The  table 
of  shetv-bread,  opposite  to  the 
candlestick.  (See  Bread.) 
(3.)  The  altar  of  incense,  be¬ 
tween  the  shew-bread  and  the 


candlestick,  and  in  front  of 
the  ark,  (see  Altar  ;)  and  (4.) 
The  ar/c  of  the  covenant.  (See 
Ark.) 

The  tabernacle  and  its  court 
were  finished  with  perfect  ex¬ 
actness,  according  to  the  pat¬ 
tern  or  model  supernaturally 
revealed  to  Moses.  (Heb.  viii. 
5.)  And  it  is  estimated  that 
the  silver  and  gold  used  in  its 
construction  (to  say  nothing 
of  the  brass  or  copper,  the 
wood,  the  curtains  and  ca¬ 
nopies,  the  furniture,  & ..) 
amounted  to  nearly  one  r<  il- 
lion  dollars,  at  the  present 
value  of  the  precious  me'.ala. 

When  it  was  finished,  it 
was  consecrated,  with  very 
solemn  and  imposing  rites 
to  the  service  of  Jehovah.  (Ex. 
xxx.  23—33;  xl.  9—11.  Heb. 
ix.  21.) 

While  passing  through  the 
wilderness,  the  tabernacle  was 
always  pitched  in  the  midst 
of  the  camp.  The  tents  of  the 
priests  and  Levites surrounded 
it  in  appointed  order ;  and,  at 
some  distance  from  them,  the 
601 


Tab 

residue  of  the  tribes  in  four 
great  divisions,  consisting  of 
three  tribes  each,  and  each 
division  with  its  appropriate 
name  and  standard  or  ban¬ 
ner.  (Num.  ii.  2—29.)  The 
tabernacle  and  its  furniture 
were  so  constructed  as  to  be 
conveniently  taken  down, 
trow  ported,  and  set  up  again; 
and  particular  individuals  or 
lasses  had  their  respective 
uties  assigned  to  them.  Every 
encampment  and  removal,  and 
even  the  order  of  the  march, 
were  directed  expressly  by 
J  ehovah.  On  the  day  the  ta¬ 
bernacle  was  completed,  God 
revealed  himself  in  a  cloud, 
which  overshadowed  and  filled 
it.  By  this  cloud  assuming 
the  shape  of  a  pillar  or  colu  m  n, 
their  subsequent  course  was 
governed.  When  it  rested  over 
the  tent,  the  people  always 
rested ;  and  when  it  moved,  the 
tabernacle  was  taken  down, 
and  the  whole  host  followed 
wherever  it  led.  In  the  nisht 
this  cloud  became  bright  like 
a  pillar  of  fire,  and  preceded 
them  in  like  manner.  (Ex.  xl. 
35—138.  Num.  ix.  15 — 23.)  When 
the  journeyings  of  the  people 
were  ended,  and  they  entered 
Canaan,  the  tabernacle  was 
erected  at  Gilgal,  (Josh.  iv.  19,) 
where  it  continued  until  the 
country  was  subdued,  and  then 
it,  was  removed  to  Shiloh, 
(1  Sam.  i.  3,)  where  it  stood 
between  three  hundred  and 
four  hundred  years.  It  was 
thence  removed  to  Nob,  (1  Sam. 
xxi.  1—9,)  and  thence,  in  the 
reign  of  David,  to  Gibeon, 
(1  Chron.  xxi.  29,)  where  it  was 
at  the  commencement  of  Solo¬ 
mon’s  reign,  (2  Chron.  i.  1—13,) 
and  when  the  temple  was 
finished,  the  sacred  fabric,  with 
its  vessels  and  furniture,  was 
removed  into  it.  (See  Temple. 
See  also  Biblical  Anti4ui- 
ties,  vol.  ii.  chap,  ii.,  Scrip¬ 
ture  Illustrations,  vol.  i. 
pp.  68—123,  and  Evening  Re- 


Ta:b 

creations,  vol.  iv.  pp.  16 — 526, 
all  by  Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

The  worshippers  of  the  hea¬ 
then  gods  had  tabernacles, 
(Amos  v.  26,)  the  idea  of  which 
they  probably  took  from  the 
Jews.  These  tabernacles  were 
probably  portable,  carried  upon 
the  shoulders,  and  contained 
the  idol. 

Tabernacle  of  witness, 
(Num.xvii.  7,8,)  Tabernacle 
op  testimony.  (Ex.  xxxviii. 
21.)  These  terms  may  refer 
to  the  law,  which  was  deposited 
in  the  tabernacle,  and  which 
testified  to  God’s  authority  and 
holiness,  (Ex.  xxv.21 ;)  or  they 
may  refer  to  the  revelations 
which  God  made  of  himself  in 
the  tabernacle,  and  by  which 
he  testified  his  presence  and 
majesty  in  the  most  sublime 
and  mysterious  manner. 

Tabernacles,  feast  of. 
(See  Feasts.) 

TABITHA,  or  DORCAS.  (Acts 
ix.  36.)  An  exemplary  disciple 
of  Christ  at  Joppa,  whose  deeds 
of  benevolence  had  greatly 
endeared  her  to  the  people. 
(Acts  ix.  39.)  After  she  was 
dead,  and  her  body  prepared 
for  the  grave,  she  was  mira- 
culously  restored  to  life  through 
the  instrumentality  of  Peter. 

TABLE.  (ISam.  xx.  29.) 
The  table  of  ancient  times 
was  nothing  but  a  circular 
skin,  or  piece  of  leather,  spread 
upon  the  matted  or  carpeted 
floor ;  and  this,  at  home  as  well 
as  by  the  way,  answers  for 
table  and  cloth.  Near  the 
edges  of  this  leathern  tray, 
there  areholes,or  loops,  through 
which,  when  the  meal  is  com¬ 
pleted,  a  cord  is  drawn,  by 
means  of  which  the  whole  a£ 
fair  is  compressed  into  a  small 
compass, andhungupon  a  nail. 
Some  have  thought  that  this  is 
th e  pavilion  mentioned  injer. 
xliii.  10.  (See  Bread.) 

The  nearest  approach  te 
what  we  call  a  table  is  a  mere 
stool,  which  is  placed  in  the 


TAB 

centre  of  the  leather  we  have 
mentioned.  This  mi"ht  he 
intended  in  Judg.  i.  7.  Its  only 
use  is  to  hold  the  principal 
dish,  or  dishes.  There  have 
been  seen  among  the  Arabian 
nobles,  and  in  cities,  long  ta¬ 
bles.  These,  however,  were 
only  a  span  high,  and  not  a 
yard  wide,  and  were  entirely 
uncovered,  and  usually  held 
nothing  but  the  dishes.  More 
frequently  all  such  conve¬ 
niences  are  wanting,  and  the 
dishes  stand  on  the  leather. 

Instead  of  a  table  cloth,  there 
is  spread  round  the  leathern 
tray,  a  long  cloth,  or  two  such 
cloths,  of  a  dark  colour,  which 
prevent  the  soiling  of  the  car¬ 
pet,  Among  poorer  people 
there  is  nothing  of  the  kind, 
and  every  one  uses  his  hand¬ 
kerchief,  by  W'ay  of  napkin. 
Instead  of  plates,  there  are  set 
thin,  round  cakes,  of  a  coarse 
kind.  (See  Omar,  pp.  30,  31, 
by  Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

After  the  captivity,  raised 
tables  like  ours  became  com¬ 
mon,  and  the  Persian  practice 
of  reclining  on  couches  at 
meals  was  introduced.  (For 
the  manner  of  sitting,  see 
Seats,  Eat.) 

To  SERVE  TABLES.  (Acts  VI. 
2.)  This  expression  may  de¬ 
note  attention  to  the  pecuniary 
or  secular  affairs  of  the  church, 
(Matt.  xxi.  12,  and  xxv.  27,)  or 
it  may  relate  to  the  oversight 
of  the  distribution  of  the  cha¬ 
rity  of  the  church  for  the  relief 
of  the  poor. 

Writing  table.  (See  Book.) 

TABLET.  (See  Book.) 

TABOR,  mount.  (Judg.  iv. 
0.)  A  limestone  mountain 
which  rises  on  the  northern 
borderofthe  plain  of  Esdraelon, 
about  fifty  miles  north  of  Teru- 
salem,  and  six  from  Nazareth. 
Its  shape  resembles  a  cone 
with  the  point  struck  off,  the 
summit  presenting  a  level 
area  a  quarter  of  a  mile  in 
length,  and  the  eighth  of  a 


TAB 

mile  in  breadth.  This  area 
was  once  enclosed,  and  pro¬ 
bably  fortified,  as  there  are 
the  ruins  of  a  thick  wall  of 
solid  masonry  and  bastions  all 
around  the  circumference  of 
it,  and  the  foundations  of  pri¬ 
vate  dwellings  within.  The 
height  of  the  mount  is  va¬ 
riously  estimated  from  one 
thousand  feet  to  three  miles. 
By  some  the  estimate  is  made 
from  the  time  taken  to  ascend, 
and  by  others  from  the  actua 
measurement  of  the  circuitou 
path,  which  may  be  pursued 
on  horseback  even  to  the 
summit.  The  declivities  on 
every  side  are  covered  to 
the  very  top  with  verdure, 
and  clumps  of  trees,  (oaks, 
olives,  and  sycamores,)  inter¬ 
spersed  with  a  rich  variety  of 
plants  and  flowers.  The  view 
from  the  summit  of  Tabor  is 
described  by  all  travellers  in 
terms  of  the  highest  admira¬ 
tion.  It  overtops  all  the  neigh¬ 
bouring  hills.  (Jer,  xlvi.  18.) 
On  the  west  is  the  noble  ex¬ 
panse  of  the  Mediterranean. 
Beneath  are  spread  the  beau¬ 
tiful  Dlains  of  Esdraelon  and 
Galilee,  while  in  the  distance 
appear  Carmel,  and  the  heights 
of  Samaria  and  Gilboa.  East¬ 
ward,  thirty  miles  off,  is  the 
sea  of  Tiberias ;  and  north  are 
the  snow-covered  peaks  of 
Lebanon.  The  modern  name 
of  Tabor  is  djebel  Toor. 

On  this  mountain,  Barak 
encamped  with  ten  thousand 
of  the  men  of  Zebulon  and 
Naphtali,  on  the  eve  of  th 
battle  with  SJisera,  (Judg.  iv. 
6.  12.  14;)  and  here,  according 
to  tradition,  was  the  wonderful 
scene  of  the  transfiguration  of 
Christ.  (Matt,  xvii.l.) 

Mr.  King,  an  American  mis¬ 
sionary,  ascended  this  moun 
tain  in  the  autumn  of  1823,  and 
speaks  of  the  summit  as  “a 
lovely  spot,  and  one  on  which 
every  man,  even  if  without  any 
feelings  of  devotion,  would  love 


TAD 

to  linger.  It  resembles  the 
centre  of  one  immense  gar¬ 
den.”  The  woody  parts  of  the 
mountain  abound  in  some  spe¬ 
cies  of  wild  beasts,  and  have 
ever  been  a  resort  for  hunters 
and  fowlers.  (Hos.  v.  1.  For  a 
more  particulardescriptionand 
accurate  engraving  of  this  cele¬ 
brated  mountain,  see  Views  of 
Palestine,  p.  20;  see  also 
Evening  Recreations,  vol. 
ii.  pp.  13—18,  and  Elisama, 
pp.  143—145,  all  by  Am.  S.  S. 
Union.) 

TABRET,  (Gen.  xxxi.  27,) 
an  instrument  of  music  used 
in  the  east  at  the  present  day. 
and  called  (lift,  was  formed  anu 
played  like  the  modern  tam¬ 
bourine. 

TACHES  (Ex.  xxvi.  6.  11) 
were  hooks  or  clasps  of  gold 
and  copper,  used  in  connect¬ 
ing  the  curtains  of  the  taber¬ 
nacle. 

TACKLING.  (Isa.  xxxiii. 
23.  Acts  xxvii.  19.)  Strictly, 
in  the  former  passage,  it  is 
used  for  the  ropes  attached  to 
the  mast ;  in  the  latter,  it  is 
used  loosely,  and  imports  the 
sails,  cordage,  baggage,  and 
indeed  all  the  instruments  of 
sailing  except  the  anchors,  or 
what  was  indispensable  to  the 
preservation  of  the  ship. 

TADMOR,  (1  Kings  ix.  18,) 
signifying  palm  tree.  An  an¬ 
cient  city,  said  to  have  been 
founded  by  Solomon,  and  one 
of  the  finest  and  most  magnifi¬ 
cent  cities  of  the  world.  It  was 
situated  about  one  hundred 
miles  east  of  Damascus,  twenty 
west  of  the  Euphrates,  and  one 
hundred  and  twenty  from 
Aleppo,  on  a  kind  of  island, 
separated  from  the  habitable 
earth  by  an  ocean  of  barren 
sands.  Alexander  the  Great, 
who  conquered  it,  gave  it  the 
name  of  Palmyra,  or  the  city  of 
palms ,  because  of  its  position 
amid  palm  groves.  There  is 
extant  a  folio  volume  with  fifty 
pUtes,  illustrating  the  ruins 


I  AD 

of  this  ancient  city.  Its  deso¬ 
late  situation  in  the  midst  of  a 
vast  and  arid  plain ;  its  high 
antiquity,  and  its  almost  count¬ 
less  remains  of  architectural 
splendour,  claim  for  it  the  first 
attention  among  the  famous 
monuments  of  past  a»es.  At 
present,  it  may  be  said  to  con¬ 
sist  of  a  forest  of  Corinthian 
pillars,  erect  and  fallen.  So 
numerous  are  they,  that  the 
spectator  is  at  a  loss  to  reduce 
them  to  any  order,  or  to  con¬ 
ceive  for  what  purpose  they 
were  designed.  “  In  the  space 
covered  by  these  ruins,”  says 
a  celebrated  modern  traveller, 

“  we  sometimes  find  a  palace 
of  which  nothing  remains  but 
the  court  and  the  walls;  some¬ 
times,  a  temple  whose  peristyle 
is  half  thrown  down ;  and  then 
a  portico  or  gallery,  or  triumph¬ 
al  arc!..  Here  stood  groups  of 
columns  whose  symmetry  is 
destroyed  by  the  fall  of  some 
of  them ;  there  we  see  them 
ranged  in  rows  of  such  length, 
that  like  rows  of  trees  they  de¬ 
ceive  the  sight,  and  assume  the 
appearance  of  solid  walls.  And  • 
if  we  cast  our  eyes  on  the 
ground,  we  behold  nothing  but 
subvened  shafts,  some  above 
others  shattered  to  pieces,  or 
dislocated  in  their  joints.  And 
whichever  way  we  look,  the 
earth  is  strewed  with  vast 
stones  half  buried  with  broken 
entablatures,  mutilated  friezes, 
disfigured  relics,  effaced  sculp¬ 
tures,  violated  tombs,  and  al¬ 
tars  defiled  by  dust.”  Of  all 
the  ruins  those  of  the  temple 
of  the  sun  are  the  most'  mag¬ 
nificent. 

Situated  on  the  great  com¬ 
mercial  thoroughfare  between 
Syria  and  Mesopotamia,  it  is 
probable  that  Tadmor  was  a 
place  of  importance  long  be¬ 
fore  the  lime  of  Solomon,  and 
was  used  by  him  for  purposes 
of  commercial  enterprise.  It  is 
very  obvious  that  the  present 
ruins  belong  to  different  and 


TAR 

far  distant  ages.  The  place  is 
now  occupied  by  some  twenty 
or  thirty  huts,  or  hovels,  which 
afford  shelter  to  a  few  wild 

TAHAPANES,  (Jer.  ii.  16,) 
TEHAPHNEHES,(Ezek.xxx. 
18,)  TAHPANHES,  (Jer.  xliii. 
7.)  or  HANES.  (Isa.  xxx.  4.) 
These  several  names  were 
given  to  an  Egyptian  city, 
known  to  the  Greeks  as  Daph¬ 
ne,  not  far  from  Pelusium.  It 
seems  to  have  been  an  import¬ 
ant  place,  containing  a  palace 
of  the  king.  (Jer.  xliii.  9.)  Thi¬ 
ther  the  Jews  under  Johanan 
fled  from  the  Chaldeans,  after 
the  destruction  of  Jerusalem  j 
butwere  pursued  by  Nebuchad¬ 
nezzar,  king  of  Babylon,  who 
established  his  throne  there, 
in  accordance  with  Jeremiah’s 
prophecy.  Jeremiah  is  sup¬ 
posed  to  have  died  there. 

TABENT.  (See  Measures.) 

TALITHA  CUMI.  (Mark  v. 
41.)  A  phrase  in  the  Syrian- 
Chaldaic  language,  the  literal 
translation  of  whiph  is  given 
by  the  evangelist:  Damsel ,  (or 
maiden ,)  arise. 

TAMMUZ.  (Ezek.  viii.  14.) 
Probably  the  same  with  the 
Adonis  of  Grecian  mythology ; 
apagan  idol, the  rites  of  whose 
worship  were  in  the  highest  de¬ 
gree  obscene.  (See  Jealousy, 
idol  of.  Month.) 

TAPESTRY.  (Prov.  xxxi. 
a.)  Cloth  woven  or  wrought 
with  figures. 

TAPPUAH.  (Josh.  xv.  34.) 
'  There  were  evidently  two  ci¬ 
ties  of  this  name;  one  in  the 
-ow  country  of  Judah,  towards 
the  Mediterranean ;  the  other 
oelonging  to  Ephraim,  on  the 
oorder  of  Manasseh,  and  most 

frobably  the  En-tappuah  of 
osh.  xvii.  7. 

TARES.  (Matt.  xiii.  25.) 
This  term,  as  used  in  the  Bible, 
is  supposed  to  mean  the  darnel 
grass,  now  known  in  eastern 
countries.  Its  resemblance  to 
wheat  is  very  exact,  but  some 
51* 


TAR 

of  its  properties  are  highly  per¬ 
nicious.  Travellers  describe 
the  process  of  pulling  up  this 
grass,  and  separating  it  from 
the  genuine  grain,  and  their 
descriptions  perfectly  accord 
with  the  language  of  our  Sa¬ 
viour  in  the  parable.  Perhaps, 
however,  he  referred  to  any 
noxious  weed  which  is  suffered 
to  grow  with  the  grain  for  the 
sake  of  the  latter,  until  the 
time  of  harvest',  and  is  then 
sure  to  be  separated  and  cast 
away. 

TARGET.  (See  Armour.) 

TARSHISH,  (Isa.  xxiii.  1,) 
or  THARSHISH.  (1  Kings  x. 
22.)  It  is  supposed  that  some 
place  of  this  name  existed  on 
the  eastern  coast  of  Africa,  or 
among  the  southern  ports  of 
Asia,  with  which  the  ships  of 
Hiram  and  Solomon  traded  in 
gold,  and  silver,  ivory,  and 
apes,  and  peacocks.  (2  Chron. 
ix.  21.)  It  is  said  that  once  in 
every  three  years  these  ships 
completed  a  voyage,  and 
brought  home  their  merchan¬ 
dise.  Hence,  it  is  inferred,  the 
place  with  which  they  traded 
must  have  been  distant  from 
Judea ;  or  (what  may  be  con¬ 
firmed  by  the  variety  which 
was  imported)  that  after  visit¬ 
ing  Tarshish,  and  procuring 
what  it  furnished,  they  traded 
with  other  and  more  distant 
ports,  and  accomplished  the 
whole  in  three  years.  The 
more  rational  hypothesis  is, 
that  in  that  age  of  the  world,  in 
those  seas,  and  on  that  coast,  a 
voyage  of  three  years  would 
not  necessarily  imply  a  great 
distance  from  port  to  port. 
Ophir  was  perhaps  in  the  land 
of  Tarshish  ;  and  it  is  not  im¬ 
probable,  that  from  the  value 
of  its  productions,  and  the  ex¬ 
tent  of  its  commerce,  vessels 
trading  in  that  direction,  and 
always  touching  there,  would 
lie  called  ships  of  Tarshish. 
The  vessels  given  by  Hiram  to 
Solomon,  and  those  built  by 


TAR 

Jehoshaphat,  to  go  to  Tarshish, 
were  all  launched  at  Ezion- 
geber,  at  the  northern  extre¬ 
mity  of  the  eastern  gulf  of  the 
Red  Sea,  now  called  the  gulf 
of  Ahaba.  (2  Chron.  xx.  36.) 
The  trade  of  Ophir  and  Tar¬ 
shish,  wherever  these  places 
were  situated,  is  generally  ad¬ 
mitted  to  be  what  is  now  called 
the  East  India  trade. 

There  appears  also  to  have 
been  a  place  of  this  name 
somewhere  orf  the  Mediterra¬ 
nean,  to  which  Jonah  intended 
to  flee ;  perhaps  Tartessus,  of 
Spain.  (Jonah  i.  3 ;  iv.  2.)  Or 
we  may  suppose  this  name  to 
have  been  originally  applied 
to  Tartessus,  to  which  it  is  evi¬ 
dently  similar,  and  afterwards 
used  to  express  any  distant 
port.  (See  Ships,  Tarsus.) 

TARSUS,  (Acts  xxi.  39,)  the 
chief  town  of  the  ancient  Cili¬ 
cia,  and  the  birthplace  of  the 
apostle  Paul',  was  situated  on 
the  river  Cydnus,  about  six 
miles  from  its  mouth,  and  like 
Alexandria,  was  celebrated 
both  for  its  commerce  and  lite¬ 
rature.  When  Cilicia  became 
a  Roman  province,  Tarsus  re¬ 
ceived  from  the  emperor  Au¬ 
gustus  the  privileges  of  a  Ro- 
mancolony.  HencePaulspeaks 
of  himself  as  free-born,  and 
claims  the  immunities  of  a  Ro¬ 
man  citizen.  (Acts  xxii.  28.) 
The  privileges  of  this  city  made 
It  the  resort  of  many  wealthy 
and  learned  men,  and  was  the 
occasion  of  its  rising  to  great 
commercial  eminence,  and  to 
be  highly  distinguished  as  a 
seat  of  learning.  In  regard  to 
the  latter,  profane  historians 
say  that  in  philosophy  and  po¬ 
lite  learning,  the  schools  of 
Tarsus  even  excelled  those  of 
Athens  and  Alexandria.  Paul 
was  indebted  to  his  native  city 
not  only  for  his  privileges  of 
Roman  citizenship,  but  for  his 
literary  acquirements.  Tarsus 
was  a  very  ancient  town,  and, 
as  some  suppose,  derived  its 


TEE 

name  from  Tarshish,  one  of  the 
sons  of  Javan.  (Gen.  x.  4.)  It 
is  now  poor  and  dilapidated, 
though  it  has  a  population  of 
30,000,  and  some  commerce. 
Its  modern  name  is  Tortious. 

TAVERNS.  (See  Threb 
Ta  verns.) 

TEARS.  (Ps.lvi.  8.)  Allu¬ 
sion  is  supposed  to  be  made  in 
this  passage  to  an  ancient  cus 
tom,  which  was  preserved 
among  the  Romans,  of  collect 
ing  the  fallimr  tears  of  mourn¬ 
ers  at  funerals,  and  putting 
them  into  a  bottle,  or  urn,  call¬ 
ed  a  lacrymatory,  or  tear -bottle. 
These  vessels  were  afterwards 
fixed  upon  the  sepulchres  of 
the  dead,  thus  seeming  to_pre- 
serve  a  memorial  of  the  affec¬ 
tion  and  grief  of  the  survivors. 

TEBETH.  (See  Month.) 

TEETH.  (See  Tooth.) 

TEHAPHNEHES.  (See  Ta- 

HAPANES.) 

TEIL  TREE.  (Isa.  vi.  13.) 
Though  the  original  word  in 
this  passage  is  rendered  oak,  it 
is  generally  supposed,  from  the 
connexion,  that  the  lime,  or 
linden,  is  here  meant.  Perhaps 
two  different  species  of  the  oak 
may  be  intended. 

TEKEL.  (See  Mbne.) 

TEKOA,  (2  Chron.  xi.  G,)  or 
■TEKOAH.  (2  Sam.  xiv.  2.)  A 
city  of  Judah,  south-east  of  Je¬ 
rusalem,  and  a  few  miles  from 
Bethlehem.  It  was  probably 
founded  by  Ashur,  (1  Chron, 
ii.  2 ;  iv.  5,)  and  was  fortified 
by  Rehoboam.  (2  Chron.  xi.  6.) 
This  seems  to  have  been  a  spot 
resorted  to  by  herdsmen,  among 
whom  was  Amos  the  prophet. 
(Amos  i.  1.)  It  was  here  too 
that  Joab  obtained  a  woman  of 
peculiar  skill  and  address  to 
present  a  fictitious  case  to  Da 
vid,  in  order  to  force  from  him 
a  favourable  judgment  in  the 
parallel  case  of  Absalom.  Da- 
vid,  however,  detected  the  hand 
of  Joab  in  the  whole  device. 

Wilderness  of,  was  in  the 
same  region,  and  constituted 
606 


TEM 

part  of  the  wilderness  of  Judah. 
Here  Jehoshaphat  defeated  the 
Ammonites  and  Moabite3.  (2 
Citron,  xx.  20.) 

TELABIB.  (Ezek.  iii.  15.) 
A  town  on  the  river  Chebar, 
where  Ezekiel  and  many  of 
the  Jewish  exiles  dwelt.  Its 
site  is  supposed  to  be  occupied 
by  the  modern  Thelabar. 

TEMAN.  (Amos  i.  12.)  A 
city  of  Edom,  not  far  from 
Joktheel,  supposed  to  have 
neen  settled  by  Teman,  grand¬ 
son  of  Esau.  (Gen.  xxxvi.  11.) 
In  Hab.  iii.  3,  allusion  is  made, 
in  the  highest  grade  of  poetic 
imagery,  to  the  removal  of  the 
symbols  of  the  divine  presence 
from  the  land  of  Teman  and 
Paran  to  Sinai.  (Ex.  xix.  See 
Edom.) 

TEMPLE.  (1  Sam.i.9)  The 
sacred  edifice  erected  at  Jeru¬ 
salem  as  a  permanent  place  of 
worship  for  the  Jewish  church. 
In  its  general  form  it  resembled 
the  tabernacle,  for  which  it 
was  substituted,  and  it  was  the 
centre  of  the  same  great  system 
of  ceremonial  worship.  (See 
Tabernacle.)  The  temple 
was  built  on  mount  Moriah. 
(2  Chron.  iii.  1.)  This  was  one 
summit  of  a  range  of  hills,  the 
general  name  of  which  was 
mount  Zion.  (Ps.  cxxxii.  13, 
14.  See  Jerusalem.)  The  idea 
of  building  it  was  suggested  to 
the  mind  of  David,  (1  Chron. 
xvii.  1,)  and  became  a  subject 
of  his  lively  and  unceasing  in¬ 
terest.  He  collected  what  was 
equal  to  forty-eight  thousand 
tons  of  gold  and  silver,  or,  as 
some  nave  estimated  the 
amount,  Jg35,520,000,000,  (the 
lowest  estimates  give  one-fifth 
of  this  amount;)  besides  im¬ 
mense  quantities  of  brass, 
iron,  stone,  timber,  & c. ;  and 
he  secured  skilful  mecha¬ 
nics  and  artificers  for  every 
branch  of  the  work.  (1  Chron. 
xxii.  14;  xxix.  4.  7.)  He  also 
fiirnished  the  design,  plan,  and 
location  of  the  building,  in  all 


TEM 

which  he  was  divinely  in¬ 
structed.  (1  Chron.  xxi. ;  xxii.. 
xxviii.  11—19.)  He  was  not 
permitted,  however,  to  see  » 
single  step  taken  in  its  erec¬ 
tion.  (1  Kings  v.  3.)  The  su 
perintendence  of  the  buildinj 
was  committed  to  Solomon,  the 
son  and  successor  of  David, 
who  in  the  fourth  year  of  his 
reign  commenced  the  work. 
There  were  183,600  Jews  and 
strangers  employed  on  it ;  of 
Jews,  30,000,  by  rotation  10,000 
a  month;  ofCanaanites,  153,600, 
of  whom  70,000  were  bearers 
of  burdens,  80,000  were  hewers 
of  wood  and  stone,  and  3600 
overseers.  The  parts  were  all 
prepared  at  a  distance  from 
the  site  of  the  building,  and 
when  they  were  brought  toge¬ 
ther,  the  yvhole  immense  struc¬ 
ture  was  erected  without  the 
sound  of  hammer,  axe,  or  any 
tool  of  iron,  (1  Kings,  vi.  7,)  and 
at  the  end  of  seven  and  a  half 
years  it  stood  complete  in  all 
its  splendour,  the  glory  of  Jeru¬ 
salem, and  the  most  magnificent 
edifice  in  the  world. 

The  temple,  like  the  taber¬ 
nacle,  had  its  front  towards  the 
east.  The  porch,  or  portico,  ex¬ 
tended  across  the  whole  front, 
projecting  fifteen  feet  from  the 
main  building,  and  rising  to 
the  height  of  one  hundred  and 
eighty  feet.  Upon  the  sides 
and  rear  of  the  main  building 
was  an  additional  building  of 
three  stories,  each  nearly  eight 
feet  high.  This  structure  was 
about  naif  the  height  of  the 
temple,  and  though  buil  t  agai  nst 
the  walls,  was  not  fastened 
into  them.  (1  Kings  vi.  6.)  It 
was  divided  into  apartments 
like  chambers,  which  opened 
into  the  gallery  that  surrounded 
it.  There  was  a  flight  of  stairs 
on  the  south  side  which  led 
into  the  second  story  and  an¬ 
other  leading  from  the  second  to 
the  third.  (1  Kings  vi.  8.)  The 
whole  building  and  its  envi- 
rons  were  entered  by  two  couita 


,TEM  TEM 

The  subjoined  engraving  re-  I  ous  courts,  as  described  by  Jew 
presents  ihe  temple  and  itsvari-  |  ish  historians  and  antiquaries. 


West. 


East. 


TEM 

A  The  outer  wall. 

B  The  gates  in  the  outer  wall. 

0  The  gate  Shushan,  which  is  called  the 
gate  of  the  king.  (I  Chron.  ix.  18.) 

D  Gate  of  Huldah. 

E  Another  gate  of  the  same  name. 

F  The  gate  Tedi. 

G  Solomon’s  porch.  (John  x.  23.) 

H  Court  of  the  Gentiles. 

I  The  enclosure,  or  outer  verge  of  the 
court,  within  which  none  but  Jews 
might  come,  called  the  outer  court, 
or  court  of  the  women. 

K  The  temple  itself. 

L  The  foundation  of  the  temple. 

M  The  flight  of  steps  to  the  temple. 

N  The  columns  called  Jachin  and 
Boaz. 


TEM 

P  The  vestibule,  or  porch  of  th  «  temple* 

Q  The  holy  place. 

R  The  most  holy  place. 

S  A  court  on  eacti  side  of  the  temple, 
which  separated  the  people  from 
the  court  of  the  priests. 

V  The  brazen  laver. 

W  Ten  brazen  vessels,  five  on  each  side, 
(1  Kings  vii.  38,  39,)  where  the  sa¬ 
crifices  were  washed  before  they 
were  brought  to  the  altar. 

X  The  great  altar  of  burnt-offerings. 

Y  Twenty-four  rings,  to  which  the  ani¬ 

mals  were  fastened  that  were  de¬ 
signed  for  sacrifice. 

Z  Eight  marble  tables,  on  which  the 
slain  animals  were  laid  to  be  pre¬ 
pared  for  the  altar. 


a  Eight  small  marble  columns, on  which 
the  slain  animals  were  suspended. 

SGazith,  the  room  or  court  where  the 
great  sanhedrim  or  Jewish  court 
held  its  sessions. 

C  Another  part  of  the  same  court,  where 
the  priests’  courses  were  distributed 
by  lot. 

d  The  place  where  was  distributed  all 
the  wood  required  for  the  use  of 
the  temple.  '  * 

e  The  court  or  chamber  of  the  wheels, 
where  the  water  for  the  officers  ot 
the  temple  to  drink  was  drawn  up 
by  means  of  a  wheel. 

/The  gate  of  burnt-offering,  through 
which  the  wood  was  brought. 

g  The  gate  of  firstlings,  through  which 
thf  firstlings  were  brought  to  be  of¬ 
fered  up. 

h  The  water  gate. 

i  Barriers  to  prevent  the  overlooking  of 
the  temple. 

t  Theki*chen,in  whichthat  portion  of  the 
sacrifices  which  were  designed  for 
the  priests  was  prepared  for  their  use. 

I  The  court  of  the  lambs,  where  eight 
lambs  were  kept  for  the  daily  sacri- 

m  The  court  of  fire,  where  firo  was 
constantly  preserved. 


1  The  court  of  the  Israelites. 
f  The  throne  of  Solomon.  (2  Chron.  Vi.. 
13.) 

8  The  place  where  the  half  shekel  tax 

was  received.  (Ex.  xxx.  13.) 

4  Th?  outer  court  of  the  women. 

5  The  gate  of  Nicanor,  called  the  higher 

gate,  (2  Kings  xv.  35.)  and  the  new 
gate.  (Jer.  xxxvi.  10.) 

6  A  court  for  the  feast  of  tabernacles. 

7  Pulpit  of  the  high-priest,  from  which 

a  part  of  the  law  was  read  at  the 
feast  of  propitiation. 

6  The  great  golden  candlesticks. 

9  Places  between  the  columns  for  receiv¬ 

ing  gifts. 

1 0  The  court  of  the  Nazaritcs. 


n  The  court  of  she w-b read,  where  the 
shew- bread  was  prepared  in  the 
evening  before  the  Sabbath, 
o  The  court  in  which  was  distributed 
oil  or  wine  for  the  sacrifices. 
p  The  fire  gate,  leading  to  the  place 
where  the  guards  of  the  priests 
were,  and  where  was  a  fire  for  the 
priests’  use. 

q  The  gate  of  sacrifices,  through  which 
the  sacrifices  were  carried  into  the 
inner  court. 

r  The  gate  of  the  singers,  near  to  the 
singing  Levites. 

t  The  washing  gate,  where  the  sacrifice* 
were  washed  preparatory  to  being 
taken  to  the  altar. 

t  Parbar,  or  court  ga*e,  where  the  skina 
of  animals  wer£  taken  off  and  Kilted, 
u  The  chamber  of  salt, 
to  The  court  of  the  priests,  twenty-five 
feet  wide  anu  two  hundred  and  sixty 
long. 

*  Two  tables,  one  of  silver  and  the  other 
of  marble,  near  the  altar  of  burnt- 
offering,  containing  ninety-three 
golden  vessels. 

y  Ash  vessels,  designed  to  receive  the 
ashes  of  the  consumed  sacrifices. 
z  A  cistern  of  water. 


J  11  The  court  of  wood,  where  wood  was 

>  selected  for  the  burnt-offerings. 

|  12  The  court  where  the  lepers  showed 
j  themselves  to  the  priests  before  of* 

«  fering  their  sacrifices. 

<  13  The  court  where  oil  and  wine  wer- 
1  deposited  for  the  daily  sacrifice* 

5  and  for  the  lamps.  (Ex.  xxvii.  20.) 

\  14  Synagogue  where  <  le  law  was  ex 

>  plained  on  the  Sabbath  and  fea* 

\  days. 

\  15  The  beautiful  gate  of  the  temple. 

16  The  flight  of  steps  on  which  the  Le¬ 
vites  stood  and  sung  the  fifteep 
psalms,  from  cxx.  to  cxxxiv.  in¬ 
clusive,  at  the  feast  of  tabernacles. 
1"  Openings  for  the  passage  of  6moke. 


TEM 

The  inner  court,  cal’ed  the 
court  before  the  temple,  or  the 
court  of  the  priests,  correspond¬ 
ed  generally  with  the  court  of 
the  tabernacle,  as  did  also  the 
sacred  apartments,  furniture, 
and  utensils. 

The  temple  of  Solomon  stood 
altogether  four  hundred  and 
twenty-four  years ;  but  in  the 
short  space  of  thirty  years  after 
its  completion,  it  was  plunder¬ 
ed  by  Shishak,  king  of  Egypt. 
(1  Kings  xiv.  25, 26.)  After  this 
it  was  frequently  profaned  and 
pillaged,  and  was  at  last  broken 
Sown  and  destroyed  by  the 
king  of  Babylon,  b.  c.  588,  and 
the  nation  itself  carried  into 
captivity.  In  fifty-two  years 
after  these  events,  a  number 
of  the  Jews  returned,  and  the 
rebuilding  of  the  temple  was 
commenced  under  the  superin¬ 
tendence  of  Zerubbabel,  the 
Jewish  governor,  and  Jeshua, 
or  Joshua,  the  high-prieBt. 
They  were  permitted  and  en¬ 
couraged  to  undertake  it  by 
Cyrus,  the  Persian  emperor,  to 
whom  Judea  had  now  become 
tributary.  (Isa.  xliv.28;  xlv.13.) 
Much  interruption  and  delay 
attended  the  enterprise,  of 
which  we  have  a  full  account 
in  the  book  of  Ezra.  It  was 
completed,  however,  and  dedi¬ 
cated  b.  c.  515,  or  about  seven¬ 
ty-three  years  after  the  destruc¬ 
tion  of  it ;  and  though  inferior 
in  many  respects  to  the  first 
temple,  having  no  ark,  no  mer¬ 
cy-seat,  no  visible  revelation 
of  the  divine  glory,  no  sacred 
fire,  no  urim  and  thummim, 
end  no  spirit  of  prophecy,  (Ezra 
iii.  12,  13 ;)  still  it  was  in 
breadth  and  height  twice  the 
size  of  Solomon’s.  It  furnished 
a  fixed  place  of  worship  for  the 
nation,  and  ultimately  became 
the  theatre  of  far  more  glorious 
illustrations  of  the  divine  glory 
than  the  first  temple  ever  wit¬ 
nessed.  (Hag.  ii.  6 — 9.  Mai. 
iii.  1.  Col.  ii.“8.  1  Tim.  iii.  16.) 

The  temple  of  Zerubbabel  had 


TEM 

stood  neariy  fivehundred  years, 
and  was  much  decayed,  when 
Herod  the  Great,  with  a  view 
to  secure  the  favour  of  the 
Jews,  and"  obtain  to  himself  a 
reat  name,  undertook  to  re- 
ruild  it ;  so  that  it  was  not  a 
new  edifice,  strictly  speaking 
but  rather  a  complete  repair  of 
the  second  temple.  He  began 
the  work  only  seventeen  years 
before  the  birth  of  Christ,  and 
completed  the  main  building 
in  less  than  ten  years,  so  that 
it  was  fit  for  the  service.  The 
whole  work  occupied  forty-six 
years.  (John  ii.  20.)  We  shall 
describe  it  as  it  stood  in  the 
days  of  our  Saviour. 

The  outer  wall,  which  en¬ 
closed  the  buildings,  was  about 
one-eighth  of  a  mile  square, 
and  nearly  forty  feet  above  the 
summit  of  the  mount.  This 
wall  was  built  up  from  the  val¬ 
ley  beneath,  and  was  in  some 
places  from  six  hundred  to  se¬ 
ven  hundred  feet  high.  It  is 
supposed  to  have  been  from 
this  height  (or  pinnacle )  that 
our  Saviour  was  urged  to  cast 
himself.  (Matt.  iv.  5 — 7.)  In 
these  walls  were  seven  mas¬ 
sive  and  costly  gates,  each  fif¬ 
teen  feet  wide,  and  thirty  feet 
high.  These  were  in  addition 
to  the  beautiful  gate,  (Acts  iii. 
2,)  which  was  on  the  east  side, 
and  was  called  beautiful  be¬ 
cause  it  was  of  the  finest  brass, 
(copper,)  seventy -five  feet  in 
height,  highly  polished,  and 
richly  adorned.  Between  the 
gates,  along  the  inside  of  the 
wall,  were  piazzas  supported 
partly  by  the  wall  itself,  and 
partly  by  a  double  row  of  co¬ 
lumns,  except  on  the  south 
side,  where  were  three  rows  of 
columns.  The  porch  on  the 
east  side  was  called  Solomon’s. 
(John  x.  23,)  because  he  built 
it,  or  at  least  the  stupendous 
wall  on  which  it  rested.  All 
within  the  area  which  these 
walls  enclosed  was  called  the 
temple. 


610 


TEM 

The  larger  part  of  the  area 
was  vacant  ground,  completely 
paved  with  marble,  and  was 
distinguished  as  the  court  <ff 
the  Gentiles ,  because  all  classes 
of  persons  might  enter  it.  But 
beyond  the  wall  which  sepa¬ 
rated  this  from  the  next  court 
no  uncircumcised  person  was 
permitted  to  pass.  A  prohibi¬ 
tion  to  that  effect  was  inscribed 
upon  the  gate-post.  (Eph.  n. 
13, 14.)  Around  this  outer  court 
the  stock  for  the  supply  of  the 
temple  service  was  kept,  and 
the  money-changers  nad  their 
places  of  business.  The  second 
court  was  enclosed  by  a  wall. 

It  was  called  the  new  court, 
Caron,  xx.  5,)  the  outer  court, 
(Ezek.  xlvi.  21,)  or  court  of  the 
women,  because  women  were 
not  allowed  to  go  beyond  it  to¬ 
ward  the  sanctuary,  unless 
when  they  brought  a  sacrifice. 
In  this  court  men  and  women 
performed  their  ordinary  wor¬ 
ship  unaccompanied  with  sa¬ 
crifices.  (Lukexvni.lO-lA 

Acts  in.  1 ;  xxi.  26—30  )  Here 
also  was  the  treasury,  (Mark 
xii.  41,)  where  the  gifts  for  the 
service  of  the  temple  were  de¬ 
posited  in  small  chests  or  cof¬ 
fers,  fixed  in  the  surrounding 
wall ;  and  this  was  the  place 
where  some  of  our  Saviours 
most  Impressive  discourses 
were  delivered.  (John  vm.  20.) 

The  next  court  towards  the 
sanctuary  was  thecourl  </is- 
rael.  The  outer  half  of  this 
court  was  entered  by  common 
Israelites  to  attend  on  Particu¬ 
lar  services  of  religion ;  but  the 
inner  half,  next  to  the  sanctu¬ 
ary,  was  called  the  court  of  the 
priests,  and  they  were  sepa¬ 
rated  from  each  other  by  a  low 
railing.  Our  Saviour,  being 
of  the  tribe  of  Judah,  had  no 
privileges  in  the  temple  above 
any  other  Israelite.  Hence 
whatever  he  is  said  to  have 
done  in  the  temple  must  be 
intended  of  the  courts  of  the 
temple. 


TEM 

Within  the  court  of  the 
priests  stood  the  altar  of  burnt - 
offering  and  the  brazen  later. 

i  _ _ _  Tosoplitornnlf 


offering  and  the  brazen  laver, 
and  not  even  an  Israelite  could 
on  any  condition  pass  the  rail¬ 
ing  that  enclosed  them,  unless 
when  he  came  to  offer  his  sa¬ 
crifice  before  the  altar. 

Next  came  the  sanctuary, 
the  materials  of  which  were 
beautiful  and  costly  beyond  de¬ 
scription.  (Mark  xm.  1.)  I  ha  . 
porch  extended  one  hundred 
and  fifty  feet  across  me  front 
of  the  main  building.  It  was 
thirty  feet  wide,  and  rose  at 
the  highest  elevation  to  nearly 
one  hundred  and  eighty  feet. 
The  entrance  to  this  porch  was 
one  hundred  and  thirty -five 
feet  by  thirty-seven.  It  had  no 
door.  The  sanctuary  itself  was 
ninety  feet  high,  ninety  feet 
long,  and  thirty  feet  wide. 
Around  it,  except  in  front,  was 
a  structure  of  three  stories  high, 
like  that  attached  to  the  first 
temple  as  before  described. 
The  sanctuary  had  two  apart¬ 
ments,  separated  from  each 
other  by  a  curtain  or  veil , 
(Matt,  xxvii.  51,)  viz.  the  holy 
place,  which  occupied  sixty 
ibet  of  the  whole  length,  and 
in  which  were  the  altar  of  in¬ 
cense,  the  golden  candlestick, 
and  the  table  of  shew-bread ; 
and  the  most  holy  place,  which 
measured  thirty  feet  every  way. 
It  is  worthy  of  remark,  that  in 
our  translation  of  the  Bible, 
when  these  apartments  are 
mentioned  by  these  term9,  the 
word  place  is  generally,  if  not 
always,  supplied  by  the  trans¬ 
lators.  *  ,  , 

This  temple  was  razed  to 
its  foundation  by  the  Romans, 
x.  n.  70-71,  and  the  site  it 
was  made  like  a  ploughed  field. 

(Jer.  xxvi.  18-  .MattS  xxiv.  2;) 
It  is  now  occupied  by;  a  Turk 
ish  mosque,  which  neJ^er  Jew 
nor  Christian  was  until  lately 
permitted  to  enter. 

The  veneration  with  wnicft 
I  the  temple  was  regarded  by  tne 
oil 


TEN 


Jews  appears  from  the  manner 
in  which  they  treated  any  sup¬ 
posed  disrespectful  allusion  to 
it.  (BTatt.  xxvi.  61.  John  ii.  19, 
20.  Acts  xxi.  28,  29 ;  xxiv.  6; 
xxv.  8.  See  Jerusalem.  For 
a  full  account  of  the  temple, 
and  its  imposing  services,  see 
Selumiel,  ch.  iv.,  Scripture 
Illustrations,  part  ii.,  Elisa- 
ma,  ch.  viii. — x.,  and  Biblical 
Antiuuities,  vol.  ii.  ch.  iii.— 
v.,  all  by  Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

TEMPT.  (Matt.  xxii.  18,) 
TEMPTATION.  (Lukeiv.I3.) 


These  words  are  used  in  va¬ 
rious  senses  by  the  sacred  writ¬ 
ers.  The  ordinary  import  of 
them  is  allurement  or  entice¬ 
ment  to  sin.  Hence  our  great 
adversary  the  devil  is  called 
the  tempter.  (Matt.  iv.  3.) 
These  words  sometimes  denote 
the  trial  of  a  person’s  faith  or 
obedience,  (Gen.  xxii.  1.  James 
i.  2,  3,)  or  the  trial  of  God’s 
patience  and  forbearance,  (Ex. 
xvii.  2.  1  Cor.  x.  9 ;)  but  gene¬ 
rally  they  siguify  that  which 
persuades  to  sin.  The  prayer 
lead  us  not  into  temptation 
(Matt.  vi.  13)  does  not  imply 
that  God  leads  us  into  tempta¬ 
tion,  (James  i.  13,  14,)  but  it  is 
a  prayer  that  we  may  not  be 
suffered  to  fall  into  temptation. 
When  it  is  said  that  the  law¬ 
yer  and  others  tempted  our 
Saviour,  (Malt.  xvi.  1;  xix.  3. 
Mark  x.  2.  Luke  x.  25,)  it  is 
meant  that  they  tried  to  en¬ 
snare  him,  or  lead  him  into 
the  commission  of  some  offence. 
(See  th  is  subject  plainly  treated 
in  the  House  op  Refuge,  ch. 
v.  and  vi.,  by  Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

TENT.  (See  Dwellings. 
See  also  Bedouin  Arabs, ch.  v. 
and  viii.,  by  Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

Tent-maker.  (Acts  xviii, 
3.)  This  is  said  to  have  been 
Paul’s  trade;  but  it  is  supposed 
to  refer  to  the  manufacture  of 
tent-cloth  rather  than  to  the 
preparing  of  tents.  Some  sup¬ 
pose  that  he  made  military 


TES 

tents,  the  material  of  which 
was  goat  skins. 

TENTH  DEAL.  (See  Mea¬ 
sures.) 

TERAH.  (Gen.  xi.  31,32.) 
The  father  of  Abraham,  who 
accompanied  him  to  Haran,  in 
Mesopotamia,  where  he  died 
at  the  age  of  two  hundred  and 
five,  Abraham  being  then  se¬ 
venty-five  years  of  age. 

TERAPHIM.  (Judg.xvii.5.) 
From  comparing  Gen.  xxxi.  19. 
30,  it  would  seem  tnat  this  word 
sometimes  denoteB  household, 
idol  gods  or  images.  Perhaps 
it  was  also  applie’d  to  the  forms 
or  instruments  of  astrology, 
and  so  might  be  found  in  pos¬ 
session  of  those  who  w  ere  not 
idolaters.  As  it  is  used  by  ihe 
prophet  in  relation  to  the  state 
of  the  Jews,  (Hos.  iii.  4,)  it  pro¬ 
bably  means  that  thatunhappy 
nation  should  be  without  any 
god,  true  or  false;  not  only 
without  sacrifice  and  ephod 
which  belonged  to  their  reli¬ 
gious  system,  but  also  without 
images  and  leraphim,  which 
were  parts  of  their  idolatry. 

TEKTULLUS.  (Acts  xxiv. 
1.)  Probably  a  Roman  lawyer, 
who  acted  as  prosecutor  in  the 
case  of  Paul  before  Felix.  The 
Jews,  being  ignorant  of  the  Ro¬ 
man  forms  of  law,  &c.,  would 
naturally  employ  a  person  ac¬ 
quainted  with  them  to  manage 
their  causes. 

TESTAMENT.  (Heb.  ix. 
15.)  The  word  testament, 
when  applied  toour  Scriptures, 
(as  the  Old  and  New  Testa¬ 
ment, )is  used  in  the  same  sense 
with  covenant.  The  old  cove¬ 
nant  is  spoken  of  in  Ex.  xxiv.  8, 
and  the  new  in  Matt.  xxvi.  26. 
The  former  was  ratified  by  the 
blood  of  sacrifices,  and  the  lat¬ 
ter  (of  which  the  other  was  a 
type)  was  ratified  by  the  blood 
of  Christ. 

According  to  some  critics.the 
word  testament  is  also  used  by 
the  sacred  writers,  as  it  is  in 
612 


THA 

modern  times,  to  signify  the  in¬ 
strument  by  which  a  man  di¬ 
rects  what  disposition  shall  be 
made  of  his  property  after  his 
death.  (Heb.  ix.  16  )  It  is  well 
known  that  such  an  instrument 
takes  effect  only  at  the  death 
of  the  testator,  (or  he  who  makes 
the  testament.)  Hence  the  apos¬ 
tle, inallusion  to  this  fact,  says 
in  substance,  that  the  death  of 
Christ  has  the  same  eifect  on 
the  covenant  of  redemption, 
which  is  the  new  testament, 
as  the  death  of  the  testator  has 
on  his  last  will  and  testament, 
viz.  gives  it  force  and  validity. 
Others,  however,  have  sup- 
fiosed  that  the  apostle  refers  to 
the  ancient  custom  of  confirm¬ 
ing  covenants  by  sacrifices, 
(Gen.  xv.  8,  9.)  in  reference  to 
which  it  is  true  that  a  covenant 
was  of"  no  force  so  long  as  the 
victim  by  whose  death  it  was 
to  be  confirmed  was  living. 

TESTIMONY,  TESTIMO¬ 
NIES.  (Ps.  cxix.88.99.)  These 
terms  sometimes  denote  the 
whole  revelation  of  God’s  will, 
t’hey  frequently  occur  in  this 
senseintheabovePsalm.  They 
also  refer  to  the  tables  of  stone, 
which  were  part  of  the  cove¬ 
nant  between  God  and  the 
people  of  Israel,  (Ex.  xxv.  16 ;) 
and  hence  the  ark  in  which 
they  were  deposited  is  called 
the  ark  of  the  testimony  .  (Ex. 
xxv.  22.  See  Ark.)  The  gos¬ 
pel  is  also  called  the  testimony 
in  1  Cor.  i.  6.  Rev.  i.  2,  and 
elsewhere.  (See  Witness.) 

TETRARCH.  (Matt.  xiv.  1.) 
This  title  was  given  to  a  sove¬ 
reign  prince,  and  strictly  de¬ 
notes  one  who  governs  the 
fourth  part  of  a  province  or 
kingdom.  In  our  Scriptures, 
however,  it  is  applied  to  any 
one  who  governed  a  province 
of  the  Roman  empire,  what¬ 
ever  portion  of  the  territory 
might  be  within  his  jurisdic¬ 
tion.  The  tetrarch  had  the 
title  of  king.  (Matt.  xiv.  9.) 

THADDEUS.  (See  Jude.) 
S3 


THE 

THAMMUZ.  (See  Tam 

MUZ.) 

THANK-OFFERING.  (See 
Offerings.) 

THARSHISH.  (See  Tar- 

SHISH.) 

THEATRE.  (Acts  xix.  29. 
31.)  A  place  of  public  amuse¬ 
ment,  where  popular  assem¬ 
blies,  courts,  elections,  &c., 
were  often  held. 

THEBEZ.  (Jude.  ix.  50) 
A  city  north-east  of  Shechem, 
within  the  territory  of  Ephra¬ 
im,  celebrated  as  the  plac 
where  Abimelech  was  slain 
(See  Abimei.ech.) 

THEOPHILUS.  (Luke  i.  3.) 
A  distinguished  individual, 
probably  of  Greece  or  Koine, 
to  whpm,  as  his  particular 
friend  or  patron,  Luke  address¬ 
ed  both  his  gospel  and  his  his¬ 
tory  of  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles. 
The  title  most  excellent  pro¬ 
bably  denotes  official  dignity. 
(Acts  xxiii.  26;  xxiv.  3,  and 
xxvi.  25.) 

THESSALONICA.  (Acts 
xxvii.  2.)  The  capital  of  one- 
of  the  pretorial  districts  of  Ma¬ 
cedonia.  It  is  now  called  Sa- 
loniki,  and  is  situated  in  Eu¬ 
ropean  Turkey,  at  the  northern 
extremity  of  the  gulf  of  Salo- 
niki,  (formerly  the  Thermal* 
gulf,)  two  hundred  and  seven- 
tv-two  miles  west  of  Constan¬ 
tinople;  and,  of  the  towns  of 
European  Turkey,  is,  in  point 
of  commerce,  second  only  to 
that  city.  Its  population  is 
estimated  at  70,000,  of  whom 
30,000  to  35,000  are  Turks, 
10,000  or  12,000  Greeks,  20,000 
to  30,000  Jews,  and  a  few  hun 
tired  Franks.  The  Jews  are 
the  principal  business  men. 
The  ancient  walls  are  nearly 
entire,  and  are  five  or  six  miles 
in  circuit.  The  Greeks  have 
twenty-six  churches,  eighteen 
of  which  are  spacious;  and  the 
Jews  have  seventy-six  syna¬ 
gogues,  thirty-six  of  which  are 
small,  and  connected  with  - 
private  dwellings. 


THI 

Messrs.  Dwight  and  Schauf- 
fler,  American  missionaries, 
visited  Thessalonica  in  the 
spring  of  1834  They  speak 
ef  the  Jews  as  in  a  miserable 
condition,  and  as  having  fully 
preserved  the  spirit  of  their 
forefathers  respecting  Chris¬ 
tianity.  (Acts  xvii.  5.)  Paul 
and  his  associates,  Timotheus 
and  Silas,  (1  Thess.  i.  1 ;  ii.  1, 
2,)  planted  a  church  here  about 
the  year  a.  d.  52;  and  Aris¬ 
tarchus  and  Secundus  were 
among  the  converts  to  the 
faith.  (Acts  xx.  4,  and  xxvii. 
2.)  Two  of  his  letters  are  ad¬ 
dressed  to  the  disciples  of 
-Christ  in  this  city. 

THESSALONIANS,  epis- 
■tles  to.  These  constitute  the 
i thirteenth  and  fourteenth  in 
order  of  the  books  of  the  New 
Testament.  They  were  writ¬ 
ten  by  the  apostle  Paul  to  the 
-church  of  the  Thessalonians. 
<See  Thessalonica.)  The 
first  epistle  was  probably  writ¬ 
ten  near  the  close  of  A.  D.  52 
-or  beginning  of  53;  and  its  de- 
.sign  is  to  establ  ish  the  follow¬ 
ers  of  Christ  there  in  all  those 
graces  for  which  they  were 
so  conspicuous,  and  encourage 
them,  by  the  most  affectionate 
and  pointed  exhortations,  in 
seeking  for  higher  attainments 
and  richer  consolations  in  the 
divine  life.  The  fourth  chap¬ 
ter  is  remarkable  Tor  the  dis¬ 
tinctness  with  which  it  reveals 
the  order  of  the  general  resur¬ 
rection. 

The  second  epistle  was  writ¬ 
ten  soon  after  the  first,  and 
seems  to  have  been  designed 
to  correct  some  misapprehen- 
sions  which  had  occurred  re¬ 
specting  the  first ;  and,  at  the 
same  time,  still  farthor  to  esta¬ 
blish  and  encourage  them  in 
the  works  of  faith  and  labours 
of  love.  The  second  chapter 
contains  a  very  full  prophecy 
respecting  the  revelation  of 
.antichrist.' 

THIGH.  (Gen.xxiv.2.)  The 


THI 

practice  o  nutting  the  hand 
under  the  thigh  might  denote 
the  obedience  or  subjection  of 
the  individual,  or  it  might  be 
connected  with  the  rite  of  cir¬ 
cumcision  as  a  token  of  God’s 
faithfulness.  The  inscription 
upon  the  thigh  (Rev.  xix.  16) 
alludes  to  the  custom  of  in¬ 
scribing  the  names  and  deeds 
of  conquerors  on  their  garments 
and  weapons.  The  name 
might  be  inscribed  on  the 
sword,  which  was  girded  on 
the  thigh,  or  on  that  part  of 
the  dress  which  covered  the 
thigh.  Jacob’s  thigh  was  smit¬ 
ten  by  the  angel, '(Gen.  xxxii. 
25,)  to  show  that  he  had  super¬ 
natural  power,  and  that  he 
yielded  in  mercy,  and  not  from 
necessity.  (See  Jacob,  Un¬ 
cover.) 

.  THISTLES  AND  THORNS. 
(Gen.  iii.  18.)  These  terms 
are  generally  connected  in  the 
Scriptures,  and  probably  often 
denote  any  kind  of  useless  or 
noxious  plants  that  grow  spon¬ 
taneously,  to  the  annoyance 
of  the  husbandman,  and  this 
great  injury  of  his  crops.  The 
figurative  use  of  these  terms 
denotes  desolation,  (Prov.  xxiv. 
31.  Isa.v.G.  Hos.ii. 6;  ix.6;  x. 
8;)  the  visitations  of  Provi¬ 
dence,  (Num.  xxxiii.  55.  Judg. 
ii.  3.  2  Cor.  xii.  7 ;)  difficulties 
and  hinderances.(Prov.xv.l9;) 
and  troubles.  (Prov.  xxii.  5.) 

The  crowning  with  thorns 
(Matt,  xxvii.  29)  was  probably 
the  wanton  invention  of  the 
Roman  soldiery,  and  made  na 
part  of  the  established  punish¬ 
ment.  We  are  not  certain 
as  to  the  kind  of  thorns  used; 
some  suppose  the  white  thorn, 
which  grows  in  abundance 
neat.  Jerusalem;  some  the 
acacia,  and  others  the  acan¬ 
thus,  which  blossoms  in  March. 
The  object  of  the  soldiers  was 
to  ridicule  the  idea  of  Christ 
being  a  king,  and  also  to  aggra¬ 
vate  his  sufferings. 

The  passage  (Hos.  ii.  6)  above 

614 


l'HR 

cited  is  forcibly  illustrated  by  : 
the  remark  of  a  modern  tra¬ 
veller  in  Judea.  “As  we  rode 
through  Riphah,  we  perceived 
it  to  be  a  settlement  of  about 
fifty  dwellings,  all  very  mean 
in  their  appearance,  and  every 
one  fenced  in  front  with  thoru- 
imshes,  while  a  barrier  of  the 
same  kind  encircled  the  whole 
of  the  town.  This  was  one 
of  the  most  effectual  defences 
which  they  could  have  raised 
against  the  incursions  of  horse 
Arabs,  the  only  enemies  whom 
they  have  to  dread,  as  neither 
will  the  horse  approach  to 
entangle  himself  in  these 
thickets  of  brier,  nor  could  the 
rider,  even  if  he  dismounted, 
get  over  them,  or  remove  them 
to  clear  a  passage,  without 
assistance  from  some  one 
within.” 

THOMAS,  (John  xx.  24,) 
one  of  the  twelve  apostles,  was 
also  called  Didymas,  {the 
twin.)  We  know  little  of  his 
history.  He  seems  to  have 
been  of  singular  temperament. 
(John  xi.  l6;  xiv.  5;  xx.  20— 
29.)  It  is  supposed  he  was 
actively  engaged  in  propa¬ 
gating  the  gospel,  and  suffered 
martyrdom. 

THORNS.  (See  Thistles.) 

THREE  TAVERNS.  (Acts 
rxviii.  15.)  A  place  so  called, 
perhaps, from  thecircumstance 
that  three  houses  of  public  en¬ 
tertainment  were  established 
there.  It  was  about  thirty-three 
miles  from  Rome ;  and  Paul 
f  was  met  at  that  place,  when 
on  his  way  to  Rome  as  a  pri¬ 
soner,  by  some  brethren  from 
that  city,  who  had  heard  of  his 
approach. 

THRESH,  (Isa.  xli.  15,) 
THRESHING  FLOOR.  (Gen. 
1.10.)  The  ancient  threshing- 
floors  were  selected  on  the 
highest  summits,  open  on  every 
side  to  the  wind.  Though 
called  floors,  they  were  an¬ 
ciently  nothing  but  plats  of 
*  ground,  levelled  and  rolled, 


THR 

so  as  to  be  'as  hard  as  a  floor. 
The  sheaves  were  thrown  to¬ 
gether  in  a  loose  heap,  and  the 
grain  beaten  out  by  a  machine, 
or  by  the  feet  of  oxen.  'Deut. 
xxv.  4.)  The  threshing  ma¬ 
chine  was  formed  of  a  n,eavy 
square  frame,  with  rollers,  each 
of  which  was  encircled  by 
three  or  four  iron  rings  or 
wheels,  serrated  like  the  teeth 
of  a  saw.  (Isai  xli.  15,16.)  The 
machine  was  drawn  by  a  pair 
of  oxen,  the  driver  sitting  on 
a  cross-piece  fastened  into  th 
frame;  and  as  the  heavy  roll¬ 
ers  passed  over  it,  the  grain 
was  crushed  out  on  every  side. 
Sometimes  this  frame  was  so 
constructed  as  to  resemble  a 
cart,  (Isa.  xxviii.  27,  28,)  and 
furnishes  a  striking  figure  of 
violence  and  destruction.  (A- 
mos  i.  3.  ■  Hab.  iii.  12.)  After 
the  grain  was  threshed  and 
winnowed,  (see  Fan,)  the  chaff 
and  fine  straw  were  collected 
on  a  neighbouring  hill  and 
burned.  (Isa.  v. 24.  Matt,  iii- 12.) 

In  Isa.  xli.  15,  a  new  sharp 
threshing  instrument  having 
teeth  is  mentioned.  One  of 
these  instruments  is  thus  de¬ 
scribed  by  a  traveller  in  Sy¬ 
ria,  in  1837:— “The  threshing 
instrument  is  a  board  about 
three  feet  wide,  six  or  eight 
feet  long,  and  three  inches 
thick.  On  the  lower  side, 
many  holes  are  made,  from  an 
inch  and  a  half  to  two  inches, 
in  which  are  fastened  pieces 
of  stone,  flint,  or  iron.  These 
project,  it  may  be,  from  a  half 
to  three-quarters  of  an  inch 
from  the  lace  of  the  board,  and 
serve  as  teeth  to  tear  the  beards 
of  the  grain  in  pieces.  Oxen 
are  fastened  to  the  forward 
end  of  the  boards,  and  driven 
round  the  floor,  drawing  it  after 
them.  The  driver  of  the  oxen 
usually  stands  or  sits  on  tha 
instrument.  This  is  the  com¬ 
mon  threshing  instrument  in 
ihesecountries.  Isawitevery 
,  where,  and  -  have  _seen  n# 


THY 

other.  The  oxen  are  usually 
without  muzzles,  and  are  often 
as  they  pass  around  taking  up 
from  lime  to  lime  a  few  straws 
and  feeding  on  them.  1  do  not 
recollect  of  seeing  llie  horse 
used  in  any  instance  on  the 
barn  floor— the  oxen  very 
often.”  (For  cuts  of  threshing- 
instruments,  and  a  minute  de¬ 
scription  of  the  process,  see 
Hebrew  Customs,'  pp.  63—65, 
Elnathan,  pp.  119— 123,  and 
Scripture  Illustrations, 
part  i.  pp.  1G— 20;  all  by  Am. 
S.  S.  Union.) 

Threshinq  floor  of  Or- 
nan.  The  apparent  discre¬ 
pancy  between  2Sam.  xxiv. 
21,  and  1  Chron.  xxi.  25,  is  re¬ 
conciled  by  the  probable  sup- 
jiosilion  that  in  the  former  case 
nothing  is  included  but  the 
floor,  oxen,  and  threshing  ma¬ 
chine;  and,  in  the  latter,  the 
whole  hill  whereon  the  temple 
was  afterwards  erected.  (See 
Araunah.) 

THRONE.  (See  Footstool.) 

THUMMIM.  (See  C  rim.) 

THYAT1RA.  (Acts  xvi.  14.) 
A  city  of  the’province  of  Lydia, 
in  Asia  Minor,  now  known  as 
Akhisar.  It  is  situated  in  an 
extensive  plain,  near  a  small 
river,  a  branch  of  the  Caicus, 
south-east  of  Smyrna,  between 
Sardis  and  Pergamos,  and  was 
the  site  of  one  of  the  seven 
churches  of  Asia,  to  which  John 
wrote.  (Rev.  i.  II.)  It  was  also 
the  residence  of  Lydia,  whom 
Paul  met  and  baptized  at  Phi- 
.ippi.  Its  present  population 
may  be  a  thousand  families, 
between  three  and  four  hun¬ 
dred  of  which  are  composed 
of  nominal  Christians  of  the 
Greek  and  Armenian  faith. 
Except  the  Moslem’s  palace, 
there  is  scarcely  a  decent 
house  in  the  place.  Every 
thing  indicates  poverty,  igno¬ 
rance,  and  degradation. 

Messrs.  Smith  and  Dwight, 
American  missionaries,  were 


TIM 

at  this  city  in  tho  spring  o, 
1830.  It  had  been  devastated 
by  fire  a  year  or  two  previous 
They  found  many  ruins  and 
inscriptions  which  bespoke  a 
high  antiquity. 

THYINE  WOOD  (Rev.  xviil. 

12)  may  mean  sweet  scented 
wood  generally,  or  the  wood 
of  a  particular  species  of  ever¬ 
green  resembling  the  cypress, 
which  was  prized  for  its  aro¬ 
matic  properties,  and  for  beiug 
susceptible  of  a  fine  polish. 

TIBERIAS.  (See  Chinns  . 
reth.) 

TIBERIUS  CESAR  (Luke 
iii.  1)  was  the  son-in-law  and 
successor  of  Augustus,  (Luke 

11.  1,)  and  though  with  some 
apparent  virtues,  was  one  of 
the  most  infamous  tyrants  that 
ever  scourged  the  empire  of 
Rome.  He  began  Iris  reign 
a.  d.  14,  reigned  during  ine 
eventful  period  of  the  succeed¬ 
ing  twenty-three  years,  and 
was  finally  murdered  by  suffo¬ 
cation  with  pillows.  (See  Ce¬ 
sar.) 

TIGLATH-PILESER.  (See 

TILING.  (See  Dwellinos.) 

TIMBREL.  (Ex.  xv.  20.)  A 
musical  instrument,  supposed 
to  have  resembled  very  nearly 
the  instrument  of  modern  days 
called  the  tambourine.  A  skin 
is  stretched  over  a  rim  likethe 
end  of  a  drum ;  around  the  riin 
are  hung  little  bells,  and  the 
player  strikes  the  skin  with 
the  knuckles  of  one  hand,  and 
shakes  it  with  the  other  hand. 

It  was  used  in  ancient  times  _i 
chiefly  by  women. 

TIME.  (See  Days,  Hours, 
Watches.) 

TIMNATH,  (Gen.  xxxviii 

12, )  or  T1MNAH,  (2  Chron. 
xxviii.  18,)  situated  on  the 
northern  border  of  Judah,  was 
one  of  the  oldeBt  towns  of  Ca¬ 
naan.  In  Samson’s  time  it 
belonged  to  the  Philistines, 
and  he  obtained  his  wife  there. 

616 


TIM 

Judg.  xiv.  I — 5.)  The  inha¬ 
bitants  were  called  Tinmitcs. 
(Jude.  xv.  6.) 

TIiMNATH-SERAH,  (Josh, 
xix.  50,)  or  TIMNATH-HE- 
RES,  (judg.  ii.  9,)  was  a  city 
on  mount  Ephraim,  given  to 
Joshua  at  his  own  request,  and 
the  place  of  his  residence  and 
burial. 

TIMOTHY,  (ITim.  i.  2,)  or 
TIMOTHEUS,  (Acts  xvi.  1,) 
was  a  native  either  of  Derbe 
or  Lystra.  His  mother’s  name 
was  Eunice,  and  a  woman  of 
distinguished  piety,  as  was  also 
his  grandmother  Lois,  (2Tim. 
i.  5;)  and  by  them  he  was  edu¬ 
cated  religiously.  (2 Tim.  iii. 
15.)  His  father  was  a  Greek. 
Paul  found  him  in  one  of  the 
cities  above  named,  and  being 
informed  of  his  good  standing 
among  the  Christians  there, 
selected  him  as  an  assistant 
in  his  labours,  and,  to  avoid 
the  cavils  of  the  Jews,  perform¬ 
ed  on  him  the  rite  of  circum¬ 
cision.  (1  Cor.  ix.  20.)  He  after¬ 
wards  became  the  companion 
of  Paul  ;  and  that  he  was  the 
object  of  the  extraordinary  af¬ 
fection  and  solicitude  of  that 
apostle,  his  letters  plainly 
show.  He  was  left  in  charge 
of  the  church  at  Ephesus,  and 
that,  probably,  when  he  was 
quite  young.  (1  Tim.  iv.  12.) 

Epistles  of  Paul  to. 
These  are  the  fifteenth  and 
sixteenth  in  order  of  the  books 
of  the  New  Testament.  The 
first  is  supposed  to  have  been 
written  about  the  year  60, 
and  contains  special  instruc¬ 
tions  respecting  the  qualifi¬ 
cations  and  the  duties  of 
sundry  ecclesiastical  officers, 
and  other  persons,  and  the 
most  affectionate  and  pungent 
exhortations  to  faithfulness. 
The  second  epistle  was  writ¬ 
ten  a  year  or  two  later,  and 
while  Paul  was  in  constant 
expectation  of  martyrdom, 
(2  Tim.  iv.  6— 8,)  and  may  be 
regarded  as  the  dying  counsel 
52* 


T1S 


of  the  venerable  apostolic  fa¬ 
ther  to  his  son  in  the  Lord. 
It  contains  a  variety  of  injunc¬ 
tions  as  to  the  duties  of  Chris¬ 
tians  under  trials  and  tempta¬ 
tions,  and  concludes  with  ex¬ 
pressions  of  a  full  and  tri¬ 
umphant  faith  in  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  and  in  all  the 
glorious  promises  made  to  his 
true  followers. 

TIN.  (Num.  xxxj.  22.)  A 
well  known  metal,  in  use  at 
a  very  early  period,  and  an 
article  of  Tyrian  commerce. 
(Ezek.  xxvii.  12.)  In  Isa.  l. 25, 
the  word  rendered  tin  probably 
means  a  sort  of  dross. 

TINKLING.  (See  Bells, 

Pr  fprHlPQ  ^ 

TIPHSAH,  (1  Kings  iv.  24,) 
meaning  a  ford ,  is  the  same 
as  Thapsacus,  and  was  situated 
on  the  western  bank  of  the 
Euphrates.  It  was  the  extreme 
1  i  mit  of  Solomon’s  domi  nione  in 
that  direction.  It  is  generally 
supposed  that  the  place  of  this 
name  mentioned  2 Kings  xv. 
16,  was  near  Samaria. 

TIRSHATHA.  (Neh.  vii. 
65.)  An  officer  of  stale. 

TIRES.  (Isa.  iii.  18.)  This 
generally  denotes  an .  orna¬ 
mental  head-dress,  but  it  may 
mean  other  parts  of  the  attire ; 
and  in  the  text  cited  the  origin¬ 
al  probably  signifies  a  neck¬ 
lace,  the  parts  of  which  might 
have  resembled  the  moon  in 


ah¥lRZAH  (1  Kings  xvi.  171 
was  the  residence  of  the  kings 
of  Israel  from  the  lime  of  Jero- 
beam  to  that  of  Zimri,  or  nearly 
fifty  years.  Its  exact  sue  it 
uncertain, though  it  is  suppose*) 
to  have  been  within  the  tern 
tory  of  Ephraim. 

TISHBITE  (1  Kings  xvii. 
1.)  Elijah  is  called  the  hsk- 
bite;  but  whether  it  denotes 
the  place  of  his  nativity  or 
residence,  or  whether  it  simply 
describes  his  office  as  a  re¬ 
prover  and  reformer,  is  uncec- 

tain.  _ 

ct  7 


TIT 

TISHRl  (See  Month.) 

TITHES,  (Gen.  xiv.  20,)  or 
tenths.  A  sort  of  tax  known 
tong  before  the  time  of  Moses, 
and  practised  under  the  civil 
and  religious  government  of 
heathen  nations.  It  was  intro¬ 
duced  into  the  Levitical  code, 
and  consisted  in  rendering  a 
fixed  proportion  of  the  produce 
of  the  earth,  herds,  Jtc.  to  the 
service  of  God  their  King, 
whom  they  were  taught  to 
consider  as  the  proprietor  of 
all.  One-tenth  of  this  produce 
went  to  the  use  of  the  Levites, 
who  had  no  part  in  the  soil, 
and  of  course  were  dependent 
on  their  brethren  for  the  means 
of  subsistence.  One-tenth  of 
their  tenth  they  paid  in  their 
r  turn  to  the  priests.  (Num.  xviii. 
f  21-32.) 

The  nine  parts  were  tithed 
again,  and  of  this  second  tithe 
a  feast  was  made  in  the  court 
of  the  sanctuary,  or  in  some 
apartment  connected  with  it. 
If,  however,  the  Jew  could  not 
with  convenience  carry  his 
tithe  thither,  he  was  permitted 
to  sell  it,  and  to  lake  the 
■money,  adding  one-fifth  of  the 
.  amount,  (that "is,  if  he  sold  the 
tithe  for  a  dollar,  he  should 
: bring  in  money  a  dollar  and 

■  twenty  cents,)  and  to  purchase 
therewith  what  was  required 
it  the  feast,  after  they  came 
to  the  sanctuary.  (Lev.  xxvii. 

b  it.  Deut.  xii.  17,  18:  xiv.  22— 

r ) 

At  this  feast  of  thanksgiving, 
they  entertained  their  families 
viol  friends,  and  also  the  Le- 
■•vites.  It  has  been  supposed 
by  some,  from  Deut.  xiv.  28, 29, 
that  in  every  third  year  a  third 
lithe  was  required  ;  but  it  is 
more  probable  that  in  the  third 
■year  the  second  tithe  above 

■  mentioned  was  consumed  at 
'home,  instead  of  at  the  sanc¬ 
tuary,  so  that  the  poor  neigh- 

t-lmurs  and  friends,  and  espe- 
-ciallysuch  as  were  aged  and 
iinfirm,  might  partake  of  it. 


TIT 

The  cattle  were  tithed  by 
letting  them  pass  out  of  an 
enclosing,  under  a  rod  held 
by  some  person,  who  touched 
every  tenth  beast,  which  there¬ 
upon  became  the  property  of 
the  Levites ;  so  that  if  ex- 
changed,  both  were  forfeited. 
(Lev.  xxvii.  32,  33.) 

It  does  not  appear  that  the 
tithe  of  herbs  was  demanded. 
The  Pharisees,  however,  tithed 
their  mint,  anise, cummin,  and 
rue ;  nor  was  it  for  this  that  our 
Saviour  condemned  them,  but 
for  neglecting  weightier  things, 
as  mercy,  judgment,  and  faith, 
while  they  were  so  scrupu¬ 
lously  exact  in  matters  of  infe¬ 
rior  moment.  (Matt,  xxiii.  23.) 

Under  the  gospel  dispensa¬ 
tion,  the  ministers  of  religion 
seemed  to  have  relied  for  their 
support  chiefly  on  the  hospi¬ 
tality  of  their  brethren  and 
friends,  (Matt.  x.  10.  Luke  x. 
7;)  and  it  is  certainly  reason¬ 
able  that  those  who  give  them¬ 
selves  wholly  to  the  ministry 
of  the  word  should  be  exempw 
ed  from  all  anxiety  respecting 
their  own  subsistence.  The 
systpm  of  tithes  known  in 
modern  times  has  very  little, 
if  any,  resemblance  to  that 
under  the  Jewish  dispensation, 
either  in  the  collection  or  dis¬ 
bursement  of  them. 

TITLE.  (See  Cross.) 

TITTLE.  (Malt.  v.  18.)  The 
least  point. 

TITUS.  (Gal.  ii.  1.)  A  Gen¬ 
tile  by  descent,  and  probably 
converted  to  Christianity  undei 
the  preacldng  of  Paul.  (Til.  i. 
4.)  He,  however,  refused  to 
'subject  him  to  the  rite  of  cir 
cumcision,  though,  as  some 
have  inferred,  he  was  strongly 
urged  so  to  do.  (Gal.  ii.  3—5.) 
Titus  was  the  companion  of 
Paul  in  many  of  his  trials  and 
missionary  tours,  (2  Cor.  viii. 
6.  16.  23,)  and  was  intrusted 
with  several  important  com¬ 
missions.  (2  Cor.  xii.  18.  2 
T.m.  iv.  10.  Tit.  i.  5.) 

618 


TOO 

Epistle  of  Paul  to,  is  the 
seventeenth  in  order  of  the 
iKjoks  of  the  New  Testament. 
It  was  designed  to  instruct  Ti¬ 
tus  in  the  right  discharge  of  his 
ministerial  offices  in  Crete,  or 
rather  to  furnish  the  Cretans, 
through  Titus,  with  a  variety 
of  important  rules  of  Christian 
conduct. 

TOB.  (Judg.  xi.  3.  5.)  A  dis¬ 
trict  in  the  south-east  of  Syria, 
whither  ‘Jephthah  fled,  and 
whence  he  was  called  to  lead 
the  army  of  Israel  against 
Ammon. 

TOBIAH.  (Neh.  ii.  10.)  An 
Ammonite  of  considerable  in¬ 
fluence,  and  a  leader  in  the 
opposition  which  was  made 
to  the  rebuilding  of  the  temple 
by  Nehemiah.  Being  con¬ 
nected  by  marriage  with  some 
influential  families,  he  became 
the  head  of  a  formidable  party, 
and  maintained  a  correspond¬ 
ence  with  the  nobles  of  Judah 
adverse  to  the  interests  of  Ne¬ 
hemiah  and  his  party,  and 
even  descended  to  threats,  for 
the  purpose  of  deterring  that 
devoted  man  from  the  prose¬ 
cution  of  his  purpose.  During 
the  absence  of  Nehemiah  from 
Jerusalem,  Tobiah  obtained 
apartments  in  the  temple  for 
his  private  residence;  but  Ne¬ 
hemiah,  as  soon  as  he  returned 
to  Jerusalem,  expelled  him 
and  his  furniture  from  the 
holy  place,  and  ordered  the 
chanuer  which  had  been  thus 
desecrated  to  be  thoroughly 
c 1 pn nspn 

TOGARMAH.  (Kzek.xxvii. 
14.)  A  country  deriving  its 
name  probably  from  a  descend¬ 
ant  of  JaphPth,  (Gen.  x.  3,)  and 
trading  with  Tyre  in  horses 
and  mules.  The  connexion  in 
which  Togarnmh  is  usually 
mentioned  would  place  it  in 
Armenia.  (Ezelt.  xxxviii.  5,  6.) 

TOMB.  (See  Burial.) 

TONGUE.  (See Language.) 
TOOTH.  (Ex.  xx i.  24.)  The 
law  of  retaliation  allowed  the 


TOW 

Jewish  magistrate  to  give  to 
one  who  had  been  deprived  oi 
a  tooth  or  an  eye,  the  tooth  or 
eye  of  the  aggressor  in  revenge. 
The  Jews  construed  this  law 
to  justify  private  revenge;  and 
this  construction  and  the  whole 
principle  of  the  law  were  con¬ 
demned  by  our  Saviour,  and  the 
law  of  forbearance  and  forgive¬ 
ness  commended.  (Matt,  v.39.) 
Cleanness  of  teeth  is  a  figu¬ 
rative  expression  for  famine. 
(Amos  iv.  6.)  Gnashing  the 
teeth  indicates  terror,  rage,  and 
despair.  (Matt.  viii.  12.)  The 
phrase  in  Ezelt.  xviii.  2,  de¬ 
notes  that  the  children  suffer 
fur  the  sins  of  their  fathers. 

TOPAZ.  (Ex.  xxviii.  17.)  A 
precious  stone  of  various  co¬ 
lours,  which  is  supposed  by 
many  to  have  been  the  ancient 
chrysolite.  A  single  topaz  has 
been  sold  for  upwards  of  a  mil¬ 
lion  of  dollars.  The  finest  spe¬ 
cimens  are  found  in  the  East 
Indies. 

The  topaz  of  Ethiopia,  (Job 
xxviii.  19,)  or  southern  Arabia, 
(see  Ethiopia.)  was  probably 
distinguished  for  its  beauty  and 
value ;  and  that  the  most  pre¬ 
cious  stones  were  once  found 
thpre,  profane  history  asserts. 

TOPHET.  (See  Hell.) 

TORMENTORS.  (Matt, 
xviii.  34.)  This  probably  means 
the  keepers  of  the  prison,  who 
were  often  employed  to  torture 
criminals  in  various  ways. 

TORTOISE.  (Lev.  xi.  29.) 
It  is  generally  supposed  that 
this  word,  in  the  original,  de¬ 
notes  a  species  of  lizard,  and 
not  the  amphibious  animal 
known  to  us  as  the  tortoise. 

TOWER.  (Matt.  xxi.  33.) 
Towers  were  common  in  vine¬ 
yards,  (Isa.  v.  2,)  and  are  often 
seen  at  the  presentday.  They 
are  sometimes  thirty  feet 
square,  and  sixty  feet  high, 
and  are  a  kind  of  pleasure- 
houses,  serving  as  a  shelter  for 
the  watchmen,  and  as  a  sum 
mer  retreat  of  the  owner,  at 
619 


TRA 

ording  an  extensive  prospect 
and  fresh  air. 

Tower  op  Babel.  (See 
Babel,  Language.) 

TowerofEdar,  (Gen.xxxv. 
21,)  or  tower  of  the  flock,  as  it 
is  called,  Mic.  iv.  8.  This  is 
supposed  to  have  been  a  par¬ 
ticular  tower  about  a  mile  from 
Bethlehem,  and  to  have  been 
erected,  like  other  towers,  for 
the  use  of  shepherds  and  herds¬ 
men  to  superintend  theirflocks, 
and  descry  the  approach  of 
danger.  (2Chron.  xxvi.  10.) 
Some  have  supposed  that  the 
phrase  tower  of  the  flock  had 
prophetic  reference  to  Beth¬ 
lehem,  as  the  birthplace  of  the 
Saviour. 

Tower  of  Shechem.  This 
seems  to  have  been  a  very 
strong  and  spacious  citadel, 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  town  of 
Shechem,  to  which  the  inha¬ 
bitants  tied  for  refuge  when 
the  town  was  besieged  by 
Abimelech.  Fearing  that  this 
would  not  protect  them,  they 
escaped  to  the  temple  of  one 
of  their  idol  gods,  which  was 
also  fortified,  and  the  supposed 
sanctity  of  which  they  hoped 
would  deter  Abimelech  from 
attacki  ng  it ;  but  he  surrounded 
it  with  fire  made  of  green 
boughs,  and  burned  or  suffo¬ 
cated  the  whole  multitude. 
fSee  Vines.) 

Tower  in  Siloam.  (Luke 
xiii.4.)  Supposed  to  have  been 
a  high  structure  erected  near 
the  fountain  or  pool  of  Siloam. 
To  those  whom  our  Saviour 
addressed,  the  loss  of  life  occa¬ 
sioned  by  the  falling  of  this 
tower  was  familiar. 

TOWNS.  (See  Cities.) 

TRACHONIT1S.  (Luke  iii. 
1.)  A  rocky  broken  district 
east  of  the  Jordan.  It  was  in¬ 
fested  with  robbers,  and  Herod 
theGreatobtainedthe  province 
on  condition  that  he  would 
extirpate  them.  At  his  death 
his  son  Phitir  succeeded  to 
the  government  of  it. 


TRA 

TRADITION.  (Matt.  xv.  2.) 
A  precept  or  custom  not  con¬ 
tained  in  the  written  law,  but 
handed  down  from  generation 
to  generation.  The  Jews  mai  n- 
tain  that  God  gave  Moses,  be- 
sides  the  law  which  we  have 
in  the  Old  Testament,  a  va¬ 
riety  of  precepts,  which  he 
made  known  to  Joshua,  by 
whom  they  were  communi¬ 
cated  to  the  elders,  and  by 
them  to  the  judges;  prophets, 
&c. ;  that  they  were  finally 
collected  from  various  sources, 
and  recorded  in  what  is  called 
the  Talmud.  Many  of  their 
traditions  were  in  direct  oppo¬ 
sition  to  the  law  of  God,  a  strik¬ 
ing  example  of  which  is  given 
by  our  Saviour  in  connexion 
with  the  passage  above  cited. 
There  were,  however,  a  variety 
of  traditions,  or  doctrines  and 
precepts,  which  persons  di¬ 
vinely  inspired  taught  by  word 
of  mouth.  (2  Thess.  ii.  15,  and 
iii.  6.)  The  only  way  in  which 
we  can  know  satisfactorily 
that  any  tradition  is  of  divine 
authority,  is  by  its  having  a 
place  in  those  writings  which 
are  generally  acknowledged 
to  be  the  genuine  productions 
of  inspired  men.  All  tradi¬ 
tions  which  have  not  such 
authority  are  Without  value, 
and  tend  greatly  to  distract 
and  mislead  the  minds  of  men. 

TRANCE.  (Acts  x.  10.)  This 
word  occurs  but  twice  in  the 
Old  Testament,  (Num.  xxiv., 
4.  16,)  and  in  both  instances; 
is  supplied  by  the  translators, 
and  not  found  in  the  original... 
The  word  denotes  a  stale  of 
mind  in  which  external  objects  i 
are  entirely  unnoticed  and  for¬ 
gotten,  so  that  the  soul  seems, 
for  the  time,  to  have  passed 
out  of  the  body,  and  to  be  occu¬ 
pied  in  purely  spiritual  con¬ 
templations.  This  slate  maj 
sometimes  be  the  effect  of  na¬ 
tural  causes ;  but,  in  the  case 
of  Peter,  there  was  an  inter 
positionof  supernatural  power 


TRE 

TRANSFIGURE.  (Matt, 
xvii.  2.)  This  term  denotes  a 
change  of  aspect  or  appear¬ 
ance,  not  of  substance  or  body. 
The  change  was  seen  in  the 
face  of  the  Redeemer,  and  in 
his  apparel.  It  was  exceed¬ 
ingly  majestic  and  glorious, 
and  is  .particularly  described 
by  the  evangelists,  md  alluded 
to  by  Peter.  (2  Pet.  i.  16 — 18.) 
The  design  of  this  miraculous 
event  was  manifold,  but  chiefly 
to  attest,  in  the  most  solemn 
and  mysterious  manner, thedi- 
vinity  of  the  Messiah’s  person 
and  mission;  to  support  the 
faith  of  the  disciples  by  evi¬ 
dence  of  the  existence  of  a 
separate  state,  which  was  fur¬ 
nished  by  the  appearance  and 
conversation  of  Moses  and 
Elias,  and  as  showing,  by  the 
audible  declaration  of  the  Fa¬ 
ther,  a  broad  distinction  be¬ 
tween  this  prophet  and  all 
others — This  is  my  beloved 
Son,  hear  him.  (See  Life  of 
Peter,  pp.  53—56,  by  Am.  S. 
S.  Union.) 

TRANGRESSION.  (Heb. 
ii.  2.)  The  two  words  used  in 
this  passage  are  by  common 
usage  nearly  sy  nony  mous.  Per¬ 
haps  the  former  may  be  con¬ 
sidered  as  passing  over  the 
bounds  prescribed  by  a  law, 
or  doing  the  things  we  ought 
not  to  do ;  and  . disobedience 
as  a  refusal  to  do  what  it  en¬ 
joins,  or  not  doing  the  thing3 
we  ought  to  do, 

TREASURE  CITIES,  (Ex. 

11,)  TREASURE  HOUSES. 
Ezra  v.  17.)  The  kings  of 
udah  had  keepers  of  the  trea- 
ures  both  in  city  and  country, 
(1  Chron.  xxvii.2o;)  and  the 
towns  where  these  treasures 
were  deposited  were  called 
treasure  cities ,  and  the  maga- 
.  zines  or  houses  for  their  safe 
keeping  were  called  treasure 
houses.  (See  Pithom.) 

TREASURY,  (John  viii.  20.) 
TREASURIES.  (1  Chron.  ix. 
*0.)  The  place  in  the  temple 


TRI 

where  gifts  were  received.  (See 
Temple.) 

TREE  OF  KNOWLEDGE. 
(See  Adam.  See  also  The 
First  Man,§  ii.,  by  Am.  S.  S. 
Union.) 

TRESPASS  (Lev.  vi.  2) 
usually  denotes  an  oft'ence 
committed  against,  or  an  inju¬ 
ry  done  to  another.  It  implies 
a  departure  from  duty  in  re¬ 
spect  to  God  or  man.  (Malt, 
vi.  15.) 

Trespass-offerins.  (Se«. 
Offering.) 

TRIBE.  (Num.  i.  4.)  The 
posterity  of  each  of  the  twelve 
sons  of  Jacob  is  called  a  tribe. 
Jacob,  on  his  dealh-bed,  adopt¬ 
ed  Ephraim  and  Manasseh, 
the  suns  of  Joseph,  as  his  own 
children,  (Gen.  xl  viii.  5,)  and 
thus  made  two  tribes  of  one. 
In  the  distribution  of  the  pro¬ 
mised  land,  however,  only 
twelve  shares  were  made  ;  for 
the  tribe  of  Levi  were  to  mi¬ 
nister  in  the  temple,  and  to 
be  supported  by  the  contri¬ 
butions  of  the'  rest.  (See  Le- 
vites,  Tithes,  &c.)  The 
twelve  tribes  continued  to  be 
one  people  until  after  the  death 
of  Solomon,  when  ten  of  them 
revolted,  and,  became  a  sepa¬ 
rate  monarchyunder  Jeroboam, 
and  were  called  the  kingdom 
of  Israel,  leaving  the  tribes  of 
Benjamin  and  Judah  under 
the  government  of  Rehoboam, 
with  the  name  of  the  kingdom 
of  Judah.  (See  Hebrews.) 

TRIBUTE.  (Gen.xlix.  15.) 
That  which  is  paid  to  rulers 
in  token  of  subjection,  and 
for  the  support  of  government. 
By  the  Jewish  law,  (Ex.  xxx. 
13,)  a  tribute  or  capitation  tax 
was  half  a  shekel,  or  twenty- 
five  cents,  which  was  expend¬ 
ed  in  the  temple  service.  The 
conversation  oi  our  Saviour 
with  Peter,  on  the  subject  of 
paying  this  tribute  money,  was 
designed  to  show  him  that, 
being  himself  the  Son  of  God, 
the  king  for  whose  service  the 


Tt'R 

tribute  was  paid,  he  might 
justly  be  exempted  from  paying 
it ;  but  to  prevent  any  need¬ 
less  irritation  on  the  partof  the 
officers  or  nation,  he,  by  mira¬ 
culous  power,  provided  the 
means  of  paying  the  required 
tribute,  which  amounted  to  fifty 
cents  for  both.  (Matt.  xvii.  24.) 

TROAS.  (Acts  xvi.  8.)  A 
maritime  city  of  Mysia,  on  the 
Mediterranean,  near  the  site 
of  ancient  Troy,  so  celebrated 
in  Grecian  history.  Paul  vi¬ 
sited  it  repeatedly.  (Acts  xx. 
5—12.  2Cor  ii.  12.  2  Tim.  iv. 

13. ) 

TROGYLL1UM.  (Acts  xx. 
15.)  A  town  at  the  base  of 
mount  Mycale,  in  Ionia,  op¬ 
posite  to  Samos,  where  Paul 
tarried  one  night  on  his  way 
from  Troas  to  Miletus. 

TROPHIMUS.  (Acts  xx. 4.) 
A  native  of  Ephesus,  (Acts  xxi. 
29,)  and  a  convert  to  the  faith 
of  the  gospel,  probably  under 
Paul’s  ministry.  He  became 
one  of  the  apostle’s  compa¬ 
nions  and  helpers  in  mission¬ 
ary  travels  and  labours.  (2 
Tim.  iv.  20.) 

TRUMPET.  (Ex.  xix.  16.) 
Thetrumpetdiffered  littlefrom 
the  horn,  and  in  particulars 
which  are  no  longer  discover¬ 
able.  The  silver  trumpets 
were  used  by  the  priests  alone 
in  publishing  the  approach  of 
festivals,  and  giving  signals 
of  war.  (See  Feasts.)  ' 

TUBAL.  (Gen.  x.  2.)  Fifth 
sonofjapheth,  whose  descend¬ 
ants  probably  peopled  a  coun¬ 
try  lying  south  of  the  Cauca¬ 
sus,  between  the  Black  Sea 
anil  the  Aranes,  whose  inha¬ 
bitants  were  the  Tibareni  of 
the  Greeks.  The  Circassians, 
who  inhabit  this  region,  are 
slave-dealers,  and  they  of  Tu¬ 
bal  traded  in  the  persons  of 
men.  (Ezek.  xxvii.  13;  xxxviii. 
2.  Comp.  Rev.  xviii.  13.) 

TURBAN.  (See  Clothes.) 

TURTLE  DOVE.  (Lev.  i. 

14. )  A  species  of  pigeon.  By 


TYR 

the  Jewish  law,  the  poor  who 
could  not  afford  a  more  costly 
sacrifice  were  permitted  la 
bring  two  turtle  doves,  or  two 
young  pigeons.  (Lev.  xii.  6 — 8.) 
By  this  the  outward  circum¬ 
stances  of  Mary,  the  mothei 
of  Christ,  are  known.  (Luke 
ii.  24.) 

It  is  a  bird  of  passage,  (Jer. 
viii.  7 ,)  and  hence  the  allusion, 
Sol.  Song  ii.  12.  Our  transla¬ 
tion  of  Ps.  lxxiv.  19,  would  be 
more  conformable  to  ancient 
versions,  if  it  should  read,  O 
deliver  not  the  soul  of  him 
that  confesseth  thee,  & c.  And 
this  variation  can  easily  tie 
accounted  for,  only  by  sup¬ 
posing,  that,  in  the  Hebrew, 
one  letter  has  been  substituted 
for  another  very  much  like  it. 
There  is,  therefore,  a  strong 
probability  that  the  Septuagint 
and  the  Syriac  have  preserved 
the  true  read'r.g  in  this  place. 

TYCHICUS.  (Acts  xx.  4.) 
A  companion  of  Paul,  and  evi¬ 
dently  a  devoted  and  faiihful 
disciple.  (Eph.  vi.21,  22.  Col. 
iv.  7,  8.) 

TYRE,  (Josh.  xix.  29,)  or 
TYRUS.  (Ezek.  xxvi.  2.)  A 
city  of  Phenicia,  now  in  the 
pachalic  of  Acre,  about  ninety 
miles  north-west  of  Jerusalem, 
and  20  or  30  miles  south-west 
of  Sidon,  and  a  city  whose  anti¬ 
quity  is  of  ancient  days.  (Isa. 
xxiii.  7.)  It  was  probably  built 
thirteen  hundred  years  before 
Christ.  This,  which  was  on  the 
continent,  and  was  destroyed 
by  Nebuchadnezzar  after  a 
siege  of  thirteen  years,  must  be 
distinguished  from  Insular, now 
Peninsular,  Tyre,  called  Sour, 
(Sur.)  The  latter  is  about  five 
miles  distant  from  the  other, 
and  was  the  city  which  Alex¬ 
ander  reached  by  means  of  a 
causeway  from  the  main  land, 
and  entirely  consumed,  in 
accordance  with  prophecy. 
(Zech.  ix.3,  4.)  Subsequently 
to  this  it  revived,  and  belong- 
]  ed  successively  to  Syria,  and 


TYR 

Egypt,  to  the  Romans,  Sara¬ 
cens,  crusaders,  and  finally 
was  razed  to  the  ground  by 
the  Mamelukes  of  Egypt,  to 
prevent  the  ingress  of  Chris- 
iians.  The  city  has  now  about 
four  thousand  inhabitants,  and 
has  some  commercial  pros- 
perity.  .  ,  . 

The  luxury,  vice,  and  de¬ 
struction  of  this  mighty  city, 
which  once  had  the  entire 
control  of  the  trade  with  India, 
and  into  whose  lap  the  trea¬ 
sures  of  the  world  were  poured, 
form  the  subjects  of  some  of  the 
most  interesting  prophecies, 
(Isa.  xxiii.  Ezek.  xxvi.  xxvin.;) 
and  we  are  told  by  modern 
travellers  that  its  desolation 
is  complete.  Messrs.  Fisk  and 
Jowett,  missionaries,  were 


TYR 

there  iD  the  fall  of  1823,  and 
the  former  describes  the  town 
and  harbour  as  environed  by 
rocks,  on  thjfe  ledges  of  which 
are  scattered  in  every  direction 
the  fragments  of  ancient  co¬ 
lumns.  They  counted  not  less 
than  one  hundred  columns  in 
one  place  on  the  rocks,  and 
some  ten  or  fifteen  feet  under 
Water.  The  harbour  is  small 
and  shallow,  and  they  express 
their  conviction  thst  the  waves 
of  the  sea  now  roll  where  once 
stood  the  vast  and  magnificent 
palaces  of  Tyrian  wealth  and 
luxury,  and  that  the  monu¬ 
ments  of  commercial  enter¬ 
prise  and  prosperity  have  been 
overwhelmed  by  the  storm  of 
divine  indignation,  and  are 
as  if  they  had  never  been. 


UND 

ULAT.  (See  Shushan.) 

UNCIRCUMCISION, 
i  See  Circumcised.) 

UNCLEAN.  (See  Clean 
and  Unclean.) 

UNCOVER.  (Lev.  x.  6.)  Un- 
covering  the  head  was  a  token 
of  mourning  and  captivity. 
(Isa.  xivii.2.)  Uncovering  the 
thwh  was  removing  the  gar¬ 
ments  from  it  preparatory  to 
passing  through  the  water. 
Uncovering  the  arm  (Ezek.  tv. 
7)  was  a  preparation  for  the 
siege,  by  removing  every  en¬ 
cumbrance.  .. 

UNCTION  (1  John  n.  20) 
denotes  the  grace  of  God  s  fcpi- 
rit  bestowed  on  believers,  and 
used  figuratively  (in  reference 
to  the  ceremony  of  anointing) 
to  signify  either  health  or  pu¬ 
rity,  or  as  a  token  of  rejoicing. 

NM)E  R  GT R DT N G.  (Acts 
xxvii.  17.)  Encircling  the  ves¬ 
sel  with  a  stout  cable.  Lord  An¬ 
son  mentions  a  Spanish  man- 
of-war  that  was  saved  by  throw- 
in"  overboard  one  tier  of  guns, 
and  taking  six  turns  of  a  cable 


UNI 

around  the  ship,  by  which  she 
was  prevented  from  opening. 

UNDERSETTERS.  (lKings 
vii.  30.)  Projections  by  which 
the  brazen  laver  was  orna¬ 
mented  anti  supported. 

UNICORN,  (Deut.  xxxni. 
17,)  or  one  homed.  The  ani¬ 
mal  designated  by  this  name 
was  evidently  distinguished 
for  its  ferocity,  (Isa.  xxxiv.  7,) 
strength,  (Num.  xxiii.  22 ;  xxiv. 
8,)  agility,  (Ps.  xxix.  6,)  wild¬ 
ness.  (Job  xxxix.  9,)  and  the 

prominency  of  its  horn.  (Deut. 

xxxiii.  17.  Ps.  xcii.  10.)  But 
whether  the_  original  word 
translated  unicorn  means  any 
particular  animal,  or  at  least 
any  animal  now  known,  is  very 
problematical.  That  it  was 
not  the  rhinoceros  seems  gene¬ 
rally  agreed  by  modern  critics, 
and  that  it  might  have  been 
the  eastern  buffalo  is  not  im¬ 
probable.  _  , 

UNITY  of  the  spirit  (Eph. 
iv.  3)  signifies  a  union  of  judg¬ 
ment,  affection,  and  feeling, 
among  those  who  constitute  the 
one  body  of  Christ.  It  is  the 
623 


TJRl 

gift  of  God.  (Jer.  xxxii.  39.)  It 
was  remarkably  enjoyed  in  the 
early  ages  of  the  church,  (John 
xvii.  21.  Acts  iv.32,)  and  is  to 
be  desired  and  sought  after  as 
among  the  chief  of  Christian 
graces.  (2  Cor.  xiii.  11.) 

UNRIGHTEOUS  MAM¬ 
MON.  (See.  Mammon.) 

UPHARSIN.  (See  Mene.) 

UPPER  ROOM.  (See 
Dwellinos.) 

UPPERMOST  SEATS.  (See 
Synagogues.) 

UR,  (Gen.  xi.  28,)  called  Ur 
<jf  the  Chaldees,  was  the  birth¬ 
place  of  Abraham.  Its  con¬ 
nexion  with  the  history  of 
Abraham  and  Jacob,  and  the 
position  of  the  only  Haran 
now  known,  have  induced 
modern  geographers  to  place 
Ur  in  the  north-west  part  of 
Mesopotamia,  which  was  the 
land  nf  the  Chaldeans,  (Ezek. 
i.  3,)  where  Orfah  (formerly 
Edessa)  now  stands.  A  modern 
missionary  tells  us  that  Orfah 
is  between  twenty  and  thirty 
miles  distant  from  Haran,  and 
that  the  eastern  Jews  still 
make  their  pilgrimage  to  this 
place  as  Ur  oi  the  Chaldees, 
and  the  birthplace  of  their 
great  progenitor.  Orfah  is 
known  in  modern  history  as 
the  seat  of  war  between  the 
emperor  Julian  and  the  Per¬ 
sians.  It  has  now  a  population 
of  30,000,  and  derives  its  suste¬ 
nance  from  manufactures  and 
the  caravan  of  Aleppo. 

URIAH,  (2  Sam.  xi.  3,)  or 
URIAS.  (Matt.  i.G.)  Thehus- 
band  of  Bathsheba,  and  an  of¬ 
ficer  in  David’s  army.  His 
death  was  purposely  brought 
about  bv  an  understanding  be¬ 
tween  Joab  and  David,  in  order 
that  David’s  guilt  in  the  case 
of  Bathsheba  might  be  con¬ 
cealed,  anil  jjiat  he  might  ob¬ 
tain  her  for  flp  wife. 

URIM  AND  THUMMIM. 
(Ex.  xxviii.  30.)  These  words 
literally  signify  lights  and  per- 


uzz 

fections.  And  whether  they 
denote  some  divine  manifesta¬ 
tion  made  in  orupon  ihelueast- 
plate  itself,  or  whether  it  was 
a  visible  appendage  to  the 
breastplate,  indicating  its  pe¬ 
culiar  arid  sacred  use  in  this 
respect,  we  know  not.  The 
utmost  that  can  be  satisfacto¬ 
rily  known  respecting  the  sub¬ 
ject  is,  that  it  was  the  manner 
or  thing  through  which  aknow- 
ledge  of  the  'divine^  will  Was 
sought  and  conveyed.  (Deut, 
xxxiii.  8.  1  Sam.  xxviii.  6.) 

USURY.  (Matt.  xxv.  27.) 
The  word  usury,  by  modern 
usage,  means  exorbitant  or  un¬ 
lawful  interest;  but  in  the 
Scriptures  it  means  any  inte¬ 
rest.  The  law  of  Moses  prohi 
bited  the  Jews  from  taking  any 
interest  of  each  other  for  the 
loan  of  money,  or  any  thing 
else,  though  they  were  allowed 
to  take  it  of  foreigners.  The 
exchangers  of  money  were  in 
the  habit  of  receiving  it  at  low 
interest,  and  loaning  it  at  high 
interest,  taking  the  difference 
for  their  gain.  (Ezek.  xxii.  12.) 
The  practice  of  usury  is  severe- 
lydenounced  in  the  Scriptures. 
(Neh.  v.  7.  10.  Ps.  xv.  5.  Prov. 
xxviii.  8.) 

UZ.  (Lam.  iv.  21.)  A  dis¬ 
trict  of  Arabia,  which  was  pro¬ 
bably  settled  by  the  posterity 
of  Uz,  or  Huz,  a  descendant  of 
Shem,  (Gen.  x.23;  xxii.21,)and 
distinguished  as  the  dwelling- 
place  of  Job,  whose  estate  was 
like  that  of  a  modern  Bedouin 
sheikh.  It  was  probably  an 
extensive  district,  (Jer.  xxv. 
20,)  and  perhaps  subject  to  Idu 
mea.  (Lam.  iv.  21.) 

UZZAH.  (2  Sam.  vi.  3.)  A 
son  of  ALiinadab,  who  was  in¬ 
stantly  killed,  by  the  immedi 
ate  act  of  God,  for  laying  his 
hands  upon  the  ark,  in  viola¬ 
tion  of  the  express  provisions 
of  the  divine  law.  (Nuin.  iv. 
2-15) 

UZZLAH.  (See  Azaeiah.) 

624 


V  IN 


TIN 


VAIL,  or  VEIL.  (See  Tem¬ 
ple,  Clothes.) 

VALLEY  OF  SALT.  (See 
Salt.)  „  „ 

VA8HTI.  (Esth.  1. 9.)  Queen 
of  Persia,  and  the  repudiated 
wife  of  Ahasuerus.  (See  Ha- 
dassah,  pp.  14—16,  by  Am.  S. 

S.  Union.) 

VENGEANCE  (Rom.  xn. 
19.)  This  word  often  denotes 
merely  punishment,  without 
any  reference  to  the  slate  of 
mind  in  which  it  is  inflicted. 
In  the  passage  cited,  hud  else¬ 
where,  (Deut.  xxxii.  35,)  the 
exclusive  rigiit  of  God  to  pu¬ 
nish  wrong-doers,  and  to  vin¬ 
dicate  the  right,  is  plainly 
asserted.  Hence  every  act  of 
revenge  is  an  i  nterference  with 
the  dTvine  prerogative^  The 
word  is  applied  to  God  in  the 
Same  manner  in  which  anger, 
hatred,  &c.  are  applied ;  not  as 
denoting  a  state  or  temper  of 
mind,  but  as  implying  ah  act 
or  course  of  proceeding  such 
as  usually  indicates  a  particu¬ 
lar  state  of  mind,  when  done 
or  pursued  by  man. 

VERMILION.  (Ezek.  xxui. 
14.)  A  chemical  substance, 
used  for  colouring  red,  and 
much  valued  for  ornamenting 
dwellings  (Jer.  xxii.  14)  and 
painting  images.  (Ezek.  xxm. 
14.)  Modern  travellers  men¬ 
tion  that  the  custom  of  paint- 
ing  and  sometimes  gilding  the 
ceilings  of  eastern  houses  is 
still  prevalent. 

VIAL.  (Wee  Censer.) 
VILLAGES.  (See  Cities.) 
VINEGAR.  (Prov.x.26.)  I  he 
Hebrews  seem  to  have  h'ad  two 
kinds  of  vinegar ;  one  of  which 
they  used  as  a  drink,  (Num. 
vi.  3,)  which  was  probably  a 
weak  red  wine;  and  the  other 
as  an  acid  diluted  with  wa¬ 
ter.  Bread  and  cider  formerly 
made  a  common  article  of  food 
among  labouring  men  in  some 
parts  of  this  country.  Ruih  h. 
53 


14.)  The  first  kind  wan  proba 
bly  provided  flu  Ihe  Roman 
soldiers  on  the  occasion  of 
the  crucifixion.  (John  xix.  29.) 
The  unpleasant  sensation  pro¬ 
duced  upon  the  tepfli  by  vine¬ 
gar  illustrates  the  offensiveness 
of  a  sluggard  to  those  who  em¬ 
ploy  him.  (Prov.  x.  26.)  And 
the  effervescence  occasioned 
when  vinegar  is  poured  upon 
nitre,  or  soda,  represents  th 
opposition  or  incongruity  o., 
mirth  and  sorrow,  and  the  e 
feet  of  attempting  to  mingl^ 
them.  (Prov.  xxv  20.) 

VINES  (Num.  xx.  5)  and 
VINEYARDS  (Ezek.  xxvm. 
26)  have  been  highly  prized  in 
every  country.  We  first  read 
of  a  vineyard  in  the  history  of 
Noah.  (Gen.  ix.  20.)  The  culti¬ 
vation  of  the  vine  had  obtained 
to  some  perfection  in  very  early 
times.  In  the  accounts  of  Mel- 
chizedek,  who  gel  bread  and 
wine  before  Abraham  ;  of  Lot, 
who  was  drunken;  of  aged 
Isaac,  when  regaled  by  jiis 
sons  ;  in  the  prophecy  of  dying 
Jacob,  and  in  the  book  of  Job, 
we  have  the  earliest  accounts 
of  wine  as  a  common  drink. 
(Gen.  xiv.  18;  xix.  32;  xxvu. 
25  ;  xlix.  12.  Job  i.  18-  Prov. 
xxiii.  30,  31.  Isa.  v.  11.) 

The  vineyard  is  commonly 
mentioned  in  the  Bible  in  con¬ 
tradistinction  from  the  field, 
and  is  occasionally  used  in 
speaking  of  ordinary  gardens. 
Vines  were  usually  planted 
upon  heights  and  precipitou 
crags,  (Jer.  xxxi.  5,)  where  i 
was  sometimes  necessary  to 
build  walls  in  order  to  retain 
the  soil.  „  „  . 

The  methods  of  planting  the 
vine  were  various.  They  were 
usually  propagated  by  suckers. 
The  branches  weije  sometimes 
suffered  to  creep  upon  the 
earth ;  or  the  vine  stood  up¬ 
right  without  support ;  or  a  post 
1  was  erected  with  a  cross-piece : 

025 


VTN 

or  a  trellis  or  arbour  was  set 
up,  with  four  or  more  upr’ght 
pillars,  over  which  the  houghs 
spread.  We  are  told  that  the 
vines  in  Africa,  Syria,  and  all 
Asia  were  left  to  trail  upon 
the  ground,  and  this  method  is 
observed  in  the  region  of  Le¬ 
banon,  and  about  Joppa.  (Ezek. 
xvii.  6.)  Very  often,  however, 
the  Syrian  vines  are  trained 
upon  trellis,  or  frame-work, -in 
straight  rows  ;  sometimes  upon 
rees,  and  particularly  the  fig 
ree,  whence  the  proverbial 
expression,  to  repose  under 
one’s  own  vine  and  fig  tree,  as 
an  emblem  of  peace  and  secu¬ 
rity.  (Mic.  iv.  4.  Zech.  iii.  10.) 
Vines  are  found  at  Hebron 
trained  in  this  manner,  and 
bearing  clusters  of  ten  pounds 
weight.  Sometimes  they  run 


Vineyards  were  enclosed 
with  a  hedge  or  a  wall,  to  de¬ 
fend  them  from  the  ravages  of 
beasts,  to  which  they  are  often 
exposed.  A  tower  was  also 
built  as  the  station  of  a  watch¬ 
man.  (Num.  xxii.24.  Ps.lxxx. 
8— 13.  Prov.  xxiv.  31.  Sol. 
Song  ii.  15.  Matt.  xxi.  33.  See 
Tower.) 

The  Hebrews  devoted  as 
much  care  to  their  vineyards 
as  to  their  agriculture.  When 
Isaiah  predicts  the  invasion  of 
the  Assyrians,  lie  declares  that 
the  vineyard  where  there  were 
a  thousand  vines  for  a  thou¬ 
sand  pieces  of  silver,  shall  be 
even  for  briers  and  thorns. 
(Isa.  vii.  23.)  When  he  would 
represent  sorrow,  he  says,  The 
new  wine  moumeth,  the  vine 
lemguisheth,  and  all  the  merry- 
hearted  do  sigh.  (Isa.  xxiv.  7.) 
SoZechariah  (viii.  12)  foretells 
future  prosperity  thus :  The 
seed  shall  lie  prosperous,  the 
vine  shall  give  her  fruit.  (See 
also  Hab.  iii.  17.  Mal.iii.il.) 

The  pruning  of  the  vine  is  a 
familiar  operation,  which  we 


VTN 

all  know  to  be  necessary  in 
order  to  its  fruitfulness.  The 
law  which  forbade  the  Israel¬ 
ites  to  gather  the  grapes  of  the 
first  three  years,  (Lev.  xix.  23,) 
gave  occasion  to  the  more  care¬ 
ful  and  unsparing  use  of  the 
pruning  knife;  hence  the 
young  stock  came  to  much 
greater  strength.  A  traveller 
mentions  a  custom  of  the  vine¬ 
dressers  to  prune  their  vines 
thrice  in  the  year;  the  first 
time  in  March;  and  when  clus¬ 
ters  begin  to  form,  they  again 
lop  off  tljose  twigs  which  have 
mo  fruit;  the  stock  puts  out 
new  twigs  in  April,  some  of 
which  form  clusters,  and  those 
which  have  none  are  again  cut 
off  in  May ;  the  vine  shoots  a 
third  time,  and  the  new 
branches  have  a  third  set  of 
clusters.  (See  John  xv.  2,  in 
which  passage  the  word  purg- 
eth  may  be  rendered  pruneth.) 

What  remains  of  the  culture 
of  the  vine  is  very  simple. 
Once  or  twice  in  the  season 
the  plough  was  run  through  the 
vineyard,  to  loosen  the  earth, 
and  free  it  from  weeds;  the 
stones  were  gathered  out,  and 
a  proper  direction  was  given 
to  the  growing  branches.  (Isa. 
v.  2.)  The  vine-dressers,  or 
keepers  of  the  vineyard,  formed 
a  distinct  branch  of  labourers. 
(2  Kings  xxv.  12.) 

The  regular  vintage  begins 
in  Syria  about  the  middle  of 
September,  and  lasts  about 
two  months.  (Lev.  xxvi.  5. 
Amos  ix.  13.)  Ripe  clusters, 
however,  are  found  in  Pales¬ 
tine  as  early  as  June  and  July, 
although  the  regular  vintage 
begins  iu  September.  This  dif¬ 
ference  may  arise  from  the 
threefold  growth  of  the  vine 
already  mentioned.  The  first 
gathered  in  Canaan  is  probably 
meant  in  Num.  xiii.  20. 

The  vintage  was  celebrated 
by  the  Hebrews  with  still  more 
festivity  than  the  harvest,  (Isa. 

626 


V  U  W 

xvi.  9,)  and  was  some..„te«  a 
season  of  wicked  mirth.  (Judg. 

IX'v  I N  T  A  G  E.  (See  Wine, 
Vine.)  . 

VIOL.  (Amos  vi.  5.)  This 
was  an  instrument  of  music, 
and  supposed  to  be  the  same 
with  the  psaltery.  (See  Music.) 
Chanting  to  the  sound  ol  it  was 
to  make  like  sounds  with  the 
voice,  modulating  the  tones  so 
as  to  correspond  with  the 
-sounds  of  the  instrument. 

VIPER.  (Job  xx.  16.)  A  ve¬ 
nomous  serpent,  from  two  to 
five  feet  in  length.  Its  bite  is 
extremely  painful,  and,  in 
many  species,  quickly  and 
certainly  fatal ;  so  that  it  was 
anciently  regarded  as  a  special 
judgment  from  heaven  to  be 
bitten  by  one.  (.Acts  xxvm. 

\ _ 6.)  Hence  the  viper  is  an 

emblem  of  whatever  is  deceit¬ 
ful  and  destructive.  (Matt.  ill. 
7-  xii.  34;  xxiii.  33.  Luke  in. 
7.’  See  Cockatrice.) 

VISION.  (Num.xxiv.  4.)  In 
former  times  God  was  pleased 
to  reveal  himself,  and  commu¬ 
nicate  his  will  in  what  were 
called  visions,  Which  were 
caused  either  in  the  night  in 
ordinary  sleep,  (Dan.  vn.  1,) 
or  by  day  in  a  temporary 
trance.  (Acts  xxvi.  13.  See 

Dream,  Trance.)  .  . 

VOW.  (Num.  vi.  2.)  In  the 
scriptural  use,  this  word  means 
a  solemn  religious  promise,  or 

sssaf-wiS 

vows  were  made  with  prayer, 
and  paid  with  thanksgiving. 
(Num.  vi.  2-21.  Judg.  xi  30, 


VUL 

«.  Ps.  lxi.  5.  Acts  xvm.  1& 
See  Nazakite.  See  also  Hib- 
lical  ANTiauiTiEs,  vol.  11.  cb 
V  s  1,  by  Ain.  S.  S.  Union.) 

VULTURE.  (Lev.  xi.  14.) 

A  filthy,  rapacious  bird,  un¬ 
clean  by  the  ceremonial  law, 
(Deut.  xiv.  13,)  but  useful  for 
destroying  substances  which 
might  otherwise  produce  pes¬ 
tilence.  They  flock  to  fields 
of  battle  to  satiate  themselves 
upon  the  unburied.  (Isa.  xxxiv 
6. 1 5.)  The  extreme  acuteness  of 
the  sense  of  sight  in  the  vulture 
enables  it  to  discern  its  prey 
at  a  great  distance :  and  it  is  a 
striking  instance  in  the  accu¬ 
racy  of  the  Scripture  wpters, 
that  while  common  sentiment 
attributes  to  the  sense  of  smelb 
n"  the  peculiar  faculties  ol 
lh?s  bird,  its  Hebrew  name 
means  seeing.  And  in  the  re¬ 
cital  of  God;s  wonders  in  the 
animal  creation,  in  the  book 
of  Job,  lhe  characteristic  of  the 
eagle  (one  of  the  same  tribe 
with  the  vulture)  is,  that  her 
eyes  behold  afar  off.  The  same 
peculiarity  is  referred  to,  Job 
xxviii.  7,  there  is  a  path  which, 
the  vulture's  eye  hath  not 
seen;  implying  that  its  vision 
is  most  acute  and  penetrating. 
Recent  experiments  by  a  natu- 
ralist  in  South  Carolina,  where 
vultures  abound,  prove  satis- 
factorily  that  this  bird  is  guided 
solely  by  its  sight  in  the  pur¬ 
suit  of  its  prey,  and  that  its 
powers  of  vision  are  very  extra¬ 
ordinary  :  thus  sustaining  the 
truth  of  Scripture,  even  in  mat¬ 
ters  not  of  a  religious  or  moral 
character ;  and  this,  in  contra¬ 
diction  to  the  common  opinion 
of  mankind. 


WAL 


WAL 


WAFER.  (Ex.  xvi.  31.)  A 
thill  cake  of  fine  flour, 
used  in  various  offerings  anoint¬ 
ed  with  oil.  (See  Manna.) 

WAGON.  (Gen.  xlv.  19.) 
Wagons,  and  similar  vehicles, 
which  are  considered  by  us  so 
indispensable  in  transporta¬ 
tion,  are  not  used  at  this  day  in 
the  east,  or  in  Egypt.  Niebuhr 
States  that  he  saw  nothing  of 
the  kind  either  in  Arabia  or 
Egypt.  In  ancient  times,  how¬ 
ever,  they  were  well  known, 
and  frequently  employed. 
(Num.  vii.  3.  Amos  ii.  13.) 
We  have  figures  of  rude  vehi¬ 
cles  of  this  kind  on  monu¬ 
ments,  supposed  to'  be  as  an¬ 
cient  as  the  age  succeeding 
that  of  Joseph. 

WAIL.  (Ezek.  xxxii.  18.) 
To  mourn  with  loud  and  vio¬ 
lent  expressions  of  distress  and 
despair. 

WALLS.  (Gen.  xlix.  6.)  The 
walls  of  ancient  times  were 
generally  built  of  earth,  or 
clay,  mixed  with  straw,  and 
hardened  in  the  sun.  Hence 
it  was  necessary  to  build  them 
of  great  thickness,  in  order 
to  ensure  their  permanency. 
When  any  breach  took  place 
in  such  a  mass  of  earth,  either 
by  heavy  rains  or  some  defect 
in  the  foundation,  the  conse¬ 
quences  were  very  serious. 
(Ps.  lxii.  3.  Isa.  xxx.  13.)  The 
fact  that  bricks  were  made  in 
such  a  rude  aud  perishable 
manner  gives  force  to  the  con¬ 
trast  presented  in  Isa.  ix.  10; 
and  as  considerable  straw  en¬ 
tered  into  their  composition, 
and  the  earth  of  which  they 
were  made  was  dry  and  porous, 
it  is  not  surprising  that  they 
could  be  destroyed  by  fire. 
(Amos  i.  7. 10.  14.) 

The  expression  in  Job  xxiv. 
11,  is  supposed  by  some  to  refer 
to  the  low  walls  which  were 
built  in  vineyards  for  the  vines 
to  run  upon ;  and  they  maintain 


that  the  passage  should  read 
thus— ‘They  work  at  midday 
among  their  walls  on  rows  of 
vines.’  It  may  be  that  olive- 
yards  were  enclosed  with 
walls,  as  we  know  vineyards 
were,  and  then  the  passage 
would  be  plain  as  it  stands. 

The  walls  of  vineyards  were 
temporary,  being  probably  de¬ 
signed-  chiefly  to  guard  the 
enclosure  against  the  jackals, 
which  were  numerous  in  Pales- 
tine,  especially  during  the 
vintage,  often  destroying  whole 
vineyards  and  fields  of  cucum 
bers.  Hence  the  bitterness 
of  the  sarcasm  of  Tobiah,  (Neh 
iv.  3,)  as  if  the  wall  the  Jews 
were  buildingfor  the  protection 
of  their  capital,  was  scarcely 
better  or  stronger  than  a  tem 
porary  vineyard  wall  to  bar 
out  jackals  or  foxes. 

A  fenced  wall  (Isa.  ii.  15)  is 
a  fortified  wall.  (See  Cities.) 

WAR.  (Gen.  xiv.  2.)  We 
read  of  vast  armips  in  the  land 
of  Palestine.  (2Chron.  xiii.  3: 
xiv.  8,  9;  xvii.  14—18;  xxv. 
5—7;  xxvi.  11 — 15.) 

From  the  nature  of  the  arms 
and  the  customs  of  the  an¬ 
cients,  their  battles  were  truly 
murderous.  In  those  times, 
heroes  sought  through  the 
whole  fieldTor  their  personal 
enemies.  Scarcely  ever  was 
any  quarter  given,  except 
where  the  vanquished  was  re¬ 
tained  as  a  slave,  and  conse¬ 
quently  the  number  of  killed 
was  often  immense.  (2  Citron,  \ 
xiii.  17.) 

Although  the  military  an 
was  comparatively  simple,  yet 
ingenious  stratagems  of  various 
kinds  were  practised.  Ene¬ 
mies  were  then,  as  now,  sur¬ 
prised  and  overcome  by  unex¬ 
pected  divisions  of  the  forces, 
by  ambushes,  and  by  false 
retreats.  (Gen.  xiv.  15.  Josh, 
viii.  12.  Judg.  xx.  36—39.  2 
I  Kings  vii.  12,) 


WAR 

Previously  lo  the  invention 
of  fire-arms,  it  was  found  ne- 
cessary  to  resort  to  many  com- 
plicated  and  unwieldy  ina- 
chines  for  casting  heavy  stones, 
and  other  destructive,  missiles. 
We  find,  however,  little  allu¬ 
sion  to  these  in  the  Bible. 
About  the  end  of  the  ninth  or 
the  beginning  of  the  eighth  | 


WAR 

century  before  Christ,  Uzziah 
made  in  Jerusalem  engines 
invented  by  cunning  men,  to 
be  on  the  towers  and  bulwarks, 
to  shoot  arrows  and  great 
stones  withal.  (2Chron.  xxvi. 
15.)  These  were  obviously 
similar  to  those  in  use  by  the 
Greeks  and  Romans. 

Among  these  was  the  batter- 


WAR 

ing-ram  (Ezek.  iv.  1,2;  xxi. 
22.)  This  was  nothing  more 
than  a  long  beam  of  strong 
wood,  usually  oak.  It  was 
Intended  to  batter  down  walls, 
and  the  end  with  which  the 
assault  was  made  was  armed 
with  a  mass  of  heavy  metal, 
in  the  shape  of  a  rain’s  head. 
Occasionally  they  were  sharp¬ 
ly  pointed  at  this  end.  These 
great  beams  were  at  first  car¬ 
ried  by  the  soldiers,  and  driven 
■gainst  the  walls;  afterwards 
hey  were  placed  upon  wheels ; 


WAR 

but  in  process  of  time,  they 
were  suspended  by  heavy 
chains,  so  that  a  comparatively 
small  force  would  impel  them 
with  vast  effect  against  a  forti¬ 
fication.  The  men  who  worked 
the  battering-ram  were  pro¬ 
tected  by  a  covering  or  roof, 
spread  with  something  damp 
and  tough,  (as  wet  hides,)  to 
resist  the  fire  and  the  weapons 
of  the  besieged. 

The  crow  was  also  the  name 
of  an  instrumentof  war,  a  figuie 
of  which  is  here  given. 


It  is  supposed  that  Hushai 
(2Sam.  xvii.  13)  alluded  to  a 
machine  like  the  crow,  when 
he  said  to  Absalom,  If  David 
be  in  a  city,  then  shall  all  Is¬ 
rael  bring  ropes  to  that  city, 
and  we  will  draw  it  into  the 
river,  until  there  be  not  one 
small  stone  found  there.  The 
crow  could  only  be  effective 
where  the  walls  of  a  town 
were  not  in  good  condition,  or 
not  well  defended;  and  then 
if  the  besiegers  were  sufficient¬ 
ly  numerous  to  work  it,  by  ap¬ 


plying  a  great  number  of  ropes 
to  the  same  beam,  they  could 
soon  open  a  way  for  the  be¬ 
sieging  army.  There  certainly 
is  reason  to  conclude  that 
Hushai’s  proposition  arose  from 
his  knowing  that  king  David 
was  almost  deserted,  and  that 
the  hearts  of  the  men  of  Israel 
were  after  Absulom,  and  that 
the  plan,  though  injudicious  in 
itself,  alluded  to  the  use  of 
some  weapon  of  attack  similar 
to  the  crow  which  was  worked 
by  means  of  ropes,  so  pointedly 
630 


WAR 

mentioned  in  this  otherwise 
Obscure  passage. 

But  there  was  no  part  of  the 
ancient  military  preparations 
which  was  more  terrible  than 
the  chariot.  (Ex.  xiv.  7.  Deul. 
xx.  1.  Josh.  xvii.  16.  Judg.  iv. 
3.)  They  were  in  common 
use  wherever  there  was  any 
cavalry.  (2  Sam.  x.  18.  1  Chron. 
xviii.  4.  2  Chron.  xii.  3;  xiv.  9. 
See  Chariot.) 

Walls  and  towers  were  used 
in  fortifications,  and  the  latter 
were  guarded  by  soldiers,  and 
are  called  garrisons.  (2 Sam. 
\iii.  6.  Ezek.  xxvi.  11.  .See 
Ward.) 

As  to  the  order  of  battle,  we 
have  no  certain  knowledge. 
The  prophet  alludesto  it.  (Jer. 
xlvi.  3, 4.)  Among  all  ancient 
nations,  it  was  customary  to 
take  previous  refreshment  of 
food,  in  order  to  give  strength 
to  the  army.  The  soldiers, 
and  especially  the  command¬ 
ers,  arrayed  themselves  in 
their  costliest  garments  and 
fairest  armour,  exGepl  in  cases ' 
where  disguise  was  attempted. 
(1  Kings’ xxii.  30.) 

Various  passages  lead  to  the 
opinion  that  divisions  of  the 
army  were  common,  as  in 
modern  times.  (Gen.  xiv.  15. 
Judg.  vii.  16.  1  Sam.  xi.  11.) 
The  most  frequent  division  of 
the  host  was  into  tens,  hun¬ 
dreds,  and  thousands ;  and 
each  of  these  had  its  com¬ 
mander,  or  captain.  (Judg.  xx. 
10.  1  Sam.  viii.  12.  2Kingsxi. 
40  This  is  an  ancient  method, 
and  is  still  common  in  Persia. 
Among  the  Hebrews  these  di¬ 
visions  had  some  reference 
lo  the  several  families,  and 
were  under  the  heads  of  fami¬ 
lies,  as  their  officers.  (2  Chron. 
xxv.  5 ;  xxvi.  12.)  The  cap¬ 
tains  of  hundreds  and  of  thou¬ 
sands  were  of  high  rank,  or 
(so  to  speak)  staff-officers,  who 
were  admitted  to  share  in  the 
councils  of  war.  (1  Chron.  xiii. 
1.)  The  whole  army  had  its 


WAR 

commander-in-chief,  or  cap¬ 
tain,  who  was  over  the  host, 
and  its  scribe,  or  keeper  of  the 
muster-roll.  (1  Kings  iv.  4. 

1  Chron.  xviii.  15,  16;  xxvii. 
32—34.  2 Chron.  xvii.  14;  xxvi. 
11.)  In  Isa.  xxxiii.  18,  the  words 
translated  he  that  counted  the 
towers  probably  indipate  what 
we  should  call  a  chief  en¬ 
gineer. 

Under  David,  the  army  of 
288,000  men  was  divided  into 
twelve  corps,  each  of  which 
was  consequently24, 000  strong, 
and  had  its  own  general. 
(1  Chron.  xxvii.).  Under  Je- 
hoshaphat  this  was  altered, 
and  there  were  five  unequal 
corps,  under  as  many  com¬ 
manders.  (2  Chron.  xvii.  14— 
19.) 

The  cohort  had  five  or  six 
hundred  men,  and  the  legion 
embraced  ten  cohorts. 

The  light  troops  were  pro¬ 
vided  with  arms  which  they 
used  at  some  distance  from  the 
enemy.  They  are  designated 

2  Chron.  xiv.  8;  while  the 
heavy  armed  were  those  who 
bo  re  shield  and  spear.  (IChron. 
xii.  24.)  The  light  troops  were 
taken  principally  from  the 
tribe  of  Benjamin,  as  appears 
from  the  last  cited  texts. 

Kings  and  generals  had  ar¬ 
mour-bearers,  selected  from 
the  bravest  of  their  favourites, 
and  who  not  only  carried  their 
armour,  which  was  in  those 
days  a  necessary  service,  but 
stood  by  them  in  the  hour  of 
danger,  carried  their  orders, 
and  were  not  unlike  modern 
culjutants.  (1  Sam.  xxxi.  4.) 

The  troops  were  excited  to 
ardour  and  bravery  by  address¬ 
es  from  their  priests,  who  were 
commanded  to  appeal  to  ihem. 
(Deut.  xx.  2.)  In  later  times 
kines  themselves  were  accus 
tomed  to  harangue  their  ar¬ 
mies.  (2Chron.  xiii.  4.)  Final¬ 
ly  (perhaps  after  the  sacrifices 
had  been  offered)  the  summons 
was  given  by  the  holy  trum 


WAS 

pets.  (Num.  x.  9,  10.  2  Chron. 
xiii.  12—14.) 

It  was  the  practice  of  the 
Greeks,  when  they  were  with¬ 
in  half  a  mile  of  liie  enemy,  to 
sing  their  war-song.  A  simi¬ 
lar  custom  probably  prevailed 
among  the  Jews.  (2Chron.  xx. 
21.) 

Next  followed  the  shout,  or 
war-cry,  which  the  Romans 
accompanied  with  the  noise 
of  shields  and  spears  struck 
violently  together.  This  war- 
cry  was  common  in  the  east, 
as  it  is  to  this  day  among  the 
Turks.  It  was  the  alarm  or 
shout  so  often  mentioned  in 
Scripture.  (1  Sam.  xvii.  52. 
2Chron.  xiii.  15.  Jobxxxix.25. 
Jer.  iv.  19.) 

The  frequent  figurative  allu¬ 
sions  to  the  art  and  weapons 
of  war,  used  by  the  sacred 
writers,  are  obvious  without 
explanation. 

The  practice  of  offensive  war 
in  modern  times  cannot  be  de¬ 
fended  by  reference  to  sacred 
history.  We  have  a  new 
and  better  dispensation,  which 
breathes  forgiveness  and  for¬ 
bearance;  and  the  tendency 
and  promised  fruit  of  which  is 
to  banish  wars  and  fightings 
from  the  earth,  and  make  it  the 
abode  of  peace  and  love.  (For 
further  information  on  this  sub¬ 
ject,  see  Arms,  Armour.  See 
also  Omar,  ch.  iii. — v.,  and 
Biblical  Antiquities,  vol.  i. 
ch.  ix.  §  6,  both  by  Am.  S.  S. 
Union.) 

WARD.  (Gen.  xl.'3.  Acts 
xii.  10.)  A  prison,  or  an  apart¬ 
ment  thereof.  Also  a  garrison 
or  military  post,  (Neh.  xii.  25,) 
or  a  class  or  detachment  of 
persons  for  any  particular  ser¬ 
vice.  (1  Chron.  ix.  23;  xxv.  8. 
Neh.  xiii.  30.) 

WARDROBE.  (2Kingsxxii. 
14.)  The  place  where  the 
royal  robes  cr  priests’  vest¬ 
ments  were  deposited. 

WASHING.  (See  Feet.) 

WASHPOT.  Ps.  lx.  8.)  This 


WAT 

word  in  its  connexion  signifies 
that  the  Moabites  should  be 
reduced  to  the  most  abject  and 
degrading  servitude. 

Watch.  (Ex.xiv.24.)  The 
original  division  of  the  night 
was  into  the  first,  middle,  and 
morning  watch ;  but  after  the 
captivity,  the  Jews  adopted 
the  custom  of  Romeand  Greece, 
which  divided  the  twelve  hours 
of  the  night  into  four  watches, 
beginning  with  six  in  the  after¬ 
noon.  (Mark  xiii.  35.  See 
Cock-crowino.)  The  time 
that  passed  between  the  watch¬ 
es  seems  to  a  person  that  sleeps 
souildly  as  but  a  single  mo¬ 
ment.  (Ps.  xc.  4.) 

WATCHER.  (Dan.  iv.  17. 
23.)  This  word  is  supposed  to 
denote  either  the  Divine  Being 
himself  (ver.  24)  or  his  holy 
messengers,  (ver.  13.)  It  im¬ 
ports  the  special  universal  pro- 
vidence  of  God,  by  which  the 
affairs  of  the  universe  are  or¬ 
dered,  and  the  rise  and  fall  of 
kings  and  empires  controlled. 
The  twelve  superior  gods  of 
the  Chaldeans  were  called 
counsellor  gods,  and  were  sup. 
posed  to  watch  over  and  i  nte 
rest  themselves  in  the  minutes) 
affairs  of  men. 

WATCHMAN.  (Sol.  Song 
v.  7.  Isa.  xxi.  11.)  In  Persia, 
the  watchmen  were  required 
to  indemnify  those  who  were 
robbed  in  the  streets,  and  hence 
they  were  extremely  vigilant 
to  give  the  alarm,  and  protect 
the  city  and  its  inhabitants 
from  violence.  (Ezek.  xxxiii. 
2-6.)  The  watchman  was  also 
required  to  call  the  hours  of 
the  night  in  a  loud  voice,  as 
he  patrolled  the  streets.  This 
is  customary  at  the  present  day 
in  some  large  cities.  In  time 
of  danger  the  watchmen  were 
posted  in  towers  over  the  gates 
of  the  city.  (Isa.  xxi.  8 ;  lxii.  6.) 

WATER.  (Gen.  xviii.  4.) 
The  scarcity  of  water  is  one 
of  the  calamities  of  the  eastern 
world,  and  the  distress  wh;ch 
632 


WAT 

is  often  experienced  by  man 
and  beast  for  want  of  it  is 
indescribable.  Park,  the  Af¬ 
rican  traveller,  tells  us  that 
after  several  days  of  privation, 
he  had  fallen  asleep,  and  his 
fancy  would  carry  him  to  the 
banks  of  some  clear  and  beau¬ 
tiful  river,  which  he  surveyed 
with  transport,  and  eagerly 
hastened  to  quench  his  parch- 
ing  thirst,  and  the  fancied 
effort  would  wake  him  to  the 
dreadful  disappointment.  How 
admirably  does  this  illustrate 
Isa.  xxix.  8.  ... 

In  Prov.  xxi.  1,  the  original 
term  rendered  rivers  signifies 
divisions ,  partitions ,  sections , 
and  refers  to  the  ancient  ori¬ 
ental  methods  of  conveying 
water  to.  orchards  and  gardens. 
This  was  by  means  of  canals, 
or  rivulets  flowing  in  artificial 
channels,  called  in  Hebrew 
divisions ,  i.  e.  cuts  or  trenches , 
which  distributed  the  water  in 
everydirection,to  irrigateabun- 
dantly  their  otherwise  parched 
and  barren  soil.  With  a  simi¬ 
lar  allusion,  the  psalmist  (Ps. 
i.  3)  says  of  the  godly  man,  the 
lover  of  the  divine  law,  that 
he  shall  be  like  a  tree  planted 
by  the  rivers  of  water,  (divi¬ 
sions  or  sections  of  water,)  that 
bring  eth  forth  his  fruit  in  his 
season,  o.nd  his  leaf  shall  not 
wither.  The  reference  is  doubt¬ 
less  to  trees  nourished  by  arti¬ 
ficial  irrigation,  like  those  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  Damas¬ 
cus.  The  gardens  are  thick¬ 
set  with  fruit  trees  of  all  kinds, 
kept  fresh  and  verdant  by  the 
waters  of  the  Barady.  This 
river,  as  soon  as  it  issues  out 
from  the  cleft  of  the  mountain 
into  the  plain,  is  immediately 
divided  into  three  streams,  of 
which  the  middlemost  and 
largest  runs  directly  to  Damas¬ 
cus,  through  a  large  open  field 
called  the  Ager  Damascenus, 
and  is  distributed  to  all  the 
cisterns  and  fountains  in  the 
city.  The  other  two,  which  are  i 


WAT 

taken  to  be  the  work  of  art,  ars 
drawn  round,  the  one  to  the 
right  hand,  and  the  other  to 
the  left,  (as  the  rivers  of  water 
are  turned,)  on  the  borders  of 
the  gardens,  into  which  they 
are  let  out  as  they  pass,  by 
little  currents,  ( divisions ,)  and 
so  dispersed  all  over  the  vast 
wood ;  insomuch  that  there  is 
not  a  garden  but  has  a  fine 
quick  stream  running  through 
fc.  A  traveller  describing  the 
orange  garden  of  the  emir  of 
Beyroot,  observes  that  “  it  con¬ 
tains  a  large  quadrangular  plat 
of  ground,  divided  into  sixteen 
lesser  squares,  four  in  a  row, 
with  walks  between  them. 
The  walks  are  shaded  with 
orange  trees,  of  a  large  spread¬ 
ing  size.  Every  one  of  these 
sixteen  lesser  squares  in  the 
garden  was  bordered  with 
stone;  and  in  the  stonework 
were  troughs  very  artificially 
contrived,  for  conveying  the 
water  all  over  the  garden: 
there  being  little  outlets  cut 
at  every  tree,  for  the  stream, 
as  it  passed  by,  to  flow  out 
and  water  it-”  With  these 
items  of  oriental  custom  be¬ 
fore  us,  we  perceive  at  once 
the  point  of  the  comparison  in 
the  passage,  Prov.  xxi.  1.  In 

-r ,  .  _  •  m  i/n  ooii-1  nr  inn 


Deut.  xi.  10,  it  is  said  of  the 
land  of  promise,  The  land  whi¬ 
ther  thou  goest  in  to  possess 
it,  is  not  as  the  land  of  Egypt > 
from  whence  ye  came  out* 
where  thou  sowedst ,  thy  seed * 
and  wateredst  it  with  thy  foot) 
as  a  garden  of  herbs.  The 
phrase  watering  with  the  foot 
may  refer  to  the  construction  of 
channels  and  water-courses 
like  those  above  mentioned, 
which  was  accomplished  by 
the  action  of  *the  foot  in  dig¬ 
ging.  So  also  in  2 Kings  xix. 

24,  I  have  digged  and  armik 
strange  waters ,  and  with  trie 
sole  of  my  feet  have  I  dried 
up  all  the  rivers  of  besieged 
places ;  i.  e.  I  have  digged  new 
channels  by  the  labours  iL  the 
633 


WAT 

pade,  have  turned  the  rivers 
out  of  their  ancient  courses, 
which  consequently  were  dried 
up,  and  thus  have  made  my 
army  to  drink  of  strange  wa¬ 
ters,  flowing  in  channels  to 
which  they  had  never  before 
been  accustomed.  It  would 
with  us  be  a  very  bold  figure 
to  say  that  Cyrus  dried  up  the 
Euphrates,  the  river  of  Baby¬ 
lon,  with  his  foot;  but  when 
understood,  as  now  explained, 
of  digginganewchannel, which 
was  aone  with  proper  imple¬ 
ments  by  the  agency  of  many 
thousand  feet,  the  expression 
would  be  by  no  means  high- 
wrought  to  the  imagination  of 
an  oriental.  Another,  and  as 
some  think,  much  more  natu¬ 
ral  opinion  is,  that  allusion  is 
made  to  the  machinery  for 
drawing  up  water,  by  means  of 
a  rope  or  string  of  buckets  at¬ 
tached  to  a  wheel,  which  was 
turned  like  a  modern  tread¬ 
mill  ;  a  description  and  cut  of 
which  may  be  seen  in  Scrip- 
ture  Illustrations,  part  i. 

.  22 — 39,  by  Am.  S.  S.  Union, 
nthehotcountriesoftheeast 
the  assuagina  of  thirst  is  one  of 
the  most  delightful  sensations 
that  can  be  felt,  and  hence  the 
frequent  allusions  to  it  in  the 
sacred  writings.  (Ps.  cxliii.  6. 
Prov.  xxv.  25,  &c.)  Every  at¬ 
tention  which  humanity  and 
hospital  ity  can  suggest  is  paid 
at  the  present  day  to  furnishing 
travellers  with  water.  We  are 
told  that  public  reservoirs  or 
'pools  are  opened  in  Arabia  and 
Egypt;  and  in  the  Moham¬ 
medan  villages  of  Palestine, 
bread  and  water  were  furnished 
by  the  inhabitants  gratuitously. 
In  India,  at  this  day,  the  na¬ 
tives  offer  water  to  weary  tra¬ 
vellers,  in  honour  of  their  gods. 
Hence  the  force  and  beauty 
of  the  allusion.  Malt.  x.  42. 
Water  was  commonly  drawn 
out  of  wells  by  females,  and 
transported,  upon  the  shoulder 
or  head,  in  large  leathern  or 


WEE 

earthen  vessels.  (See  Con¬ 
duit.  See  Evening  Recrea¬ 
tions,  vol.  ii.  pp.  110 — 114,  and 
Bedouin  Arabs,  ch.  ii.,  both 
by  Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

Water  spouts.  (Ps.  xlii.7.) 
This  surprising  phenomenon 
was  not  unfrequently  seen  on 
the  Syriac  and  Jewish  coasts. 
It  is  forcibly  alluded  to  by  the 
psalmist  in  the  passage  above 
cited.  He  represents  the  ca¬ 
lamities  that  came  upon  him, 
according  to  the  prediction, 
(2 Sam.  xii.  11,)  as  like  a  vio¬ 
lent  storm  at  sea,  where  the 
torrents  that  pour  down  from 
above  meet  the  columns  of 
water  that  ascend  from  the 
depths  beneath;  the  clouds 
above  calling  to  the  waters 
below,  and  exciting  each  other 
to  join  their  force  and  over¬ 
whelm  the  despairing  sufferer 
in  hopeless  destruction. 

WAX.  (Ps.  xxii.  14.)  A  well 
known  substance,  easily  soft¬ 
ened  and  dissolved  by  heat. 
(Ps.  lxviii.  2;  xcvii.  5.  Mic. 
i.  4.) 

WEASEL.  (Lev.xi.29.)  Ge- 
nerally  agreed  to  mean  the 
mole.  (See  Mole.) 

WEATHER.  (Job  xxxvii. 
22.)  The  words  fair  weather 
might  better  be  rendered  gold¬ 
en  splendour,  and  then  the 
allusion  to  the  aurora  borealis 
is  obvious. 

WEDDING  GARMENT. 
(Matt.  xxii.  11.)  The  wedding 
garments  were  furnished  by 
the  host,  and  were  required  to 
be  worn  by  those  wno  were 
admitted  as  guests  at  marriage- 
suppers.  So  holiness  and  right¬ 
eousness  are  called  the  gar¬ 
ments  in  which  the  guests 
must  appear  at  the  marriage 
supper  of  the  Lamb.  (See 
Marriage.) 

WEEK.  (Gen.  xxix.27.)  The 
word  in  this  passage  means 
the  term  of  seven  days,  during 
which  the  marriage  festival 
lasted,  as  if  Laban  had  said, 
‘Attend  to  the  ceremonies  of 
634 


WEL 

th'e  present  marriage  first,  and 
then  commence  another  term 
of  seven  years  service  for  Ra¬ 
chel.’  The  division  of  time 
into  portions  of  seven  days 
had  its  origin  at  the  beginning 
of  the  creation,  (Gen.  vii.  4— 
id;  viii.  10.  12,)  and  traces  of 
it  are  found  in  every  quarter 
of  the  world.  It  is  to  be  ob¬ 
served  that  this  is  not  a  divi¬ 
sion  of  time  suggested,  like  the 
day,  month,  or  year,  by  the 
revolutions  of  the  heavenly 
oodies.  It  is  perfectly  arbi¬ 
trary,  and  yet  in  all  the  coun¬ 
tries  of  the  east,  among  ancient 
nations,  before  they  had  any 
knowledge  of  the  sacred  his¬ 
tory,  or  even  in  the  unculti¬ 
vated  tribes  of  Africa,  this 
division  is  recognised,  and  the 
days  of  the  week  named. 

The  Jews  gave  no  names  for 
the  days  of  the  week,  but  sim¬ 
ply  the  number,  as  the  first, 
second,  or  third  day.  And  this 
practice  is  adopted  by  many 
persons  at  the  present  day, 
especially  by  the  society  of 
Friends.  The  names  of  the 
days  in  modern  use  are  de¬ 
rived  fre-n  the  Saxon  language, 
in  which  they  have  a  mytho-. 
logical  signification. 

■Besides  weeks  of  seven  days, 
which  were  rendered  from  one 
Sabbath  to  another,  they  had 
a  week  of  years,  or  seven  years, 
and  a  week  of  seven  limps 
seven  years,  which  brought  in 
the  fiftieth  or  jubilee  year. 

Feast  of  weeks.  (See 
Feasts.)  „  ,r 

WEIGHTS.  (See  Mea- 

SURES.) 

WELLS.  (Ex.  xv.  27.)  These 
were  very  essential  in  a  coun¬ 
try  of  flocks  and  herds,  and 
were  generally  provided  at 
each  place  of  pasturage.  They 
were  deep,  (John  iv.  11,)  and 
expensive  to  dig  and  preserve, 
and  hence  were  a  valuable 
part  of  the  husbandman’s  pro¬ 
perty.  (Num.xx.  17—19  )  Th*y 
were  sometimes  owned  in  com- 


Fnl 


WHE 

mon.  (Gen.xxix.2,3,)  Toprotect 
them  from  the  sand,  and  from 
being  used  by  others,  they  were 
covered  usually  with  a  stone. 
(Gen.xxix.  2.8.)  To  stop  them 
up  was,  and  slill  is,  regarded 
as  an  act  of  hostility,  (Gen. 
xxvi.  15;)  and  to  invade  the 
right  of  property  in  them  was 
often  the  cause  of  sore  con¬ 
tention.  (Gen.  xxi.  25.)  In  a 
country  where  water  was  so 
valuable,  and  so  difficult  to  be 
procured,  it  was  an  appro¬ 
priate  emblem  of  rich  bless¬ 
ings.  (Jer.  ii.  13;  xvii.  13.) 

Jacob’s  well.  (See  Omar, 
110—114,  by  Am.  S.  S. 

nion.) 

WHALE.  (Job  vii.  12.)  In 
the  Mosaic  account  of  the  cre¬ 
ation,  we  are  told  ihat  on  the 
fifth  day  God  created  great 
whales.  (Gen.  i. 21.)  The  word 
probably  means  no  particular 
species  of  animals,  but  the 
largest  classof  creeping  things, 
whether  inhabiting  the  land  or 
the  water.  The  geological  in¬ 
vestigations  of  the  present  day 
determine  such  to  have  exist¬ 
ed,  of  a  character  different 
from  any  now  k  nown ;  and 
comparative  anatomy  proves 
their  nature  to  be  most  accu¬ 
rately  described  by  the  term 
great  creeping  things.  This 
use  of  a  general  word  to  denote 
some  huge  monster  is  supposed 
by  some  to  occur  in  Ps.  civ.  26. 
Ezek.  xxxii.  2,  compared  with 
Matt.  xii.  40,  and  also  Job  vii. 
12.  (See  Jonah.) 

WHEAT.  (Judg.  vi.  II.) 
This  most  useful  and  important 
of  all  grains  was  produced 
abundantly  in  the  land  of 
Canaan.  In  our  translation 
it  is  often  mentioned  under  the 
general  name  of  corn.  (See 
Corn.  For  a  particular  de¬ 
scription  of  the  grain,  and  a 
cut  illustrative  of  it,  see  Scrip¬ 
ture  Illustrations,  part  i. 
pp.ll— 15,  by  Am.  S.S.  Union.) 
The  cut  referred  to  shows  the 
appearance  of  the  grain,  and 
635 


WIL 

is  probably  not  more  rant  and 
full  than  the  common  crop  of 
Egyptian  wheat,  and  it  shows 
also  that  Pharaoh’s  dream 
about  seven  ears  of  corn  com¬ 
ing  up  upon  one  stalk  (Gen. 
xii.  5)  was  according  to  the- 
course  of  nature. 

The  figurative  allusions  to 
this  grain  (Ps.  lxxxS  10.  Jer. 
xii.  13.  Joel  ii.  24.  Malt.  iii.  12) 
are  sufficiently  obvious. 

WHISPERERS.  (Rom.  1.29.) 
Such  as  secretly  excite  suspi¬ 
cions  against  others,  and  pro^ 
pagale  an  evil  report  with  an 
affected  desire  to  speak  of  it 
only  in  a  whisper. 

WHITED  SEPULCHRES. 
(Matt,  xxiii.  27.)  It  was  cus¬ 
tomary  to  whitewash  the  Jew¬ 
ish  sepulchres  annually,  that 
they  might  be  distinctly  seen 
and  avoided, inasmuch  as  com¬ 
ing  in  contact  with  them  was 
the  occasion  of  ceremonial  de¬ 
filement.  (Num.  xix.  16.)  This 
iractice  gave  them  a  neat  and 
'eautiful  appearance,  and  pre¬ 
sented  a  striking  contrast  to  the 
dark  and  offensive  mass  of 
putrefaction  within. 

WIDOW.  (1  Tim.  v.  4.)  By 
the  Jewish  law,  (Deut.  xxv.  5,) 
if  a  married  man  died  leaving 
no  children,  his  brother  was 
required  to  marry  the  widow, 
in  order— first,  that  the  estate 
might  be  kept  in  the  family; 
and  second,  that  he  might  in 
their  descendants  perpetuate 
the  name.  There  is  reason  to 
believe  that  more  distant  rela¬ 
tives  were  permitted  to  enter 
into  the  same  relation  for  like 
purposes,  as  ill  the  case  of  Boaz 
and  Ruth. 

WIFE.  (See  Marriage.) 

WILDERNESS  (Ex.  xiv.  3) 
and  desert.  These  words  do 
not  necessarily  import  a  mere 
waste,  but  rather  extensive 
tracts' not  under  cultivation, 
but  affording  rich  and  abun¬ 
dant  pasturage.  (Josh.  xv.  61. 
Isa.  xlii.  11.)  The  principal 


WIN 

tracts  of  this  description  were 
the  wilderness  of  Jericho,  Ju¬ 
dah,  Engedi,  Zipil-maon,  Beer- 
slieba,  Tekoa,  Gibeon,  and 
Bethaven.  (See  these  under 
their  respective  heads.) 

WILD  HONEY.  (See  Ho- 

NEY.) 

WILL  OF  GOD  (Mark  iii. 
33)  signifies  either  his  purpose 
or  pleasure,  (Eph.  i.  11,)  or  his 
laws,  (Matt.  vii.  21,)  or  his  re¬ 
vealed  will  contained  in  the 
Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New 
Testament.  (Rom.  xii.  2.) 

WILL  WORSHIP  (Col.  ii. 
23)  means  the  practice  of  such 
expedients  for  serving  and 
pleasing  God  as  are  not  re. 
quired  nor  sanctioned  by  di¬ 
vine  authority;  but  are  such 
as  man  chooses  for  himself,  in¬ 
dependently  of  revelation,  as 
deism,  and  the  whole  system 
of  idolatry. 

WILLOW.  (Lev.  xxiii.  40.) 
A  well  known  tree,  which 
flourishes  best  in  marshy 
ground,  and  on  the  borders  of 
water-courses.  (Job  xl.  22.  Isa. 
xv.  7 ;  xliv.  4.  Ezek.  xvii.  5.) 
The  beautiful  species  known 
to  us  as  the  weeping  willow, 
is  called  the  Babylonian  wil¬ 
low,  in  allusion  to  Ps.  cxxxvii. 
2. 

WIMPLES.  (Tsa.  iii.  22.) 
Supposed  by  some  to  mean  a 
broad  full  mantle,  or  shawl, 
like  the  veil  which  Ruth  had, 
(Ruth  iii.  15 ;)  and  by  others  a 
veil,  coif,  or  nood,  and  this  last 
is  its  German  signification  at 
the  present  day. 

WIND.  (Ex.  xv.  10.)  The 
east  wind  was  injurious  to  ve¬ 
getation,  and  dangerous  at  sea. 
(Ps.  xlviii.  7.)  The  south  wind 
brought  heat,  (Luke  xii.  55;) 
the  south-west  and  the  north 
fair  weather.  (Job  xxxvii.  9.  22 
Prov.  xxv.  23.)  The  character 
of  the  east  wind  may  be  infer¬ 
red  from  Gen.  xii.  6.  Job  i.  19. 
Ps.  xi.  6.  Isa.  xxvii.  8.  Jer.  iv 
11—13.  Ezek.  xvii.  10:  xix.  12; 


WIN 

jcxvii.  26.  Hos.  xiii.  *5.  (See 
Euroclydon.) 

WINDOW.  (Gen.  vi.  1G.) 
In  eastern  houses  the  windows 
open  upon  the  court  within, 
and  not  upon  the  street  with¬ 
out.  (See  Dwellings.)  One 
of  the  objects  in  view  is  to  es¬ 
cape  the  dust  of  the  narrow 
eastern  streets.  This  gives  a 
melancholy  aspect  to  the 
streets,  as  nothing  but  an  un¬ 
broken  line  of  blind  walls  is 
seen- on  either  side.  There  is 
sometimes  a  projecting  balco¬ 
ny,  or  [torch,  in  front  of  the 
house,  carefully  closed  by  lat¬ 
tices  of  what  is  called  Venetian 
work,  and  opened  principally 
upon  some  festival.  Fromsucn 
a  place  Jezebel  is  supposed  to 
have  been  looking  out  when 
she  was  seized  and  put  to  death 
by  Jehu.  (2  Kings  ix.  30.)  And 
this  was  probably  called  the 
easement.  (Prov.  vii.  6.  See 
also  Sol.  Song  ii.  9.)  Glazed 
windows  were  entirely  un¬ 
known  among  the  Hebrews, 
and  are  scarcely  ever  seen  in 
the  east  at  the  present  day. 
This  is  not  wonderful,  for  in 
later  times  glass  has  been  as 
costly  as  gold,  and  it  was  not 
until  long  after  the  Christian 
era  that  glass  windows  were 
used. 

WINE.  (Gen.  xiv.  18.)  There 
has  been  some  controversy  as 
to  the  nature  and  qualities  of 
the  liquor  which  is  called  wine 
in  our  Scriptures.  The  plain 
reader  of  the  Bible  will  be  sa¬ 
tisfied,  however,  that  it  was 

unquestionably  an  intoxicating 

drink.  (Lev.  x.  9.  Eph.  v.  Iff. 
I  Pet.  iv.  3.) 

*  TheancientEgyptiansdrank 
no  wine,  unless  we  give  that 
name  to  the  sweet,  unfermented 
juice  of  the  grape;  such  as 
Pharaoh’s  butler  was  accus¬ 
tomed  to  express  into  the  cup 
in  the  king’s  hand,  (Gen.  xl. 
9—11,)  and  which  was  mixed 
with  water.  Fermented  wine 
they  considered  as  the  inven- 


WIN 

tion  ot  an  evil  spirit,  and  itwa* 
not  offered  to  their  gods  Yet 
in  very  early  limes  they  had 
learned  the  art  of  brewing  a 
kind  of  beer  from  barley,  which,  1 
according  to  the  Greek  histo 
rians,  was  called  barley  wine. 
This  beer  is  said  to  have  been 
costly,  and  little,  if  at  all,  in¬ 
ferior  to  wine.  It  was  also 
known  to  the  Hebrews,  who. 
however,  had  the  less  need  of 
it,  as  their  land  was  productive 
of  the  richest  vintage. 

Like  all  other  countries,  Ca^ 
naan  had  wines  of  various 
strength  ;  and  a  distinguished 
writer  on  Jewish  antiquities 
observes,  “  the  wines  in  those 
countries  cannot  easily  be  used 
without  water.”  Another  an¬ 
cient  author  says,  that  “the 
wine  at  Aleppo  resembles  tha* 
of  Cyprus,  and  is  so  fiery  that 
when  drunk  unmixed  it  causes 
great  inconvenience.”  It  is 
very  clear,  however,  that  in¬ 
temperance  prevailed  among 
the  Jews,  (Isa.  v.  11;  xxviii. 
1—8;  lvi.  12;)  and  it  is  not 
inconsistent  with  any  known 
facts  to  suppose  that  their  wines 
generally  had  the  intoxicating 
principle.  Whether  the  wine 
into  which  our  Saviour  mira¬ 
culously  changed  the  water  at 
Cana  (John  ii. '3)  possessed  this 
principle  or  not  we  cannot 
know,  nor  would  a  decisioii  of 
the  question  in  the  least  degree 
affectthe  characterof  the  trans¬ 
action,  any  more  than  it  would 
affect  the  prescription  of  the 
apostle  to  Timothy.  (1  Tim. 
v.  23.)  The  process  by  which 
the  juice  of  grapes,  apples, 
pears,  &c.,  becomes  an  intoxi¬ 
cating  drink,  is  as  kindly  and 
benevolently  provided  as  the 
process  by  which  those  fruits 
themselves  come  to  maturity. 
And  so  far  as  the  use  of  the 
liquid,  after  this  process  has 
taken  place,  tends  directly  oi 
indirectly  to  the  injury  of  body 
or  soul,  so  far  are  we  forbidden 
to  use  it  on  any  pretence  oi 


W  IN 

etnsidoration  whatever.  The 
inquiry,  therefore,  what  the 
wine  of  the  Bible  was  in  this 
respect,  seems  to  be  without 
any  practical  advantage,  inas¬ 
much  as  the  injurious  use  of  it 
is  tin  bidden  in  a  thousand  forms; 
and  when  it  possesses  the  in¬ 
toxicating  quality,  the  unne¬ 
cessary  use  of  it  is  inexpedient, 
if  not  sinful.  (See  Drink.) 

In  the  east  caslcs  were  un¬ 
known.  The  wine  was  kept 
ii  jugs,  or  flagons,  and  im¬ 
proved  by  age,  (Luke  v.  39,) 
and  by  standing  on  the  lees. 
(Isa.  xxv.  6.)  The  original 
word  rendered  lees  signifies 
preservers. 

The  mixed  wine ,  often  men¬ 
tioned  by  the  sacred  writers, 
(Ps.  lxxv.  8.  Prov.  xxiii.  30,) 
was  not  diluted  with  water, 
btit  on  the  contrary  was  in¬ 
creased  in  strength,  or  improv¬ 
ed  in  flavour  and  colour,  by  a 
mixture  of  drugs,  herbs,  and 
spices.  (Sol.  Song  vili.  2.)  Saf¬ 
fron  is  used  at  this  day  among 
the  Persians  to  give  a  deep  co¬ 
lour  to  theirwines.  Some  sup¬ 
pose,  however,  that  the  phrase 
mixed  wine  denotes  wine  ren¬ 
dered  stronger  by  being  shaken 
up  and  mingled  with  the  lees. 

It  was  necessary  for  the  li¬ 
quor  to  remain  on  the  lees  for 
a  lime  after  the  fermentation 
has  ceased.  Whenever  this 
first  fennentation  has  been 
deficient,  the  wine  will 
have  a  richer  and  sweeter 
taste.  Unless,  however,  it  un¬ 
dergo  a  farther  fermentation, 
the  lying  upon  the  lees  will 
not  secure  strength  or  flavour, 
but  after  repeated  partial  fer¬ 
mentation,  will  run  into  a  thin 
acid.  This  beautifully  explains 
Jer.  xlviii.  11. 

Wine  vessels.  The  He¬ 
brews,  as  well  as  the  Greeks, 
preserved  their  wine  in  large 
earthen  vessels,  or  jars,  which 
were  buried  up  to  their  necks 
in  the  ground.  (See  Cellar.) 
These  jara  are  quite  large,  con- 


W1N 

tabling  often  as  much  as  one 
of  our  barrels.  The  must,  or 
new  wine,  after  being  poured 
into  such  vessels,  is  stirred  for 
about  twenty  days,  thriceaday, 
wiih  wooden  rods.  When  wine 
is  to  be  transported,  the  Per¬ 
sians  sometimes  decant  it  into 
flasks,  or  bottles,  bit  skins  are 
in  common  use,  as  they  were 
among  the  ancients.  The  He¬ 
brews  poured  even  t"ie  must, 
or  new  wine,  into  skins;  but  fur 
this  purpose  they  Used  such  as 
were  fresh  and  flexible,  and  >. 
therefore  not  liable  to  1* 
broken  by  the  fennentation  of 
Ihe  liquor.  (Matt.  ix.  '7.) 

By  new  wine  (Joel  l.  5)  is  in¬ 
tended  sweet  wine,  winch  was 
purer  and  stronger,  ar.d  more 
capable  of  preservation,  and 
of  course  more  inebriating. 
(Isa.  xlix.  26.  Acts  ii.  13.) 

Red  wine  is  more  eiteemed 
in  eastern  cnuntriesthan  white. 

The  wines  of  Lebanon  and 
of  Helbon,  near  Damascus, 
were  celebrated  for  their  ex¬ 
cellence,  (Ezek.  xxvii.  18.  Hos. 
xiv.  7,)  and  the  former  retains 
its  character  to  this  day. 

Drinking  wine  in  bowls 
(Amos  vi.  6)  is  supposed  to  re¬ 
fer  to  the  richness  and  magni¬ 
ficence  of  the  vessel,  and  not  • 
to  the  quantity  of  wine  drank. 

Wine-presses  (Job  x.xiv.  11) 
were  cavities  in  the  ground, 
(Matt.  xxi.  33,)  built  up  or 
lined  with  mason  work.  They 
are  now  found  in  this  fonn  ia 
Persia,  eight  feet  square  and 
four  feet  deep.  In  Isa.  v.  2.  and 
Mark  acii.  1,  the  term  wine¬ 
press  rather  means  the  open 
place  or  vessel  which  received 
the  expressed  juice  from  the 
wine-press.  It  was  in  one  of 
these  cavities  that  Gideoa 
worked.  (Jude.  vi.  11.) 

Eastern  travellers  tell  us  that 
the  first  vintage  usually  begins 
in  the  latter  part  of  August; 
that  they  often  see  the  black 
;  grapes  spread  on  the  ground  in 
•  beds,  exposed  to  the  sun  to 
633 


WIS 

dry  for  raisins.  While  at  a 
little  distance,  one  or  two,  and 
sometimes  as  many  as  five  men, 
are  seen  with  feet  and  legs 
bare,  treading  the  fruit  in  a 
kind  of  cistern,  or  vat,  usually 
about  eight  feet  square,  and  four 
feethigh,  with  a  grated  aperture 

near  the  bottom,  through  which 
the  expressed  juice  runs  into  a 
vessel  beneath.  (Isa.  lxiii.  3. 
Hag.ii.  16.)  The  tread  ers  sung 
and  shouted,  (Isa.  xvi.  10,)while 
the  red  blood  of  the  grape  flowed 


WIS 

around  them,  and  thoroughly 
stained  their  garments,  (Isa, 
lxiii.  1— 3.  Jer.  xxv.30;  xlviii 
33.  Lam.  i.  15.  Rev.  xix.  13— 

ljThe  ancient  Egyptian  mode 
of  expressing  the  juice  of  grapes 
may  be  learned  from  the  fol¬ 
lowing  cut,  from  a  monument 
in  Memphis.  The  fruit  is 
placed  in  a  cloth,  which  is 
twisted  and  strained  until  the 
liquor  iB  wrung  out  into  a  ves¬ 
sel  below. 


WINNOW.  (Isa.  xxx.  24.) 
The  process  of  winnowing 
among  the  Hebrews  was  much 
like  that  in  use  at  the  present 
day.  The  grain  was  taken 
upon  a  shovel  and  thrown  up 
in  the  wind,  and  the  lighter 
chaff  and  straw  separated, 
sometimes  by  the  help  of  a  fan. 
(Isa.  xli.  15,  16.  Matt.  in.  12. 
See  Threshing  Floor,  r  an.) 

WINTER.  (See  Seasons.) 

WISE  MEN.  (Matt.  ii.  1.) 
Men  of  wisdom  and  learning 
in  things  natural  and  divine ; 
devoted  to  philosophy,  espe¬ 
cially  to  astronomy,  and  to  the 
contemplation  and  worship  of 


the  Deity.  They  were  of  Per- 
sian  origin,  but  had  spread  i». 
Arabia  and  other  neighbour'  -g 
countries  of  the  east ;  distin¬ 
guished  from  other  classes  of 
their  countrymen  by  their  pe  „ 
culiar  habits  and  pursuits. 
They  worshipped  the  only  one 
God;  and  so  blameless  did 
their  studies  and  their  religion 
appear  to  be,  that  the  prophet 

Daniel,  scrupulous  as  he  was, 

to  the  hazard  of  his  life,  vyith 
respect  to  the  Jewish  religion, 
did  not  refuse  to  accept  the 
office  which  Nebuchadnezzar 
gave  him,  of  being  master  of 
the  Magi,  and  chief  governor 
61*0 


WIT 

over  all  the  wise  men  of  Baby¬ 
lon.  As  they  thus  acquired 
great  honour  and  influence, 
they  were  introduced  into  the 
courts  of  kings,  and  consulted 
on  all  occasions.  They  also 
followed  them  in  warlike  ex¬ 
peditions;  and  so  much  im¬ 
portance  was  attached  to  their 
advice  and  opinions,  that  no¬ 
thing  was  attempted  without 
their  approbation. 

II  WITCHCRAFT,  (ISam.xv. 
23,)  WITCH,  (Deut.  xviii.  10,) 
ji WIZARD.  (Lev.  xx.  27.)  A 
I'inan  who  pretends  to  superna¬ 
tural  power,  so  that  he  can 
foretell  future  events,  cure  dis¬ 
eases,  call  up  or  drive  away 
spirits,  or  disclose  information 
beyond  the  reach  of  the  natural 
powers,  is  called  a  wizard.  A 
woman  of  like  practices  is  call¬ 
ed  a  witch,  and  the  evil  art 
itself  is  called  witchcraft.  No 
sin  is  more  severely  denounced 
by  the  sacred  writers,  not 
only  under  the  Mosaic  dispen¬ 
sation,  (Ex.  xxii.  18.  Deut. 
xviii.  11,  12,)  but  under  the 
gospel.  (Gal.  v.  20.)  Those 
who  consult  such  foolish  and 
wicked  pretenders  are  partak¬ 
ers  of  their  guilt,  and  are  abo¬ 
minable  in  God’s  sight.  (Lev. 
xx.  6.  Nah.  iii.  4.)  A  famous 
pretender  to  supernatural 
power  lived  at  Endor.  (See 
Saul.) 

WITHS.  (Judg.  xvi.  7.)  A 
band  of  pliable  twigs,  (as  of  the 
willow  or  osier  kind,)  twisted 
closely  together  while  green, 
and  used  instead  of  ropes.  The 
marginal  reading  of  the  above 
passage  is  small  cords. 

WITNESS.  (Gen.  xxi.  30.) 
One  who  gives  testimony.  Two 
or  more  were  required  in  judi¬ 
cial  investigations,  (Deut.  xvii. 
6,7;)  and  when  the  sentence 
of  stoning  was  pronounced, 
they  were  required  to  com¬ 
mence  the  process  of  execu¬ 
tion.  (Acts  vii.  58.  See  Ston¬ 
ing.) 

The  witness  of  the  Spirit 


WOL 

with  our  spirit  (Rom.  viii.  16) 
denotes  the  consciousness, more 
or  less  distinct,  of  the  opera¬ 
tions  of  the  Spirit  upon  the 
mind,  enlightening  the  under¬ 
standing,  and  inclininglhesub- 
ject  of  them  to  do  the  will  of 
"God. 

The  expression  faithful  wit¬ 
ness  (Ps.  lxxxix.  37)  is  sup¬ 
posed  to  refer  to  the  moon,  (Jer. 
xxxiii.20,)  that  rules  the  night, 
and  will  remain  as  long  as  the 
night  itself,  which,  by  the  terms 
of  God’s  covenant,  shall  notit 
cease.  (Gen.  viii.  22.) 

John  often  exhibits  the  gos¬ 
pel  in  the  light  of  a  testimony, 

(1  John  v.  9;)  and  Christ  him 
self  is  called  the  faithful  and 
true  witness,  (Rev.  i.  5 ;  iii. 
14,)  not  only  to  the  glory  and 
perfection  of  the  Father,  but 
also  to  his  own  divine  mission, 
and  to  the  universality  and 
perpetuity  of  his  kingdom. 

WIZARD.  (See  Witch.) 

WO.  (Num.  xxi.  29.)  This 
term  often  denotes  a  feeling  of 
compassion  orsympathy, (Matt 
xxiv.  19,)  or  a  simple  lamenta¬ 
tion,  as  “Alas  for  me!”  (Ps. 
cxx.  5.)  In  other  connexions 
it  is  equivalent  to  the  threat¬ 
ening  of  punishment.  (Hab.  ii. 

6.  9.  15.  19.  Zech.  xi.  17.) 

WOLF,  (lsa.xi.6.)  A  fierce, 
cruel,  ravenous  animal,  in  size 
and  general  appearanceresem- 
blingadog,and  amost  terrible 
enemy  to  sheep.  (Isa.  lxv.  25. 
Matt.  vii.  15 ;  x.  16.  John  x, 
12.  Acts  xx.  29.)  The  rapa¬ 
ciousness  of  the  tribe  of  Benja¬ 
min  was  foretold  by  JacobbyajJ 
comparison  with  the  wolf.  (Gen. 
xlix.27.  SeeJudg.  xx.andxxi.j 
and  comp.  1  Sam.  ix.  1,  and 
xx.  31,  and  Acts  ix.  1.  Rom. 
xi.  1.  Phil  iii.  5.)  The  sacred 
writers  also  illustrate  tne  cru¬ 
elty  of  Israel’s  oppressors  by 
tin  allusion  to  the  wolf,  (Ezek. 
xxii.  27 ;)  and  the  sallying 
forth  of  the  evening  wolf  in 
search  of  prey  (Hab.  t.  8)  is  em¬ 
blematical  of  the  destruction 
640 


WOK 


WOR 


which  awaits  wicked  men.  I 
(Jer.  v.  5,  6.)  The  allusion, 
2,eph.  iji.  3,  is  to  the  circum- 
stance  that  the  wolf  in  its 
greedinessoften  seizes  on  more 
than  it  can  consume. 

WOMAN.  (1  Cor.  xi.  8,-3.) 
The  companion  and  helper  of 
man,  and  by  express  command 
made  subject  to  him.  (Gen.  iii. 
16.)  The  word,  when  used  as 
a  term  of  salutation,  as  in  Matt, 
xv.  28,  implies  no  disrespect, 
>  but  great  tenderness  and  cour¬ 
tesy.  It  was  thus  that  our  Sa¬ 
viour  addressed  Mary  under 
the  most  touching  circum¬ 
stances.  (John  xx.  15.) 

WOOL.  (See  Sheep.) 

WORD.  (John  i.  1.)  This  is 
one  of  Lhe  titles  of  Jesus  Christ. 
It  may  denote  that  he  is  the 
medium  by  which  the  Father 
declares  his  word  or  will.  The 
Jews  commonly  used  this  term 
to  designate  the  Messiah ;  and 
so  prevalent  was  its  use  among 
the  Gentiles  also,  that  the  evan¬ 
gelist  is  particular  to  define 
clearly  the  true  doctrine  re¬ 
specting  him  to  whom  it  was 
applied ;  and  no  language  can 
more  clearly  express  the  idea 
of  eternity  and  self-existence 
than  the  language  he  employs 
.o  describe  the  being  and  attri¬ 
butes  of  the  Messiah.  The 
Scriptures  are  figuratively  call¬ 
ed  tne  word  of  God,  (Rom.  ix. 
6 ;)  the  word  of  righteousness, 
(Heb.  v.  13;)  the  word  of  faith, 
(Rom.  x.  8,)  and  the  word  of 
salvation.  (Acts  xiii.  26.) 

WORKS.  (Ps.  cxlv.  9.)  The 
T  works  of  God  are  the  things 
created  and  governed  by  his 
wisdom  and  power. 

Good  works  (Eph.  ii.  10) 
are  such  as  proceed  from  love 
to  God,  and  are  done  in  obe¬ 
dience  to  his  law,  and  from  a 
regard  to  his  glory. 

We  are  saved  by  faith;  but 
faith  without  toorks  is  dead, 
i.  e.  it  is  without  any  evidence 
yf  life.  Works  constitute  the 
54* 


evidence  and  determine  the 
strength  and  character  of  faith. 

WORLD.  (1  Sam.  ii.  8.)  This 
term  is  used  by  the  sacred 
writers  in  a  variety  of  senses, 
each  of  which  may  ordinarily 
be  determined  by  its  connex¬ 
ion.  Among  them  may  be  men. 
tioned  the  following :  The  habi¬ 
table  earth,  (Ps.  xxxiii.  8;) 
time,  (Isa.  xlv.  17.  Matt,  xxviii. 
20;)  present  existence,  (John 
i.  9;)  future  existence,  (Mark 
x.  30;)  the  nations  and  king¬ 
doms  subject  to  Rome  in  the 
time  of  our  Saviour,  (Luke  ii. 

1 ;)  an  indefinite  number,  (John 
xii.  19.  Actsxix.  27;)  close  of 
the  Jewish  dispensation  con¬ 
nected  with  the  final  consum¬ 
mation  of  all  things,  (Matt, 
xxiv.  3;)  the  corrupt  senti¬ 
ment,  disposition,  and  prac¬ 
tices  of  sinners.  (James  i.  27. 

1  John  iv.  5.) 

WORMS.  (Ex.  xvi.  20.)  A 
large  class  of  animals  without 
any  of  the  senses  belonging  to 
other  animals,  except  feeling. 
From  the  circumstance  that 
one  or  more  species  of  worms 
are  found  in  putrefying  flesh, 
we  have  the  figurative  expres¬ 
sions  in  Job  xix.  26;  xxi.  26; 
xxiv.  20.  Isa.  xiv.  11.  Owing 
to  the  constant  accumulation 
of  filth  and  putrefaction  in  a 
valley  near  Jerusalem,  it  was 
always  alive  with  worms,  and 
fires  were  maintained  day  and 
night  to  oonsumo  the  sources 
of  pestilence.  Hence  the  allu¬ 
sion,  Isa.  lxvi.24.  Mark  ix.44. 
46.  48.  At  an  advanced  stage 
of  some  diseases,  worms  are 
bred  in  the  flesh.  (Jobvii-5; 
xvii.  14.  Acts  xii.  23.)  The 
meanness  of  the  worm,  and  us 
liability  to  be  trodden  down 
unnoticed,  afford  -the  illustra¬ 
tions  in  Job  xxv.  6.  Ps.  xxn.  6, 
and  Isa.  xii.  14. 

WORMWOOD.  (Deut.xxix. 
18:)  A  plant  of  which  there 
are  several  species,  and  all 
distinguished  for  intense  bitter- 


WRI 

ness,  and  probably  some  may 
be  not  only  bitter  and  nauseous, 
but  positively  hurtful.  Hence 
it  is  often  joined  with  or  used 
in  the  same  sense  as  gall  and 
hemlock,  to  denote  what  is 
offensive  or  injurious.  (Deut. 
xxix.  18.  Prov.  v.  4.  Amos  v.  7 ; 
vi.  12.)  To  be  obliged  to  use 
it  as  food  expresses  the  extreme 
of  suffering.  (Jer.  ix.  15;  xxiii. 
15.  Lam.  iii.  15.  19.) 

WORSHIP.  (Matt.  ii.  2.) 
This  word,  as  used  in  our  Bi¬ 
ble,  has  various  significations. 
In  most  instances  it  means 
simply  an  aclof  respect,  (Matt, 
ix.  18.  Acts  x.  25,)  and  does 
not  imply  any  religious  emo¬ 
tion.  Where  the  act  respects 
the  Divine  Being,  the  only  pro-' 
per  object  of  religious  worship, 
the  connexion  shows  it.  (John 
iv.  24.  Heb.  i.  6.  Rev.  xxii.  9.) 
It  is  used,  however,  in  relation 
to  idol  gods.  (Dan.  iii.  5.  12. 14. 
Acts  xix.  27.) 

WRITING.  (Ex.  xxxii.  16  ) 
Writing  by  pictures  or  in  hiero¬ 
glyphics  is  an  art  of  very  an¬ 
cient  date,  and  is  even  now 
common  in  many  savage  na¬ 
tions.  An  eye  represented 
God  as  the  Omniscient;  an  eyo 
and  sceptre,  a  king;  a  lion, 
courage,  &c.  This  is  common, 
in  its  most  unimproved  form, 
among  our  American  abori¬ 
gines;  and  was  the  common 
method  used  by  the  Mexicans, 
some  of  whose  ancient  pictures 
of  this  kind  are  preserved. 

The  most  numerous  and  re¬ 
markable  specimens  of  hiero- 


WRI 

glyphic  writing  exist  in  Egypt; 
they  have  been  sought  out  by 
travellers,  and  copied  in  draw¬ 
ings  and  copperplates, but  have 
baffled  the  ingenuity  and  la¬ 
bour  of  all  ages,  until  within 
a  >4ew  years,'  a  distinguished 
French  antiquary  has  succeed¬ 
ed  in  deciphering  a  great  num¬ 
ber  of  them,  and  his  labours 
have  thrown  great  light  upon 
the  Scriptures,  and  vindicated 
the  Mosaic  history  from  a  mul¬ 
titude  of  objections. 

It  is  not  improbable  that 
these  pictures,  which  were  at 
first  accurate  resemblances  of 
objects,  became  at  last  merely 
signs  of  ideas,  and  that  hence 
alphabetical  writing  came  into 
use.  It  is  the  prevailing  opi¬ 
nion  that  the  Israelites  were 
acquainted  with  letters  when 
they  were  in  Egypt  as  bond- 
men  ;  and  when  they  took  pos¬ 
session  of  the  land  of  Canaan 
they  found  a  city  called  Kir- 
jath-sepher,  which  means  the 
city  of  books  or  letters,  and 
indicates  the  existence  of  the 
art  among  that  people.  Through 
all  the  Mosaic  history,  books 
and  writing  are  mentioned  as 
in  familiar  use.  The  practice 
of  employing  an  amanuensis 
was  much  more  common  in 
ancient  days  than  now.  Hence 
Paul  notices  it  as  a  special  cir¬ 
cumstance  that  he  wrote  the 
letter  to  the  Galatians  with  his 
own  hand.  (Gal.  vi.  11.)  This 
■fact  also  explains  Rom.  xvi. 
22.  1  Cor.  xvi.  21.  Col.  iv.  18, 
and  2 Thess.  iii.  17.  (See Book.) 


YAU 

ARN,  i.inen.  (1  Kings  x. 
28.)  There  is  a  diversity 
of  opinion  as  to  the  meaning 
of  this  term.  There  is  very 
strong  reason  to  doubt  the  cor¬ 
rectness  of  the  rendering  in 
our  translation,  though  we  have 
mentioned  it  without  comment 
in  the  article  Liken. 


YEA 

YEAR.  (Gen.  xvii.21.)  That 
space  of  time  wherein  the  sun 
finishes  his  course  through  all 
the  signs  of  the  zodiac  circle 
of  the  heavens,  consisting  of 
the  four  seasons  of  spring,  sum 
mer,  autumn,  and  winter.  It 
consists  of  three  hundred  anu 
sixty -fi'-e  days  five  hours  forty- 
642 


YEA 

nine  minutes.  Julius  Caesar  ] 
fixed  the  Roman  year  at  three 
hundred  and  sixty-five  days 
and  six  hours,  which  in  four 
years  make  one  day,  and  in 
the  fourth  year  is  added  to 
February,  and  occasions  that 
year  to  be  called  leap-year. 
By  this  year  we  still  reckon 
our  time;  but  as  it  includes 
about  eleven  minutes  too  much, 
this,  in  one  hundred  and  thirty 
years,  runs  the  reckoning  for¬ 
ward  one  day,  and  in  our  reck¬ 
oning  had  run  forward  the  year 
full  eleven  days,  till  this  was 
rectified  by  the  introduction 
of  the  new  style  among  us,  as 
it  was  in  several  countries 
abroad,  by  pope  Gregory,  al¬ 
most  two  hundred  years  ago. 
In  prophetic  language,  a  year 
signifies  three  hundred  and 
sixty  years,  a.ndamonth  thirty, 
a  day  being  put  for  a  year;  and 
so  three  years  and  a  half,  and 
times ,  time ,  and  half  a  time ,  or 
forty-two  months,  or  twelve 
hundred  and  sixty  days,  denote 
the  twelve  hundred  and  sixty 
years  duration  of  antichrist. 
(Rev.  xi.  2,  3;  xii.  6- 14.)  With 
the  Jews  the  year  was  civil  or 
sacred,  solar  or  lunar.  (See 
Month.) 

Fallow  year.  In  the  se¬ 
venth  year  all  agricultural 
labour  was  suspended,  and 
spontaneous  productions  were 


YOK 

left  to  the  poor,  the  traveller, 
and  the  wild  beasts.  (Lev.  xxv. 
1—7.)  This  was,  (1.)  For  the 
sake  of  the  ground;  (2.)For the 
preservation  of  wild  beasts; 
and,  (3.)  To  make  the  people 
provident  and  sensible  of  de¬ 
pendence.  The  people  could 
fish,  hunt,  take  care  of  bees 
and  flocks,  repair  buildings, 
manufacture  clothes,  and  carry 
on  commerce.  This  year  was 
religiously  observed.  (Deut. 
xxxl.  10—13.) 

Year  of  jubilee.  (See 
Feast.)  .. 

YOKE.  (Gen.xxvit.40.)  The 
yoke  was  laid  upon  the  neck 
of  the  beast,  and  fastened  with 
thongs  to  the  animal,  and  to 
the  plough-beam.  It  thus  be¬ 
came  a  lively  image  of  slavery, 
subjection,  imprisonment,  and 
severe  rule,  while  the  removal 
of  the  yoke  indicated  the  cor¬ 
responding  deliverance.  (Jer. 
ii.  20.)  Breaking  the  yoke  also 
represents  the  rejection  of  au¬ 
thority.  (Jer.  v.  5.  Nah.  i.  13.) 
The  following  cut  represents 
the  ancient  Egyptian  yoke. 


ZAC 

Z  A  AN  AN.  (Mic.  i.  11.)  Most 
probably  a  city  of  Judah, 
the  same  as  Zenan  mentioned 
in  Josh.  xv.  37,  situated  in  the 
valley  or  plain  towards  the 
Mediterranean  coast. 

ZAANA  NNIM.  (Josh,  xtx.33.) 
A  city  of  N aphtal  i ,  i  n  the  plain 
of  iaanaim,  (Judg.  iv.  11,) 
north-east  of  Kcdesh,  near  the 
waters  of  Merom. 

ZACCHEUS.  (Luke  xix.  2,) 
A  rich  Jew  resident  in  Jericho, 
and  chief  officer  of  the  tax  or 


ZAC  ; 

tribute  collectors  in  that  place,  J; 
and  hence  he  is  called  a  sm-L 
ner,  for  the  Jews  regarded  all 
publicans  or  tax-gatherers  in 
this  light.  His  curiosity  to  see 
Christ  was  so  much  excited, 
that  he  took  pains  to  climb 
into  a  tree  by  the  road-side, 
that  he  might  have  a  fair  view 
of  him  as  the  crowd  passed, 
lesus,  knowing  his  character 
and  motives,  proposed  to  spend 
the  day  with  him,  to  which 
Zaccheus  gladly  assented.  His 
643 


ZAC 

mind  wag  probably  brought  at 
once  under  the  influence  of  the 
Spirit  of  God,  and  on  that  very 
day  he  and  his  family  became 
interested  in  the  salvation  of 
the  gospel.  (Luke  xix.  1—10.) 
The  expression  forasmuch  as 
he  also  is  a  son  qf  Abraham 
probably  denotes  that  he  was 
not  only  a  natural  descendant 
of  the  patriarch,  but  that  he 
had  now  become  a  Partaker  of 
the  like  faith  and  promises. 

ZACHARIAH,  1.(2  Kings 
Xiv.  29,)  was  son  and  successor 
o  Jeroboam  II.  king  of  Israel. 
He  reigned  but  six  months, 
and  then  fell  by  the  hand  of 
Shallum,  who  took  the  throne. 
(2 Kings  xv.8— 11.  Comp.  Amos 
vii.  9.) 

2.  (Ezra  v.  1.)  The  prophet, 
was  the  son  of  Barachlah,  and 
the  grandson  of  Iddo.  (Zech. 
i.  1.)  Thq  expression  in  Ezra 
is  consonant  to  the  Jewish 
usage  of  calling  a  descendant 
son  or  daughter,  and  an  an¬ 
cestor  father  or  mother,  though 
they  might  be  removed  two  or 
three  degrees  from  these  rela¬ 
tions.  Zechariah  returned  from 
Babylon  with  Zerubbabel,  and 
prophesied  contemporaneously 
with  Haggai. 

Prophecy  cp,  is  the  last  but 
one  in  the  order  of  the  books 
of  the  Old  Testament,  Its  grand 
design  is  to  encourage  the  Jews 
in  the  re-establishment  of  their 
national  institutions.  Though 
the  language  is  often  obscure, 
and  the  style  seemingly  un- 
connectedj  it  contains  several 
animating  predictions  of  the 
future  glory  of  Christ’s  king¬ 
dom,  in  terms  remarkably  full 
and  explicit. 

ZACHARIAS.  1.  (Matt, 
xxiii.  33.  See  Barachias.) 

2.  (Luke  i.  5.)  A  priest  of 
the  family  of  Abia,  (see  Abia,) 
the  father  of  John  the  Bap¬ 
tist.  The  character  of  him- . 
self  and  his  wife  is  given 
us  in  the  simplest  yet  most 
expressive  language.  (Luke 


ZAR 

i.  6  )  The  birth  of  John  was 
announced  to  him  in  a  mi¬ 
raculous  manner,  and  seemed 
so  beyond  the  range  of  pro 
bability,  that  his  faith  failed, 
and  he  asked  for  some  extra¬ 
ordinary  sign  that  the  promise 
should  be  accomplished.  He 
was  immediately  deprived  of 
the  power  of  speech,  and 
remained  dumb  until  the 
eighth  day  after  the  birth  of 
the  promised  child  ;  when 
being  asked  to  give  the  in¬ 
fant  a  name,  in  obedience  to 
the  angelic  direction  he  called 
him  John,  and  forthwith  the 
power  of  speech  was  restored 
to  him,  and  he  employed  it  in 
a  strain  of  the  most  devout 
gratitude  and  praise.  (Luke  i. 
57-60.) 

ZADOK,  (2  Sam.  viii.  17,) 
the  successor  of  Abiathar  in 
the  Jewish  priesthood,  was  the 
son  of  Ahitub,  of  the  family 
of  Eleazar.  (Comp.  1  Sam.  il. 
30 — 36.  1  Kings  ii.  27.  35.) 
i  ZAI.MON,  (Judg.  ix.  48,)  or 
SALMON.  (Ps.  lxviii.  14.)  A 
hill  near  to  Shechem,  which, 
it  appears  from  the  aoove  pas¬ 
sage  in  Psalms,  was  covered 
with  snow.  It  is  also  the  name 
of  a  person.  (Malt.  i.  5.) 

ZAMZUMMIMS,  (Deut.  ii. 
20,)  or  ZUZIMS.  (Gen.  xiv.  5.) 
A  tribe  of  people  of  gigantic 
stature  and  strength,  wno  in¬ 
habited  the  country  east  of  the 
Jordan  and  the  Dead  Sea.  They 
were  attacked  and  routed  by 
Chedorlaomer,  and  afterwards 
expelled  by  the  Ammonites. 

ZANOAH.  (Josh.  Xv.  34.  56) 
There  were  probably  two  cities 
of  this  name,  both  in  Judah; 
one  in  the  valley  or  low  coun¬ 
try,  the  other  in  the  moun- 
tains.or  interior. 

ZArHON,  (Josh.  xiu.  27,)  or 
SHOPHAN.  (Num.  xxxii.  35.) 
One  of  the  cities  of  Gad,  situ¬ 
ated  in  the  valley,  lying  along 
the  east  side  of  the  Jordan. 

ZARED,  (Num.  xxi.  12,)  or 
ZERED.  (Deut.  ii.  13.)  A  brook 
614 


ZAR 

rising  in  mount  Abarim  and 
emptying  into  the  Dead  Sea, 
south  of  Arnon,  in  the  land  of 
Moab.  On  its  banks  the  Israel¬ 
ites  encamped,  on  their  journey 
from  Egypt  to  the  promised 
land. 

ZAREPHATH.  (See  Sa- 

REPTA.) 

ZARETAN,  (Josh.  in.  16,')  or 
ZARTANAH,  (1  Kings  iv.  12,) 
or  ZARTH AN,  ( t  Kings  vii. 46,) 
orZEREDA,  (1  Kings  xi. 20,)  or 
ZKREDATHA,  (2  Chron.  iv. 
17,)  or  ZERERATH,  (Judg.  vii. 
22,)  all  supposed  to  denote  one 
and  the  same  place,  viz.  a  town 
'‘on  the  west  bank  of  the  Jordan, 
at  the  place  where  the  Israel¬ 
ites  crossed,  when  the  waters 
were  gathered  into  a  heap  on 
either  side.  'It  was  near  Beth- 
shean,  and  opposite  to  Succoth, 
and  was  distinguished  as  the 
birthplace  of  Jeroboam. 

ZEBOIM.  (Gen.  x.  19;  xiv. 
2.)  One  of  the  cities  of  the 
plain,  destroyed  with  Sodom 
and  Gomorrah.  There  was 
also  a  city  and  valley  of  this 
name  in  the  lot  of  Benjamin. 
(1  Sam.  xiii.  18.  Neh.  xi.  34.) 

ZEBULON,  (Gen.  xxx.  20,) 
or  ZABULON.  (Rev.  vii.  8,) 
the  sixth  son  of  Jacob  and 
Leah.  The  portion  of  his  de¬ 
scendants  in  the  promised  land 
was  assigned  prophetically  by 
his  father  and  their  ancestor. 
(Gen.  xlix.  13.) 

Tribe  op,  possessed  that  dis 
trict  of  Canaan  which  lay  be¬ 
tween  the  sea  of  Galilee  (Matt, 
iv.  13)  and  the  Mediterranean; 
bounded  south  by  Issachar,  and 
north  by  Asher  and  Naphtali. 
This  last  tribe  allied  itself  to 
the  tribe  ofZebulon,  and  joined 
the  forces  of  Barak  and  Debo¬ 
rah  against  the  army  of  Jabin. 
(Judg.  v.  18.) 

The  town  of  Zebulon  (Josh, 
xix.  27)  was  within  the  terri¬ 
tory  of  Asher,  but  was  probably 
a  possession  of  the  tribe  of  Ze- 
lulon.  Elon,  a  judee  of  Israel, 
was  ol  this  tribe,  and  was  bu- 


ZED 

ried  within  its  bounds.  (Judg. 
xii.  12.) 

ZECHARIAH.  (See  Zacha- 
riah.) 

ZEDAH,  or  ZEDAD.  (Num. 
xxxiv.8.)  A  comparison  of  this 
passage  with  Ezek.  xlvii.  15, 
shows'  the  place  to  have  been 
on  the  north-eastern  frontier 
of  the  land  of  Israel,  but  its 
exact  position  is  not  known. 

ZEDEK1AH,  (2  Kings  xxiv. 
17,)  the  last  king  of  Judah,  was 
the  son  of  Josiah,  and  the  uncle 
of  Jehoiachin,  his  immedia  e 
predecessor  on  the  throne.  His 
proper  name  was  Mattaniah, 
but  Nebuchadnezzar  changed 
ittoZedekiahi  He  commenced 
his  reign  at  twenty-one,  and 
reignea  eleven  vears.  (2  Chron. 
xxxvi.  11.)  He  is  represented 
as  a  very  wicked  man,  and  the 
nation  during  his  reign  was 
remarkably  bold  and  obdurate 
in  sin.  For  this  cause  the  pro¬ 
phet  Jeremiah  was  commis¬ 
sioned  to  threaten  them  with 
severe  judgments,  which  were 
visited  upon  them  in  the  most 
fearful  manner.  In  the  ninth 
year  of  his  reign,  he  revolted 
against  Nebuchadnezzar,  in 
consequence  of  which  the  As¬ 
syrian  monarch  marched  his 
army  into  Judea,  and  took  all 
the  fortified  places.  In  the  ele¬ 
venth  year  of  his  reign,  on  the 
ninth  day  of  the  fourth  month, 
(July,)  Jerusalem  was  taken. 
The  king  and  his  people  endea¬ 
voured  to  escape  by  night ;  but 
the  Chaldean  troops  pursuing 
them,  they  were  overtaken  m 
the  plain  of  Jericho.  Zedekiah  ■ 
was  seized  and  carried  to  N  e- 
buchadnezzar,  then  at  Riblali, 
in  Syria,  who  reproached  him 
with  his  perfidy,  caused  all  jus 
children  to  be  slain  before  his 
face,  and  his  own  eyes  to  be 
put  out ;  and  then  loading  him 
with  chains  of  brass,  he  ordered 
him  to  be  sent  to  Babylon.  (2 
Kincs  xxv.  1— II.  2  Chron. 
xxxvi.  12.  20.)  It  is  worthy  of 
special  remark,  that  two  pro 
645 


ZER 

phecies,  seemingly  irreeoncile- 
alile,  were  both  literally  fulfil¬ 
led  in  the  case  of  Zedekiah. 
(Jer.  xxxii.  4,  5;  xxxiv.  3. 
Comp.  Ezek.  xii.  13.) 

There  were  two  or  three 
felse  prophets  of  this  name, 
one  of  whom  withstood  Mi- 
caiah  in  a  most  insolent  man¬ 
ner.  (1  Kings  xxii.  11 — 37.  See 
also  Jer.  xxix.  22.) 

ZELOTES.  (See  Simon.) 
ZEMARA1M,  mount,  (2 
Citron,  xiii.  4,)  was  in  mount 
Ephraim,  and  a  city  of  the 
same  name  was  in  the  southern 
section  of  the  territory  of  Ben¬ 
jamin,  near  Bethel.  (Josh. 
xviii.22.) 

ZENAN.  (See  Zaanan.) 
ZEPHANIAH  (Zeph.  i.  11 
was  the  son  of  Cushi,  and  lived 
in  the  days  of  Josiah. 

Prophecy  of,  is  the  thirty- 
sixth  in  the  order  of  the  books 
of  the  Old  Testament.  It  was 
uttered  in  the  early  part  of  the 
ministry  of  Jeremiah,  and  is 
designed  mainly  to  excite  the 
Jewish  nation  to  repentance, 
in  view  of  threatened  judg¬ 
ments,  and  to  comfort  the  peo¬ 
ple  of  God  with  promises  of  the 
final  triumph  of  righteousness. 
See  Elisama,  pp.  46,  47,  by 
Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

Zephaniah,  (Jer.  xxix.  25,) 
he  son  of  Maaseiah,  who  is 
tailed  the  second  priest,  (2 
Kings  xxv.  IS,  — see  High- 
driest,)  was  put  to  death  by 
Nel  uchadnezzar  at  Riblah. 
12  Kings  xxv.  18—21.) 

ZEPHATHA,  valley  of,  (2 
Chron.  xiv.  9—13,)  was  in  the 
outh-western  section  of  the 
erritory  of  Judah,  near  Mare- 
bah,  and  is  memorable  for 
he  battle  of  the  Jews  with  the 
•Ethiopians.  There  was  also  a 
,ity  of  this  name  (Zephath ) 
within  the  bounds  of  Simeon. 
Judg.  i.  17.) 

ZERAH.  (2  Chron.  xiv.  9.) 
An  Arabian  king,  who,  with  an 
immense  army,  invaded  the 
kingdom  of  Judah  in  the  reign 


Z1K 

of  Asa.  The  pious  king  of  Ju 
dah,  depending  on  the  arm  of 
the  Lord,  went  out  against  hinr 
without  fear,  and  obtained  a 
signal  victory.  Theprayerof 
Asa  on  this  occasion  is  worthy 
of  all  admiration.  (2  Chron. 
xiv.  11.) 

ZERED.  (See  Zared.) 

ZEREBA.  (See  Zaretan.) 

ZEREDATHAH.  (See  Za 

RETAN.) 

ZERESH,  (Esth.v.10.)  The 
wife  of  Hainan,  and  his  coun 
sellor  and  instigator  in  ini¬ 
quity. 

ZERUBBABEL,  <1  Chron. 
iii.  19,)orZOROBABEL,(Matt. 
i.  12,)  was  the  leader  of  the 
first  colony  of  Jews  that  re. 
turned  from  the  captivity  in 
Babylon,  (Ezra  ii.  2,)  and  was 
of  the  family  of  David.  To  him 
Cyrus  committed  the  sacred 
vessels  that  were  returned  to 
Jerusalem.  He  laid  the  foun¬ 
dations  of  the  temple,  (Zech.  i  v. 
6—10,)  and  was  chiefly  instru¬ 
mental  in  restoring  the  usual 
religious  rites  of  the  nation. 
(Ezra  iii.  2—13.  See  Temple. 
See  also  Elisama,  ch.  viii.  and 
ix.,  by  Am.  S.  S.  Union.) 

ZIBA.  (2  Sam.  xix.  17.)  A 
servant  of  Saul,  whom  David 
appointed  a  sort  of  steward  to 
Mephiboshelh.  (2  Sam.  ix.  2 — 
12.) 

ZIDON.  (See  Sidon.) 

ZIF.  (See  Month.) 

ZIKLAG.  (Josh.  xix.  5.)  A 
city  in  the  southern  extremity 
of  the  territory  of  Judah,  though 
allotted  to  Simeon.  In  thef 
time  of  Saul  it  was  in  thej 
hands  of  the  Philistines,  and* 
Achish,  their  king,  granted  it 
to  David  as  a  temporary  resi¬ 
dence  when  he  was  flying  from 
the  persecution  of  that  wicked 
monarch.  (1  Sam.  xxvii.  6.) 
During  the  absence  of  David 
and  the  principal  men  on  a 
campaign,theAmalekites  burn¬ 
ed  the  city,  and  made  the  wo¬ 
men  and  children  prisoners. 
David  pursued  them  under  di- 


5?IO 

vi  ne  direction.and  surprised  the 
Amale  kites,  andnotonlydefeat- 
ed  them,  but  recovered  all  that 
had  been  taken.  (1  Sam.  xxx.) 

ZILPAH.  (Gen.  xxx. 9.)  The 
handmaid  of  Leah,  and  the 
mother  of  Gad  and  Asher. 

ZIMRI.  (See  Omri.) 

ZIN,  desert  of,  (Num.  xx. 
1,)  or  wilderness  of,  (Num. 
xiii.21,)  stretched  southwardly, 
about  five  miles  in  breadth, from 
tlie  Dead  Sea  to  the  Red  Sea, 
and  was  once  probably  the  val¬ 
ley  of  the  Jordan.  It  is  now 
culled  El  Ghor.  It  is  often 
mentioned  in  the  journeyings 
ofthe  Israelites, and  is  connect¬ 
ed  with  some  of  the  most  inte¬ 
resting  events  of  that  period. 

ZION,  (Ps.  cxxxiii.  3,)  or 
SION.  (Deut.  iv.  4S.)  The  last 
name  seems  to  have  been  ap¬ 
plied  to  mount  Hermon.  (See 
Hermon.)  Both  names  are 
plied  principally  to  the  hill 
fortress  (called  the  castle  of 
Zion,  1  Chron.  xi.  5)  which  was 
taken  from  the  Jebusites  by 
Joab,  one  of  David’s  chief  cap¬ 
tains.  Thither  David  removed 
from  Hebron,  whence  it  was 
called  the  city  of  David.  (2 
Sam.  v.9;  vi.  10.)  It  was  the 
southernmost  of  the  hills  on 
which  Jerusalem  was  built, 
having  the  valley  of  Kedron 
on  the  east,  and  the  valley  of 
Hinnom  or  Gehenna  south  and 
west,  Acra  to  the  north,  and 
Moriah  north-east.  On  it  was 
erected  Solomon’s  palace,  call¬ 
ed  the  house  of  the  forest  of 
Lebanon ;  and  afterward  the 
magnificent  palace  of  Herod, 
destroyed  by  the  Romans.  The 
temple  and  its  courts  on 
mount  Moriah  were  called 
Zion,  (Ps.  lxv.  1 ;  lxxxiv.  7 ;) 
and  the  appellation  is  ap¬ 
propriated  figuratively  to  the 
church,  whether  on  earth  or 
in  heaven,  as  the  living  temple 
of  Jehovah.  (Isa.  ii.  3.  Heb. 
xii.  22.  Rev.  xiv.  1.) 

Messrs.  Fisk  and  King.  Ame¬ 
rican  missionaries,  visited 


ZOA 

mount  Zion  in  the  spring  of 

1823.  They  describe  it,  as 
partly  covered  with  the  tombs 
of  Greek  and  Armenian  Chris¬ 
tians.  On  the  east  and  south 
sides  it  is  ploughed  and  culti¬ 
vated.  Near  the  suftimit  is  a 
little  walled  village,  contain¬ 
ing  a  mosque  and  a  few  Mus¬ 
sulmans’  houses.  The  Jew* 
call  this  village  the  city  of 
Zion,  and  it  is  generally  be¬ 
lieved  by  them  to  contain  the 
tombs  of  David,  and  Solomon, 
and  the  other  kings  of  Israel. 

A  modern  traveller  speaks 
of  it  as  about  a  mile  in  circum¬ 
ference,  and  raised  about  three 
hundred  and  sixty  feet.  The 
soil,  which  was  then  being 
ploughed,  (Mic.  iii.  12,)  con¬ 
sisted  of  stones  and  lime  mixed 
with  earth,  which  is  usual  in 
the  foundations  of  ruined  cities. 
(See  Jerusalem.) 

Daughter  of  Zion  (Isa.  i. 
8)  means  Jerusalem,  and  is  so 
called  because  Zion  was  the 
original,  or  mother  setllemenL 
Hence  also  the  kindred  expres¬ 
sions,  sons  of  Zion,  (Zech.  ix. 
13,)  children  of  Zion,  icc.,  (Joel 
ii.  23.) 

ZIPH.  (Josh.  xv.  24.)  There 
were  two  cities  of  this  name  in 
the  lot  of  Judah ;  one  towards 
the  coast  of  Edom,  south-west, 
(Josh.  xv.  55,)  the  other  (Josh, 
xv.  24)  a  few  miles  east  of  He. 
bron  on  a  hill,  on  the  border  of 
the  wilderness  of  Ziph,  (1  Sam. 
xxiii.  13—24,)  into  which  Da¬ 
vid  fled  from  Saul  and  conceal¬ 
ed  himself.  The  latter  was 
probably  the  one  which  Reho- 
boam  fiirtified.  (2  Chron.  xi.  8.) 

ZIPHRON.  (Num.xxxiv.  9») 
In  the  vicinity  of  Zedad.  (See 
Zedad.) 

ZGaN.  (Num.  xiii.  22.)  By 
the  Greeks  called  Tanis,  anil 
by  the  Arabs  San,  was  one  of 
the  oldest  cities  of  the  world, 
founded  only  seven  years  later 
than  Hebron,  and  situated  on 
the  Tanaitic  arm  of  the  Nile 
It  was  evidently  the  residence 
647 


ZOP 

uf  a  line  of  princes,  (Isa.  six. 
Vi — 13;  xxx.  4,)  and  probably 
the  place  where  Mosps  wrought 
the  Egyptian  miracles.  (Ps. 
Ixxviii.  12.  43.)  Ezekiel  pro¬ 
phesied  against  it,  (Ezak.  xxx. 
14,)  and  its  ruins  are  yet  visi¬ 
ble,  and  present  numerous  pil¬ 
lars  and  obelisks,  as  evidence 
of  its  former  magnificence. 

ZOAR.  (Gen.  xiv.  2.)  A 
small  city,  originally  called 
llela,  at  the  southern  extremity 
of  the  Dead  Sea,  whose  king, 
with  four  others,  rebelled 
against  Chedorlaomer,  and 
was  conquered.  It  was  after¬ 
ward  threatened  with  the  same 
destruction  as  Sodom,  but 
spared  at  Lot’s  request,  who 
fled  to  it  for  safety  from  the 
storm  of  divine  wrath.  (Gen. 
xix.  20. 22.) 

ZOBAH.  (1  Sam.  xiv.  47.)  A 
town  and  province  of  Syria, 
lying  along  the  Euphrates, 
north  of  Damascus,  and  ex¬ 
tend  ing  towards  Aleppo,  whose 
king  (Hadarezer)  was  smitten 
by  David,  when  he  went.  t.o  re¬ 
cover  his  border  on  the  Eu¬ 
phrates.  (2  Sam.  viii.  3.) 

ZOFHAR.  (Job  ii.  11.)  One 
of  Job’s  three  friends.  He  is 
called  the  Naamathite,  proba¬ 
bly  because  he  belonged  to 


zuz 

Naannah,  (Josh.  xv.  41,)  a  town 
assigned  to  Judah. 

ZORAH,  (Josh.  xix.  41,)  or 
ZORAN.  A  city  belonging  ori¬ 
ginally  to  Judah,  and  after¬ 
wards  to  Dan,  near  the  bound¬ 
ary  line  between  them;  the 
birthplace  of  Samson,  (Judg 
xiii.  2,)  and  probably  fortified 
by  Rehoboam.  (2Chron.  xi.  10.) 
It  is  called  Zureah,  (Josh.  xv. 
33,)  and  its  inhabitants  are 
called  Zorites,  (1  Chron.  ii. 
54,)  and  Zorathites.  (1  Chron. 
iv.  2.) 

ZOROBABEL.  (See  Zerub- 

BABEL.) 

ZUPH.  (1  Sam.  ix.  5.)  The 
land  of  Zuph  probably  derived 
its  name  from  Zuph,  one  of  the 
ancestors  of  Samuel  the  pro¬ 
phet.  (1  Chron.  vi.  35.)  Ra- 
math,  which  was  within  the 
province  of  Zuph,  was  thence 
called  Ramath-zophim,  or  Ra- 
mathaim.  (1  Sam.  i.  1.  See 
Rama.) 

ZUR.  (Josh.  xiii.  21.)  A 
Midianitish  prince,  (Num. 
xxv.  15,)  who  was  slain,  with 
others,  by  the  Israelites,  when 
the  Midianiles  suffered  the 
judgments  of  God  for  their 
sins.  (Num.  xxv.  17,  13.) 

ZUZIftlS.  (See  Zamzuj*. 
mihs.) 

643 


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